Learning to surf the rush hour of your career.

Ever felt you need a deep breath waking up on Monday, knowing that by breakfast the tide will already be pulling you under?
 
Jonas, a composite character drawn from several high‑performing professionals, faced that overwhelm while steering a major restructure.
 
In our second session, Jonas sat opposite me, his mug of steaming black coffee beside his rain‑soaked coat. The coffee‑corner of the city library hummed with activity, a watery sun streaming through tall windows as guests drifted in and out.

“I’m sorry I’m late; it’s killing. Every Monday it feels like Mia and I are thrown into the fray—getting the kids ready, coordinating schedules, battling traffic, then jumping into a meeting with the team in Korea. Stakeholders are pushing a restructure while demanding faster, cheaper quality assurance. The biggest stakeholder feels like a pact with the devil; I needed the funds, but now I wonder if they’re the right fit— they’re pushing for an IPO too soon. I feel like I've been underwater for months and I need air.”


"You’ve just described a wave of pressure that has pulled you under. Before we dive deeper, may I ask: How would it feel to come up for a breath right now?”
 
I see Jonas visibly tense. “Peter, I’m not the type for yoga mats—I’d rather get right to it.”
 
“Jonas, you’ve just said you’re out of breath. I’m eager to dive in, but how effective can you be without oxygen?”
 
He laughed, shoulders relaxing, a thin smile cracking the tension. “You know... sometimes I really don’t like you.”
 
Over 7 months and 5 sessions, Jonas gained critical insights:
 
He recognised that powering through and parking his own needs was no longer a winning strategy. He began experimenting with setting different boundaries. At first it felt risky, but as he freed up more time for his wife, family, and quiet alone time, the gains quickly outweighed the imagined risks.

Despite his dislike for yoga mats, Jonas instituted a 3‑minute breathing reset each coffee break. He started to observe how during high‑pressure moments his thoughts could spiral into ill‑founded conclusions.
 
As these perspectives surfaced, Jonas courageously started to prune work and personal commitments, carving out the space he needed for clarity.
 
After the summer holiday, Jonas and I met for a casual check‑in.
 
“The holidays gave Mia and me space to talk,” he said. “We agreed on a few boundaries—no phone calls or email after the kids are home, no structured meetings in the evening, and weekends belong to us. It feels scary—but we both agree we'll never be successful by sacrificing what matters most to us.”
 
“Also, I’d like to do more work with you. Remember that stakeholder? How does one void a pact with the proverbial devil?”

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Which small boundary will you set today to create space for integrated solutions?