There's a season that comes for most founders, business owners and high-achieving women that no one really talks about. I call it the Founder's Winter. It's an internal phase where your usual drive disappears, growth stalls and life forces you into stillness whether you like it or not. Today I want to explore what this season really is, why it happens, and how to navigate it without losing yourself in the process.

A founder's winter can be triggered by all sorts of life events: illness, grief, burnout, major transitions. For me, it started after I broke my ankle a few months ago. Up until that point, I genuinely believed I could push through anything but this injury forced a shift I wasn't expecting. My drive just evaporated. I found myself in this strange bubble of introspection and honestly, I didn't know what to do with it.

Some of my friends suggested that it was depression but I knew it wasn’t that. This was a season of going inward, finding stillness and embracing a period of reflection.

Nothing in nature blooms all year round. Winter is when the soil restores its nutrients, when vital work happens beneath the surface that we can't see. For us, this involuntary stillness is crucial for long-term productivity and sustainability. We resist it because we've been conditioned to see productivity as the only measure of success. But the real wisdom is in recognising that these quiet periods are just as necessary as the busy ones.

What season are you in right now, and what might it be trying to teach you?

LINKS

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Richard Branson doesn't prioritise business strategies or groundbreaking innovations. His main focus? Vitality. His wellness. His life force. Out of everything he could make his priority, it's his own energy and health that takes centre stage. Learning this stopped me in my tracks. We spend so much time juggling endless to-do lists and responsibilities, leaving our well-being on the backburner. But what if we flipped that? Today we're exploring what life force really is and how you can harness it to thrive with a new zest for life.

We dive into life force as that vibrant energy pulsing through you, keeping you animated and alive. It's the energy behind all life, infused in everything you do: your work, your business, your family, your cooking, your creating. It leaves its energetic fingerprint everywhere. We discuss how boosting it begins with acknowledging where you stand in your own health and energy levels, and the importance of identifying any blocks draining your life force.

We explore life-enhancing habits that naturally lift your vitality, from staying active to mindfulness to simply soaking in some sun. By prioritising life force like Branson, you're not just boosting your own well-being, you're elevating every single thing you touch.

Let's awaken that life force. It's ready and waiting to transform your life into something extraordinary.

LINKS



Previous episode mentioned: #72 - Can't believe this happened to me!

Apply for Peak Revival here: www.peakrevival.com

Double Your Energy Masterclass: https://training.vesnahrsto.com/email-webinar-registration

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

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We live in a world where being busy has become a badge of honour. It’s easy to slip into conversations about how much your business brings in, how many hours you’ve clocked this week, or how many plates you’re spinning at once. I see it all the time in my community, and I’ll admit, I’ve fallen into the trap myself. But chasing validation through constant busyness is a losing game. Instead of satisfaction, it delivers burnout and a lingering sense that you’re never quite enough.

We forget that our value isn’t something to be earned. It’s already there, built in. When you slow down, you start to strip away the noise and discover a sense of security and self-worth that isn’t tied to your productivity. In those quieter moments, the truth bubbles up: you are already enough, just as you are.

So how do you break free? It starts by realising that you don’t have to keep chasing. There’s nothing more you need to do to prove yourself. Notice the moments when you feel good about who you are without ticking off another task and let yourself soak them in. Your worth isn’t up for debate. It doesn’t depend on what you accomplish. You’re worthy just as you are.

LINKS

Apply for Peak Revival here: www.peakrevival.com

Double Your Energy Masterclass: https://training.vesnahrsto.com/email-webinar-registration

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Website