Get Out of the Water
How long have you been swimming upstream?
In the Greater Spokane area, we have an impressive lineup of talented and dedicated CEOs. A wealth of brilliant leaders who care deeply about their companies, employees, and our community. However, I see many people pouring more time and energy into their roles than is truly healthy.
They’re well-intentioned, but their strategy for “getting it done” too often comes down to:
Put in a few more hours.
Tackle the opportunity on themselves instead of delegating.
Hang and push through what was started instead of passing on something that doesn’t truly need to be done.
Measurable Impact
They’re exhausted. They’re slower to complete the daily work because they’re running on fumes. They’re responding and reacting, but not leading at the level they once did. And they’re not alone — 71% of CEOs report feeling burned out, they are working an average of 62.5 hours a week, with 57% of C-suite executives saying they don’t get enough sleep.
Here’s the worst part: they treat asking for help, coaching, training, or peer support as indulgences — nice-to-haves instead of essential tools for operating at the highest level. They hesitate to pass along their unreasonable workload, afraid the next generation will falter or walk away. In doing so, they deny that generation the very challenges where their fresh tools and ideas could make the difference — and help them grow and lead.
A Concerning Perspective
From where I stand, it’s like watching someone in the Spokane River, swimming with everything they’ve got. The whitecaps are crashing over their head. They’re proud they haven’t drowned yet.
But the view from the shore tells a different story:
The currents are shifting — and not every CEO is making it to shore.
The latest Vistage CEO Confidence Index shows workforce expansion at record lows, margins under pressure, and burnout at alarming levels. The leaders who thrive in this climate aren’t just swimming harder — they’re steering differently.
Want the full picture (and the strategies CEOs are using right now to stay ahead)?
Click here to request the Q2 2025 Vistage CEO Outlook report.
They could have taken the bridge to the other side. They could have walked the shore and seen the whole picture. They could have joined a raft crewed by skilled navigators.
They were so occupied, so committed to follow through — and so unwilling to “burden” someone by taking a throw line — that they didn’t notice all the opportunities they were passing up.
Last year, 43% of organizations in the U.S. lost more than half of their leadership teams. That means the people swimming alone often end up without anyone left to help them. And it’s even tougher here in Washington, according to the NFIB, who say the state ranks dead last for small-business startup survival, with only 59.2% making it past the early years. The currents are strong, and the odds are real.
Don’t just keep swimming because you’re proud of how far you’ve come.
Get Out of the Water.
Get to shore.
Take the bridge.
Walk the shore.
Or better yet? Join a rafting team that knows the currents, the hazards, and the shortcuts.
It’s not about surviving the river. It’s about navigating it well enough to enjoy the ride and reach the destination you actually want.
If you’re curious about joining a high-caliber CEO peer advisory group in Spokane, start with a guest seat at our next meeting. Apply here to begin the mutual selection process. Have questions? Connect with me on LinkedIn or email me at richard@superpowerworkshop.com.