Navigating Leadership and Wellness: My Tale of Triumph at Canyon Ranch
Post by Natalie Loeb
On August 18, 2023, I turned 60. In September, I was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in my breast. Not the birthday present I was hoping for. In October, I had surgery to remove the tumor (which thankfully had not spread) and started chemotherapy in November. In January 2024, just three days after I completed my fourth and final chemotherapy treatment, I joined my coaching team at Canyon Ranch in Tucson to attend the launch of our first retreat for Exhausted Leaders. To say I was an exhausted leader was an understatement! When I talked to my doctor about attending this retreat so soon after my chemotherapy treatments ended, she said, “I can’t think of a better place for you to recover.” And wow, was she right.
I have been coaching leaders for over 25 years. I have grown in my own role alongside many of them, and I meet new leaders every day. What has become crystal clear to me is that stepping into leadership is hard work. It is demanding and rewarding at the same time. Leaders make a difference, and we have an impact on those around us-- in our organizations, our communities, and in our families. Our behaviors matter. Our mental, emotional, and physical health matters.
I’ve found that leaders who have managed to prioritize themselves and weave self-care into their lives despite the demands of their roles are able to live mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically healthier and more productive lives. In contrast, leaders who remain on the proverbial “hamster wheel” with good intentions of being productive and prioritizing themselves when there is some “spare time” eventually burn out and have nothing left to give – not just to their organizations, but at times to their loved ones, and even to themselves.
When my biopsy results were delivered, I heard the word cancer, and I froze. Shortly afterwards, I thought about how I live my life, and despite how frightened I was, I realized I had no regrets. I had built a strong community around me; my colleagues, my clients, and of course my friends and family were all there to support me. I had nurtured my relationships, and those people were there to nurture me when I needed it. I had prioritized exercise since I was in my 30s, and regularly visited my doctors so I could do what I could to remain physically healthy. I was prepared to fight this diagnosis.
As I write this blog today, I prepare for the final step of my journey: five radiation treatments. Soon I will be on the other side of the day I heard, “it’s cancer.” Though my prognosis is very good, I still had the proverbial wake-up call. And with it came the reminder that only I can control how I choose to live my life. And I intend to live it wholeheartedly (as Brene Brown would say).
When I was first inspired to create leadership retreats, it was so important to me to find a place in which our guests would have a five-star experience. I wanted them to have access to a rich variety of activities, lecturettes, medical and emotional guidance, and be in the center of nature where they could realign themselves. All of this is exactly what leaders need to reset, re-energize and refresh. And even if I do say so myself, choosing to partner with Canyon Ranch for our leadership retreats was brilliant—it was exactly what I imagined for retreats, and more.
The coaches from Loeb Leadership who joined us have health and wellness certifications, clinical backgrounds in psychology, and are trained executive coaches. Together we curated the perfect balance of programming to allow our guests to take advantage of the five-star amenities at Canyon Ranch, while being given the personal attention to self-reflect, evaluate this moment in time in their leadership journey, and think about where they wanted to reset and move forward.
Our participants were just as delighted with Canyon Ranch as I was. For some, the 7 am morning hike in the mountains set the tone for clear thinking and increased energy during the day. For others, it was the group activities like pickleball and cooking demonstrations that sparked laughter, creativity, and new thinking. And for others, it was the short lecturettes, the emotional intelligence assessment debriefed by our team, and the intimate fireside chats that ignited new ideas and commitments for moving forward.
What makes this retreat different from all others is not only the magnificent setting and the all-inclusive room, food, and activities (and the $600 spa credit), it is the personal attention and time our coaching team provides to each participant. Our coaches were available anytime for our participants during the program, and each participant will get three 60-minute one-on-one coaching sessions after the retreat. The follow up sessions will help them reflect on their experience and learnings and take action based on what they want to do next on their leadership journey; either personally or professionally.
Some proud moments happened after the retreat for many participants. During our coaching follow up sessions, our participants shared news of some incredible successes that they achieved as a result of the clarity and realignment that they experienced at our retreat (their words, not ours!) These successes represent exactly why this work is so important and meaningful. We truly believe in the power of retreats and expect each guest to experience breakthrough, no matter what that looks like to them. And we are with them every step of the way to help make that happen.
We have created a unique, impactful, and meaningful experience for leaders with our partner, Canyon Ranch. We have figured out how to provide a much-needed service to strengthen resilience, enhance performance, and avoid burnout.
Our next retreat is October 16-19, 2024, in Lenox, MA. Will you consider joining us? We are here and waiting for you. YOU have to take the first step and register today. I can’t wait to see you there!
Stay well and with warm regards,
Natalie