It's Not a Legacy, It's Just Me

My favorite plant almost died. At first glance, it still looked alive — tall, green, holding on. But something was wrong. It had stopped growing. The leaves that used to open wide and beautiful were starting to wither at the edges.

I thought I was helping by watering it. In reality, I was drowning it. The soil had no drainage, the roots were suffocating, and rot was quietly spreading beneath the surface. It wasn’t until I repotted it — fresh soil, clean pot, a new environment — that it finally had a chance to breathe.

Looking back, I realize my last months before the layoff felt the same. On the outside, I kept showing up — still “green,” still standing tall. But inside, I was exhausted. Stress had built up like stagnant water. The environment no longer allowed me to grow. And little by little, I started to wither.

Now, I’m not yet in a “new pot” — but like my plant, I’ve changed the soil. I’ve cleared out what was toxic, I’m watering less, and I’m taking care of myself one step at a time.

And here’s the leadership lesson: growth is not only about the individual — it’s about the environment leaders create. You can have the best people on your team, but if the culture is suffocating, if stress is constant, or if the soil is never refreshed, eventually even the strongest will wither. Leaders have a responsibility to create spaces where their people can breathe, take root, and thrive.

Growth doesn’t happen overnight. But with the right care — and the right soil — it always returns.

El liderazgo también se mide en el ambiente que creamos: un suelo fértil permite florecer, pero un suelo envenenado termina marchitando hasta la planta más fuerte.