Leadership Lessons From a Sleepy Thyroid
About five or six years ago, I decided to become a Responsible Adult™ and started doing annual physicals and bloodwork. A few years back, right when I also started antidepressants, I had labs done and received exactly zero follow‑up. I did what any modern human with Wi‑Fi does: I consulted Dr. Google and immediately spiraled into thyroid research because my family tree is basically a thyroid clearance rack. I discovered then that my thyroid was on the low end. Still, no communication from my doctor happened regarding my lab results, so I moved on. This Monday, I went in for my usual checkup. Yesterday, I finally got the call I’ve been expecting and dreading: my thyroid has officially entered low‑power mode. Diagnosis: hypothyroidism. Treatment: hormone replacement. Emotional reaction: personally victimized by my own DNA. For context, I inherited Bipolar from my dad’s side and thyroid issues from my mom’s side. My sister? She inherited our father’s receding hairline. Truly unjust. But here’s where leadership sneaks in wearing a lab coat. This whole experience reminded me that leadership isn’t about having perfect conditions, perfect timing, or perfect genetics. It’s about how you respond when life hands you a plot twist you did not order. A few leadership truths my sleepy thyroid reinforced: ✨ Proactive beats reactive. Annual checkups weren’t glamorous, but they mattered. Leaders build habits before the crisis hits. ✨Data is your friend, even when it’s rude. Googling my labs wasn’t ideal, but it was information. Leaders don’t hide from data; they interrogate it. ✨Adaptability is a leadership superpower. Hypothyroidism wasn’t on my vision board, but here we are. Leaders pivot with purpose. ✨Humor is a resilience strategy. If I can laugh about inheriting the entire family medical catalog, I can navigate just about anything. ✨Transparency builds trust. Sharing the messy parts isn’t weakness; it’s modeling humanity. Leaders who pretend to be invincible usually aren’t. So yes, my thyroid is sleepy. My genetics are chaotic. My sister’s hairline is barely thriving. But I’m still here - leading, learning, adapting, and showing up with cosmic‑sass energy… now with a little hormonal assistance.
