Re-Entering Corporate Life Without Losing Yourself: My First Week Back
Why the first days after a break can determine whether you thrive or slip back into the old patterns that burned you out.
Within hours of stepping back into corporate life after three months away, I felt the familiar pressure return - the rush to prove, to respond, to get ahead before I “fall behind.”
Five days ago, I joined Cisco as the Head of Sales for ThousandEyes across Asia Pacific, Japan & Greater China (announcement here).
I walked straight into the final week of the fiscal year: late-night calls, real-time forecasting updates, conversations across time zones, and the push to close the quarter strong.
I knew what I was stepping into. I’ve done this for years. But what caught me off guard was how quickly the old habits tried to pull me back: the temptation to stretch my day into the night, to answer every message immediately, to skip meals, to sacrifice sleep, to trade long-term energy for short-term output.
The Overachiever’s Crossroad
This is the trap high performers know too well - the unspoken belief that our value is measured by how much we can endure, how much we can produce, and how quickly we can do it.
Corporate systems reinforce it. They reward urgency, not intentionality, availability, not boundaries.
I could have slipped right back into that rhythm. The version of me from a year ago would have. That version delivered results, but she also ran on adrenaline more than clarity. She led teams to success, but often at the expense of her own well-being.
Making Different Choices
This time, even as the demands piled up, I made different decisions:
I stopped working when my energy dropped, even though my task list didn’t.
I prioritized sleep because my Oura ring reminded me my readiness and resilience were falling.
I went for walks instead of spending another hour in front of a screen.
I journaled at night to process the anxiety that naturally comes with change.
None of these choices felt easy. But they’re the choices that will make me a stronger leader not just today, but years from now.
Sustainable leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about having the courage to do what matters and the discipline to stop when enough is enough.
Reinvention Isn’t a Moment - It’s a Journey
People romanticize reinvention as if it happens on a quiet beach, on a retreat, at a workshop, or during a career break. But coming back reminded me that true reinvention is tested when life speeds up again.
It’s in the micro-decisions. Do you default to the old version of yourself? Or do you protect the new one you’ve worked so hard to build?
I’d love to tell you I’ve mastered this, but I haven’t.
My mind still races at night with work ideas and to-do lists. I still feel the pull to “earn my seat” by working more, producing more, responding faster.
But now I catch myself. I know how much better I lead when I’m grounded, not reactive. When I bring energy that’s calm, not frantic.
How I’m Protecting My Energy
This weekend, I’m deliberately slowing down. I’m resisting the urge to “get ahead” and instead giving myself time to integrate.
I’m spending time with my family, walking outdoors, reading The Courage to Be Disliked to remind myself that leadership isn’t about pleasing everyone, and revisiting The Qualified Sales Leader because sales mastery still matters when you want to drive real results.
I’m tracking my sleep and stress with my Oura ring, trying my best to eat clean (there is always a room for indulgence), reflecting during traditional Chinese tea ceremonies, journaling to stay honest about what I feel, and listening to affirmations that keep my mindset in check.
A Challenge for You
If you’re returning from a vacation or a career break pay attention to what you do in those first few days back.
Those choices will determine whether you create a new way of working or slip right back into the habits that made you need a break in the first place.
If you’re reading this between back-to-back calls, ask yourself:
Is this the leader you want to be five years from now or just the one corporate life trained you to become?
What’s Next
I’ll share more about the systems I’m building to sustain this balance while leading a business with nearly sixty people across multiple countries in Asia Pacific, Greater China and Japan.
For now, I’m focused on one thing: keeping the promises I made to myself when no one was watching.
Hiring Alert
Cisco ThousandEyes is expanding in Japan. We’re looking for experienced, Japanese-speaking enterprise software sales and technical professionals.
If you know someone who might be a fit, please share these roles with them:
Enterprise Account Executive (Japan)
Channel Solution Engineer (Japan)