Most people I work with are highly driven, committed, and hold themselves to high standards.

They’re also tired.

But our energy shapes how we think, decide, and lead, and how we show up for the people around us.

That’s the perspective behind my work.
I focus on creating high-energy lives - at work and beyond.

If that angle resonates, you’re in the right place.

We all deserve better energy.
Not one-day-off energy.
Not “recover-on-vacation” energy.
But steady, sustainable energy that supports clear thinking, good decisions, and a life you actually enjoy.

That belief led me to create Rising Yellow - a wellbeing brand built on a simple idea: life is too short to stay in a bad state, and we can choose to shift it every day.

For over 15 years, I worked in global organizations, leading People & Culture and transformation initiatives. I was capable, driven, and always “on.” For a long time, I ignored the signals my body kept sending, until I couldn’t.

That moment didn’t break me.
It redirected me.

Today, I work at the intersection of wellbeing, leadership, and People & Culture. I help companies and leaders protect and reclaim energy, especially during growth, pressure, and change.

My work is grounded in:

• Functional Medicine principles
• Positive psychology and behavior science
• Hands-on experience in corporate transformation

I focus on closing the gap between what people know is good for them and what they actually do on busy workdays.

How I help people and organizations:

For individuals:

• Daily insights on LinkedIn
• The Weekly Energy Shift Newsletter
• The Energy Shift Journal
• Private community: Yellowers (Energy Shifters)

For organizations:

• Workshops for leaders and teams
• Keynotes on energy, resilience, and performance
• People & Culture consulting

If you believe performance and health don’t have to compete, and that better energy changes everything, we’re already aligned.

📩 Open to corporate collaborations, trainings, workshops, and keynotes
More here: https://risingyellow.com/

Contact: gozde.imamoglu@risingyellow.com 💛

Last year, I learned more than I had in my entire career.

It was a deliberate decision to leave my corporate job and push myself to step out of my comfort zone.

Turns out, when nobody’s watching, you find out who you really are.
There’s no such thing as “I don’t know.”
There’s only “go figure it out.” 

But you don’t need to take a huge leap to grow.
You just need to refuse to stand still.

Here’s how to make sure you’re not in the same place next January:

1️⃣ Pick one new skill and commit 15 minutes a day
 → Not a massive course that overwhelms you
 → Something you can practice immediately

2️⃣ Say yes to one thing that makes you nervous
 → The presentation you’d normally pass on
 → The cross-department project
 → The conversation you’ve been avoiding

3️⃣ Ask someone you trust: “What’s my biggest blind spot?”
 → Your manager about growth areas
 → A peer about how you collaborate
 → A client about where you could add more value

4️⃣ Track something that proves forward movement
 → Problems you’ve solved
 → Connections that opened doors
 → Skills that changed how you work

Where were you last January?
If today feels exactly the same, that’s not stability.
That’s stagnation.

The good news?
You can change direction starting this week.

P.S. Future you is watching 👀
Will you make one small move this week?
Yes 💪 / I’ll think about it 🤔

👋 New here? Hi, I’m Gözde Imamoglu. I help people build energy-rich lives through small, sustainable habits.
💌 Join my newsletter for more: https://lnkd.in/di3iSKmx

Gözde Imamoglu

Follow me for career, well-being, and personal growth strategies | 15+ years driving change for people & workplaces | Get the energy to match your success | Board-certified functional medicine health coach

The most successful people I know subtract more than they add.

They understand something most don't: 
Your capacity has a ceiling.

Think of your life like a business budget.
Fixed resources. Infinite options.

Every hour you spend here is an hour you can't spend there.
Every "yes" to something mediocre is a "no" to something exceptional.

I stayed at my recent corporate job for more than a decade because it felt safe. Decent salary. Manageable work. Good colleagues.

What I wasn't calculating: opportunity cost.

While I was comfortable, I wasn't available for:

→ The role that would have doubled my impact
→ Projects that matched my actual strengths  
→ Networks that could have accelerated everything
→ Skills I never developed because I didn't need to

Most people ask: "Is this bad enough to leave?"

Better question: "What am I NOT doing because I'm here?"

3 signs it's time for strategic subtraction:

1️⃣ You're maintaining instead of building
Your energy goes to keeping things stable, not growing them.

2️⃣ Better opportunities feel "impossible." 
You can't even imagine them because you're at capacity.

3️⃣ Your growth has plateaued
You're the same person you were 6 months ago.

The highest-value opportunities come when you have space to see them.

Strategic subtraction isn't about running from problems.
It's about running toward potential.

P.S. What might you need to subtract to multiply what matters?👇 

🔄 Repost to inspire others. 
👋 Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more on building energy-rich, strategically designed careers.

Reactive leadership is destroying your team.

You walk into the meeting already stressed.

Voice is faster. Body is tense. Decisions are rushed.

Within minutes, your whole team mirrors it.

This is reactive leadership. Your stress becomes their stress. Your urgency becomes their anxiety. 

Calm leadership works the opposite way.

When you pause before deciding, and stay grounded under pressure, they feel safe bringing you problems. Your energy sets the tone for everything.

Here's what changes when you lead from calm:

1️⃣ Your decisions improve
You see options you missed when stressed. You consider long-term impact, not just immediate pressure.

2️⃣ Your relationships strengthen  
People approach you with problems instead of hiding them. They know you'll listen before you react.

3️⃣ Your energy stays sustainable
You're not burning through emotional reserves on every small crisis. You have more to give where it matters.

4️⃣ Your team performs better
Calm is contagious. When you model thoughtful responses, your team stops rushing into reactive mode too.

The simplest way to start?

Before your next difficult conversation or big decision:
• Close your eyes for 10 seconds
• Take 3 slow breaths
• Ask yourself: "What would I say if I had all the time in the world?"

That's it. 

Your nervous system will thank you. So will your team.

P.S. If you've ever rage-typed an email and deleted it 10 seconds later - you already know this works. (We've all been there) 😉 

🎁 Building calm leadership requires sustainable energy. My free guide has 100 Energy Hacks across work, relationships, and daily habits that help you stay centered: https://lnkd.in/dhR3AyCt

➕ Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more on leadership, energy, and workplace relationships.

undefined undefined

FM Research

Elimination Diet Research

Newsletter

Circadian

Tiny Habit

Stress

Highperformer

Comfortable

Retreat

Peach

Burger

During my master's program, I used to go to my favorite burger place every Saturday after classes. I was feeling some major loneliness and the pressure of high expectations. Instead of dealing with it, I ended up feeding into it. But now I see that all I really needed was to have a chat with my mom.

Airbnb

BONUS TIP: We typically look for Airbnbs with a kitchen so that we can cook at least one meal a day with fresh, local ingredients—usually savory breakfast to keep us full for longer.

risingyellow

Your circle doesn't just influence you.

It becomes you.

The conversations you have daily. The energy you absorb. The standards you unconsciously adopt.

Harvard's Framingham Study tracked 5,000 people for 20 years. They found that happiness spreads through social networks up to three degrees of separation.

Your friend's friend's friend affects your well-being.

So who are you choosing?

Here are 9 characteristics of people who will elevate your life:

1️⃣ Make you grow
They push you beyond comfort zones with constructive challenges. You leave conversations feeling stretched.

2️⃣ Make you think bigger  
They expand your vision of what's possible. When you share a goal, they help you see the bigger opportunity you missed.

3️⃣ Support your goals
They actively encourage your ambitions. Instead of finding reasons why something won't work, they help you find ways it will.

4️⃣ Share knowledge
They give freely without gatekeeping. Their success doesn't threaten them - it inspires them to lift others up too.

5️⃣ Celebrate progress
They recognize wins both big and small. A promotion gets the same genuine excitement as that daily habit you're building.

6️⃣ Respect your time
They value your boundaries and commitments. They show up when they say they will. They honor the time you carve out for them.

7️⃣ Keep their word
Their reliability builds trust and stability. You never wonder where you stand or whether they'll follow through.

8️⃣ Lead with kindness
Their compassion creates psychological safety. You can be honest about struggles without fear of judgment or competition.

9️⃣ Hold space for you
They listen without trying to fix or judge. You can be vulnerable because they let you process without making it about them.

The people around you either add energy to your life or drain it.

Choose the ones who multiply your potential.

♻️ Repost if someone in your network needs this reminder.
👋 New here? Hi, I'm Gözde Imamoglu. I write about building an energy-rich life. In this free guide, you'll find 100 Energy Hacks across 10 key areas of life, including work and relationships. 

🎁 Get it here:
https://lnkd.in/dhR3AyCt

Sandra Tate

When you believe in someone's potential, they'll move mountains not to let you down.

Leadership is about believing in people.

It's looking for the best in them and giving them opportunities to show it.

Celebrating their wins as if they were your own.

My first manager in Germany sent me to Brazil to deliver coaching training to senior executives.

I'd been in the role for 4 months. Had never traveled internationally for work.

He didn't micromanage. Didn't check every slide.

He just said: "You've got this."

That trip changed everything for me.

Here’re 3 ways to practice radical trust:

1️⃣ Give stretch assignments that scare them
If they're not slightly nervous, the opportunity isn't big enough.

2️⃣ Skip the safety nets
Stop over-explaining. Trust them to figure it out.

3️⃣ Focus on outcomes, not methods
Tell them what success looks like. Let them find their path there.

People don't disappoint leaders who genuinely believe in them.

What's your take on this? Does success come from lifting others up?

♻️ Repost to help others be better leaders.

For years, I told myself “next month." Waiting didn’t make me more prepared. 

It made me wish I’d started sooner.

Thank you to my friend Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches  inspiring me to share this. Make sure to follow her. 

Most people never feel 100% ready. 

Confidence isn’t a prerequisite.

It’s a byproduct of action.

You gain it by trying, messing up, and figuring it out.

Even the awkward, uncertain steps move you forward. 

Each one teaches you something.

The gap between you and your goals won’t shrink with more planning, more money, more time.

At some point, you have to quit strategizing.

And start moving.

Waiting for perfect alignment is how dreams expire.

Momentum is built by choosing to begin. 

Every week, we get a chance to start anew.

How will you spend this gift? ⬇️ 

🎁Your dreams need your best energy! Get my free guide with 100 micro habits across 10 life areas to build it.  https://lnkd.in/dhR3AyCt

🔄 Repost to help your network. 
➕ Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more.

7 quiet signs your culture actually respects people:

(without perks or pay raises)

1/ Meetings end early when the work is done
↳ No one feels obligated to fill the full hour just because it was scheduled

2/ People disagree openly without fallout
↳ Conflict stays focused on ideas, not personalities, and relationships stay intact

3/ Leaders say "I don't know" without losing credibility
↳ Curiosity gets rewarded more than having all the answers

4/ Sick days mean you're actually resting
↳ No guilt, no check-ins, no expectation to prove you're "sick enough"

5/ Bad news travels up as fast as good news
↳ Problems surface early because people trust they won't get shot for being the messenger

6/ People leave on time without explanation
↳ Boundaries are respected, not questioned, and overtime isn't a performance metric

7/ Success is shared, failure is owned
↳ Teams get credit for wins while leaders take responsibility when things go wrong

I can't repeat enough that culture isn't built in everyday moments.
How you handle the person who speaks up.
Whether asking for help feels safe.
If people can be human without penalty.

Companies with healthy cultures don't just keep talent.
They become magnets for it.

🔄 Repost if you believe culture is your strongest competitive advantage.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more.

I watched a leader kill psychological safety in 8 seconds.

He had no idea.

A team member asked a question. His response? "We literally just talked about that."

Everyone went quiet.

Not because they had nothing to say. Because they learned it's safer not to.

Here's what I mean: Psychological safety doesn't live in your company values. It lives in how you react when someone opens their mouth.

And most leaders destroy it without even knowing.

You sigh when someone asks a question. 
You check your phone while they're talking. 
You say "that won't work" before they finish.

Small moments. But your team is always watching.

So what actually builds safety?

Pause before you answer. Even if the question feels obvious.

Don't jump to why an idea won't work. Ask what would need to be true for it to work.

When someone pushes back, thank them. Out loud. In front of the room.

Put your phone down. Look at them. Let the silence breathe before you fill it.

None of this is complicated.

But it signals everything.

Because trust breaks in seconds and takes months to rebuild.

Next time you're in a meeting, ask yourself: Am I making it easier or harder for the next person to speak?

That's where real culture starts.

What's one thing you'll do differently in your next meeting?

🔄 Repost if this resonated.
➕ Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more on leadership, culture, and building teams where honesty doesn't feel risky.

Image Credit: Justin Wright

Careers can be rebuilt.

Health is harder to negotiate with.

Think about the extra hours you’re putting in at work right now.
Late evenings. “Just one more thing.” Weekends half on, half off. 

Now stretch that over a year.
Then over many years.

Often, it’s for a bonus.
A title.
A promotion that might come.

But the cost is very real.
Your body feels it.
Your focus drops.
Your nervous system stays on edge.

So here’s the shift I made:

I started betting on myself.

That means protecting:
 • my time
 • my focus
 • my energy
 • my relationships

Not someday. Now.

If overworking is your default, try one of these today:

1. Pick a clear end to your workday
Choose a real stop time. 
Close the laptop. Step outside. Change rooms. Signal the end.

2. Schedule recovery like it matters 
A walk. A short rest. Reading for pleasure.
Put it in your calendar. Treat it like a meeting with yourself.

3. Pause before saying yes
Ask: Is this worth my energy right now?
If not, delegate, delay, or decline.

Nothing dramatic.
Just small choices that protect yourself.

Because overworking at the cost of your health is not worth it. 💛

P.S. If you protected one thing more this year, what would it be? Time • Energy • Focus • Health or all of it? 

♻️ Repost if someone in your network needs this reminder.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more.

#mentalhealth

Stop sacrificing your health for success.

The healthier you get, the more wealth you can create.

And you have more control over this than you think.

Because 80–90% of chronic conditions are lifestyle-driven not genetics. 

That’s biology responding to inputs.

And listening to the signals and partnering with your body can be the most important skill you will ever learn. 

So here’s a more useful way to think about it:

1. Sleep
If you wake up already tired, your body didn’t finish its repair work. That’s information.

2. Movement
If a full day passes without your heart rate changing, your system stays in “idle mode.”

3. Food
If meals leave you foggy or hungry again fast, your body didn’t get what it needed. That’s feedback.

4. Breathing
If your jaw is tight or shoulders are lifted, your nervous system is asking for a pause. A few slow breaths can change the signal.

5. Connection
If you feel drained after social time, something felt unsafe or rushed. If you feel calmer, that’s regulation.

Quick honesty moment 👀
Is your body whispering 🤫… or shouting 🚨 already?

🎁 If this resonated, download my free guide with 100 micro habits for better energy across 10 key areas of life: https://lnkd.in/dhR3AyCt

➕ Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more on career, growth, and high-energy work life habits.

Energy is the new status symbol.

Here’s what high-energy people avoid:

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
They don’t need to be everywhere or explain themselves. They protect their inner world like a scarce resource.

𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

They invest in:
• experiences that make them feel alive
• support that buys back time
• habits that protect health
• decisions that reduce future stress

𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.
They deeply care about how their days feel, not just how productive they "look".

𝟰. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
They limit meetings. They turn off most notifications. They say no to plans that add pressure rather than joy.

𝟱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀.
They know who they are. They don't need to prove it. They ask, "Good for them. How can I?"

𝟲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀.
They focus on consistency and progress, not applause. Celebrate quietly. Rest. Continue.

𝟳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽𝘀.
They feel things. Learn. Adjust. Move on. A quiet mind is one of the highest forms of wealth.

𝟴. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆'𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.

They define success in their own body:
• steady energy
• good sleep
• meaningful work
• honest relationships
• enough space to breathe

If this resonates, you're one of us. 💛

I write for Energy Shifters - people who believe life is too short to stay in a bad state.

🎁 And this free guide shows how, with 100 micro-habits across 10 areas of life. Get your own copy now: https://lnkd.in/dhR3AyCt

Your mental health reflects who you spend time with.

Yet most people leave this to chance.

Harvard's 75-year study on happiness found that positive relationships are the strongest predictor of life satisfaction and career success.

Yet we treat our social circles like they happen by accident.

These relationships don't just affect your mood.
They affect your:

• Decision-making clarity
• Leadership potential
• Creative problem-solving
• Performance under pressure
• Willingness to take strategic risks

The people who elevate your wellbeing also elevate your professional growth.

They celebrate your wins without jealousy. They offer honest feedback without judgment. They inspire you to think bigger, not smaller.

Surround yourself with people who see your potential before you do.

Invest time in those who challenge you to grow, not stay comfortable.

Prioritize relationships that add to your energy instead of subtracting from it.

Today, reach out to one person who makes you feel more capable after spending time with them.

P.S. I cancelled 2 events while writing this. Zero guilt. 🤫 

🎁  Want to build better habits in work and relationships? Get my free guide: 100 Micro Habits to transform your daily routines. https://lnkd.in/dhR3AyCt and follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more.

One bad day can turn into a bad week.

Unless you interrupt it in the first hour.

You know I’m all for protecting your energy at work and in life.

Anything that drains it should deserve your attention.

We all know these moments:
• The message you overthink all afternoon
• The meeting where your tone didn’t land
• The comment that sits with you longer than it should

Before you realise it, you’re four days deep in a low-energy spiral that started with something small.

Last week, I walked out of a conversation feeling unheard in a way that touched my core values.

My chest was tight, I kept replaying it, and I carried that tension into the evening.

By the next morning, I remembered that we always have a choice. The choice to shift our state, protect our energy, and reset our direction.

Here’s what actually helps break the cycle:

1️⃣ Name it out loud
 "I'm having a bad day, not a bad life."
 It separates the feeling from the story.

2️⃣ Protect your sleep
Bad days spread fastest when you're tired.
Sleep brings your energy back online.

3️⃣ One small kind act
For yourself or someone else.
A tiny gesture interrupts the spiral.

4️⃣ Choose your circle
Telling the story to five people keeps you stuck.
One grounded conversation helps you move forward.

5️⃣ Give tomorrow one bright point
Something simple to look forward to: morning coffee, breakfast, a short walk.

Remember: 
Your state is yours.
Treat it like gold. 

P.S. What do you do first to shift your energy?

📒I’ve been building my biggest product that will help you shift your energy in unexpectedly simple ways. 

If you want to be the first to know, you can sign up here: https://lnkd.in/di3iSKmx 💛 Coming very soon!!!

Most companies spend 6 weeks hiring talent.

And 6 months replacing them when they burn out.

Because resumes show credentials, not recovery capacity.

You can teach skills in months.
But you can't fix broken work habits, poor boundaries, and burnout patterns later. It should be taught, practiced, and encouraged from day one.

Here’s what separates sustainable performers from future burnout cases:

1️⃣ Energy awareness
They know when they’re sharp and when they need to recover. They work with their biology, not against it.

2️⃣ Boundary intelligence
They protect focus, time, and capacity because performance depends on it.

3️⃣ Recovery as strategy
They don’t “rest when exhausted.” They recover proactively.

4️⃣ Emotional regulation under pressure
They stay steady when things get messy. Pressure reveals character.

5️⃣ Progress over perfection
They move fast, learn fast, and improve in motion.

6️⃣ Team energy awareness
They raise the room instead of draining it. If everyone else is feeling stressed out, it’s not high performance, it’s toxic. 

7️⃣ Long-term thinking
They optimize for consistency, not short-term hero moments.

8️⃣ Self-advocacy
They communicate their needs before they become problems.

The real hiring shift companies must make:

You’re not just hiring skills.
You’re hiring someone’s relationship with stress, energy, recovery, and work itself.

And that relationship predicts retention, performance, and culture.

What do you think? Should hiring and L&D focus more on energy and sustainable routines?

🔄 Repost if this perspective matters to you.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for sustainable leadership & energy-rich work culture.

Back-to-back meetings are energy vampires.

You walk into meeting number five feeling like a ghost of your former self.

But here's what I share with my clients all the time: 
You can reset your entire state in under 2 minutes.

Here are 9 science-backed micro habits you can do between meetings:

1️⃣ Inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8.
A single round activates your parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol levels instantly.

2️⃣ Cold water on your wrists
Your pulse points are cooling stations for your entire body. Cold water triggers an alertness response that lasts hours.

3️⃣ Look at something 6 metres away
After staring at screens, your eye muscles lock in “near focus.” Distance gazing relaxes them. 

4️⃣ Stand and reach for the ceiling
Sitting compresses your diaphragm. One big stretch opens your ribcage, increases oxygen flow, and signals energy to your brain.

5️⃣ Drink a glass of water (250ml) mindfully
Dehydration drops cognitive performance. It creates a mental pause that resets your nervous system.

6️⃣ Roll your shoulders 5 times backward
Forward head posture reduces lung capacity and creates tension. This realigns your spine and opens your chest.

7️⃣ Step outside or near a window
Natural light regulates cortisol and boosts serotonin. Even 60 seconds of daylight shifts your internal state.

8️⃣ Name 3 things you can see, 2 you can hear, 1 you can touch This grounding technique pulls you out of mental overwhelm.

9️⃣ Set an intention for the next meeting
Instead of rushing in reactive mode, take 30 seconds to choose how you want to show up.

Small shifts compound into massive energy changes.

I've been testing these with my clients for months. The difference is immediate.

And honestly? I use number 7 between every single call myself. (It’s been a childhood habit of mine.)

Tomorrow I’m sharing my complete guide:
“100 science-inspired micro habits across 10 key life areas” in my newsletter. You don't want to miss it. 

Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/di3iSKmx 

Which habit resonates most with you? Drop a number below 👇

🔄 Repost to help someone feel a little less stressed today.
➕ Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more energy management insights 💛

The bravest thing you can do this year:

Talk about your failures.

Because when someone's given all they've got to something they care about and come up just short.

Why wouldn't we celebrate that?

Thank you James Ware for this inspiring post.

Of course, they'd rather have succeeded. Failure stings. And that's a good thing. It spurs us on. 

But that doesn't mean it should be taboo.
This F-word we can't speak about. 
A source of shame.

All that does is make people too scared to try in the first place. 

And the world's a worse place for it.

Think of all the inventions, companies, and ideas that's cost us. 

I've had my fair share of failures.

They all hurt. A lot. 

But speaking about our failures is freeing.
It removes the shame.

Then going after the next thing
is so much easier. 

Let's make 2026 the year we remove the shame attached to failure.

So more people try.

P.S. What's one thing you're glad you failed at? (Yes, really.) 😊 

♻️ Repost to help others.
🔔 And if you're new here - welcome. Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for simple tools to help you live with higher energy (and lower stress). Join my free newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/di3iSKmx

5 daily invisible leadership mistakes:

And each one can be fixed in under 15 minutes.

1️⃣ Mistake: Leaving people guessing

When priorities aren’t clear:
 → Every decision becomes a guessing game
 → That constant weight of “Am I doing this right?”

The fix:
 → Monday morning priority email

2️⃣ Mistake: Meeting addiction

Every unnecessary meeting fragments focus:
 → 30 minutes to get back in the zone
 → Constant mental task-switching

The fix:
 → Friday calendar cleanup
 → Replace meetings with async updates

3️⃣ Mistake: Missing the warning signs

Early signals are easy to miss:
 → Missing small deadlines
 → No longer volunteering for projects

The fix:
 → Weekly energy check-ins
 → Adjust workload based on what you hear

4️⃣ Mistake: Priority whiplash

If there’s an “urgent” project every week, it creates:
 → Learned helplessness
 → Fear of committing to anything

The fix:
 → Monthly priority protection meeting
 → Choose 3 priorities that won’t change

 5️⃣ Mistake: Only seeing problems

Great performance goes unnoticed. Only fires get attention.

Over time, this kills:
 → Motivation to excel
 → Connection to the mission

The fix:

 → Friday wins email
 → Highlight 3 specific contributions

When you fix these 5 mistakes:
 → Your team stops second-guessing
 → Focus returns naturally
 → People feel seen for their strengths
 → Energy comes back without burnout

P.S. No judgment zone: Which number are we unlearning together? 

🔄 Repost if someone in your network needs this reminder
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on building teams that thrive.

5 leadership blind spots quietly draining your team

Comfort can be more seductive than the unknown. 

But if you want a life that truly lights you up, you must let go of your old life and choose courage.

The courage to live a life true to yourself, to do something you've never done and to become who you were meant to be.

Never easy, but absolutely worth it.

I've been there so many times for my relationships, career, and family. Feeling the pull but afraid to leave what I knew.

If you're at that crossroads right now, here are 5 steps to help you move forward:

1️⃣ Write down what's calling you
Get specific. Not just "I want change" but "I want to lead a marketing team" or "I want to freelance full-time." 

2️⃣ Talk to someone who's already there
Find one person living the life you're considering. Send them a message. Ask about their transition. Most people will share their story if you ask genuinely.

3️⃣ Test the waters first
Before you leap, try it out. Take on a side project. Volunteer in that field. Attend industry events. Make it real, not just a daydream.

4️⃣ Know your numbers
Figure out exactly what you need to cover expenses for 6-12 months. Having a real number makes the unknown feel less scary.

5️⃣ Set a decision deadline
Give yourself 30-90 days to gather information, then decide. Without a deadline, research becomes an excuse to stay stuck.

The path that scares you might be the one that saves you.

What crossroads are you facing right now? And what's one small step you could take this week?

P.S. I'm not going to lie - choosing the uncertain path is uncomfortable. But so is living with regret. Pick your hard.

🔄 Repost to inspire others, follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more.

Image: Simon Alexander Ong

There’s this moment that happens. You’re in a meeting, nodding along.

And suddenly you realize you haven’t absorbed a single word in five minutes.
Your brain just isn’t there.

So you reach for your third coffee. Maybe your fourth.

If that coffee count keeps climbing and those foggy moments keep happening, this isn’t just “normal work fatigue.”

I’ve spent the past few years studying the intersection of energy, performance, and well-being.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner:
We’ve normalized living in energy debt - borrowing from tomorrow just to survive today.

We tell ourselves:
“Everyone feels like this.”

But elite performers don’t.

They treat energy like their most valuable business asset.
They protect it.
They invest in it.
They optimize it with intention.

Because they understand one thing most of us were never taught:
Energy is about biology.

These are 7 resources that completely changed how I understand my body and energy:
​
​1. Gut & Brain Connection - Mark Hyman
https://lnkd.in/dYyQ_MKA

2. Nutrition for Longevity - Peter Attia
https://lnkd.in/dfJ6fBF8

3. Fasting & Aging - Pradip Jamnadas
 https://lnkd.in/dXyxU8wg

4. Dopamine & Drive - Andrew Huberman
https://lnkd.in/d4EcwT9x 

5. Sleep Is Your Superpower - Matthew Walker
https://lnkd.in/drUKDGnu

6. Circadian Rhythm - Satchin Panda
https://lnkd.in/dfB527hJ 

7. Brain Health - Jessie Inchauspé
https://lnkd.in/db-hWQ5g 

💾 Save this list.
💛 And if you’re new here - welcome. Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for simple, science-backed tools to help you live with higher energy (and lower stress).

7 Videos to Rebuild Your Energy This Week

Want to know why your best people actually leave?

It's rarely the workload.

Thank you to my friend Jill Avey for inspiring me to share this. Make sure to follow her. 

I’ve seen this play out up close.

Two clients.
Different environments. 
Same outcome risk.

The first had a mammoth workload.
Constant time pressure.
Very little support.
Always on the go.

But had autonomy.
Clear expectations.

The second client also had a big job.
In reality, she was doing the work of three people.

Her manager constantly complained.
Successful projects were overlooked.
Feedback only arrived when something went wrong.

Both clients were stretched thin.
Both worked incredibly hard.
Both believed deeply in their mission.

But here’s the difference:
The first sustained that pace for over a decade and never burned out.
The second left the industry entirely and reinvented herself just to escape the burnout she was heading toward.

The difference was leadership.

Here’s the truth most leaders miss:
Burnout isn’t about capacity.
It’s about wasted energy.

And wasted energy almost always comes from leadership behavior.

If you manage people, save this before your next 1:1.

Draining leaders vs. sustainable leaders:

🚩 Draining leaders confuse chaos with urgency. Everything feels like a crisis. Nothing feels strategic.

🟢 Sustainable leaders create psychological safety.
Energy goes into the work, not into self-protection.

🚩 Draining leaders need visibility into everything. Progress turns into performance.

🟢 Sustainable leaders give clarity and autonomy. People do the job they were hired for.

The data backs this up.
High-trust organizations experience dramatically lower stress and significantly higher productivity.

So if you lead others, here are a few non-negotiables:
🛑 If you trust someone to do the work, trust them to surface problems. Don't ask for updates you don't need.

🎯 Set real priorities. Not everything is urgent. When everything is a fire, nothing is.

🤝 Make it safe to admit mistakes. If blame is the default, people will hide issues instead of fixing them.

🗣️ Say “I trust your judgment” and don’t undermine it later.

⚡ Protect your team’s energy like you protect the budget. Manufactured urgency drains it faster than any workload.

Your people already have the skills.
They already have the drive.
They already have the capacity.

What they don’t have is energy to waste fighting for credibility while doing their job.

Culture is an energy system.
Leaders either replenish it or drain it.
There is no neutral.

🔄 Repost to help your network. 
➕ Follow me Gözde Imamoglu for more on career, personal growth and high-energy work-life.

taplio

Gözde Imamoglu's Linkedin Analytics

Gözde İmamoğlu

Performance ScoreGözde İmamoğlu's LinkedIn Performance

Who is engaging with Gözde

Gözde İmamoğlu's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?