Since 1999, Mark MacLeod has been funding, growing and exiting high growth software companies as either a CFO, VC, investment banker or CEO coach. Former CFO of Shopify, GP at Real Venture and founder of SurePath Capital Partners. Mark coaches the CEOs of high grow and lead all the way to a massive exit.
2025: An Energetic Review
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Very often, when CEOs finally slow down at this time of year, their bodies tell them the truth. They step off the gas pedal only to realize they’ve been running on fumes. Many get sick. Many feel flat, depleted, or mentally foggy. The default model of startup leadership is a lie. Grind harder. Hustle. Sleep when you’re dead. This can create short-term velocity, but it doesn’t last. You are sprinting a marathon. The leaders who scale year after year focus on energy. It takes energy to create something from nothing. Energy to grow faster than your business. Energy to make clear decisions under pressure. As CEO, you set the energetic pace. Your company can’t outgrow your energy. With that in mind, here is a set of reflection questions to help you review 2025, through the lens that matters most. The Energetic Review1. My Current Energetic StateRight now, my overall energy feels:
Compared to this time last year, my energy is:
2. Energy FoundationsSleep Do I get 7+ hours of quality sleep most nights? (Y/N) Do I wake up feeling rested? (Y/N) Exercise Do I move to the point of sweating at least 3x per week? (Y/N) If over 40: Am I lifting weights regularly? (Y/N) Nutrition Does my diet give me energy or drain it? A diet that supports energy generally includes:
Recovery (beyond sleep) Do I take real downtime (days or weeks fully off)? Do I ever feel genuinely restored? (Y/N) 3. Nervous System & Stress LoadMost days, my nervous system feels:
How often am I in fight-or-flight during a typical week? What reliably helps me down-regulate my nervous system? 4. Mental & Cognitive EnergyHow long can I sustain deep focus before fatigue sets in? At the end of most days, my mind feels:
What time of day is my brain at its best — and do I protect that time? 5. Emotional EnergyWhat emotions dominate my days? What emotions am I suppressing or not processing? Where do unresolved emotions leak into my leadership, decisions, or relationships? 6. Purpose & MeaningAm I living and working in alignment with my true purpose? What parts of my work feel deeply meaningful? What parts feel purely obligatory? What is the current ratio of meaning to obligation? 7. HappinessOverall, I feel:
What most influences my happiness right now? 8. Energy LeaksWhere am I leaking energy? Personal life: List specific situations, habits, or commitments. Company: List roles, problems, meetings, or dynamics. 9. Energy DrainsActivities that drain me Personal: Company: What can I change, delegate, redesign, or stop? People who drain me Personal: Company: What boundaries need to be set? 10. TolerationsWhat am I tolerating? Create a list of everything you are putting up with: big and small, personal and professional. Rank them from highest to lowest energetic cost. What is my plan to remove or resolve them, one by one? 11. Superpowers & intentionWhat % of my time is spent in my superpowers or zone of genius? Do I work intentionally (what I planned), or reactively (what shows up)? How easy is it for me to:
12. Environment & DesignDoes my physical workspace give me energy or drain it? Does where I live and travel support my health and rhythms? Where am I fighting my environment instead of designing it? 13. Relationships & SupportWho consistently gives me energy? How often do I spend time with them? Where am I isolated at the top? 14. Patterns & ConstraintsWhat energy patterns repeat every year? What have I ignored for multiple years in a row? If I fixed one thing that would most improve my energy in 2026, what would it be? Insights & ActionsBased on this review: What changes do I want to make in 2026? What specifically will I:
What do I want my energetic state to be one year from now? I’d love to hear whether this review generates insights for you. Wishing you health, clarity, and sustained energy. See you in 2026. Mark © 2024 SurePath Capital Partners, Inc, dba 'Mark MacLeod, CEO Coach' |
Mark Macleod
Since 1999, Mark MacLeod has been funding, growing and exiting high growth software companies as either a CFO, VC, investment banker or CEO coach. Former CFO of Shopify, GP at Real Venture and founder of SurePath Capital Partners. Mark coaches the CEOs of high grow and lead all the way to a massive exit.
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