Hi,
I asked 100 CEOs this question, and here are the top 6 answers:
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John Mackey, Co-Founder of Whole Foods Market, and Co-Creator & CEO of Love.Life, an integrated health and wellness company. |
“What keeps me grounded is very simple: connection. It’s easy to focus on achievements and accolades, but for me, success isn’t wealth or recognition, but the impact we have on others and the relationships we build. Ego and fear have less room to grow when love is your foundation.
At Whole Foods Market, our purpose was to nourish both people and the planet, and keeping that purpose front and center helped us stay level-headed through both wins and challenges. My purpose has evolved since then, but my mindset hasn’t.
Although we all get off track sometimes, the point is to stay aware, forgive yourself, and return to love. That’s why real friends matter: people who care for you, keep you honest, and help you remember what’s important.
Other things ground me: being in nature, long-distance hiking, pickleball, walking, reading books such as A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman, meditating, breathwork, and gratitude. One mantra has guided me for years, and it keeps me grounded today: "love everyone, all the time, with no exceptions.”
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Mark Bailie, CEO of Compare the Market, grew the platform to 8.4 million customers, delivering one of the strongest four-year runs in the company’s history. |
“My partner, exercise, and perspective are all things that keep me grounded.
I’ve always been good with pressure and only really understood this when, at a party in 2012, a friend asked my wife if she was OK with me leaving her with four kids when I went out on bike rides. She replied by saying it was my therapy and, she half-joked, the only way to keep me bearable. That’s when three things clicked for me:
- You can’t do everything on your own. For me it wouldn’t be possible without a partner who’s willing to share the load.
- Mindfulness matters. I’m terrible at meditation, so exercise is the only thing that works if I need some headspace.
- Perspective is vital. I go out cycling with my friend, an ICU paediatric consultant. Learning about what he deals with on a daily basis, it’s hard to get swept up in your own worries.”
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Harald Nuij, EMEA CEO of Pax8, a cloud commerce marketplace, unified its European operations and drove hundreds of new customers a month, helping power the company’s revenue growth of 239% over the past three years. |
“The people I work with keep me grounded. Not just the leadership team I collaborate with every day, but everyone around me.
When I visit colleagues around Europe, I make time to sit with different team members. These small moments of connection remind me why I wanted to lead.
I enjoy hearing from people who are just beginning their careers, as well as those who’ve been part of the journey for years. I ask about their ambitions, what drives them, and what they’re learning.
Those conversations also make me reflect on my own journey. I’ve been lucky to work with leaders and colleagues who’ve taught me a lot about business, humility, patience and staying true to your values.
When you’re at the top, it’s easy to get lost in meetings, targets and decisions. What keeps me balanced is listening to someone’s story and seeing their excitement for what’s ahead.
Success is never a solo effort. It’s built by people believing in something together. Never lose touch with the people who make your business what it is. Listen to them. Learn from them. Let them challenge you.”
“The most effective companies start with genuine human connection. When we lead with empathy, we inspire people and build brands that matter - and that’s what keeps me grounded.
During Covid, I was working in the dining and travel industry. Revenue plummeted to zero and we did three rounds of layoffs in a year. It was brutal. That experience shaped how I lead now, continually reinvesting in kindness and support for our teams and customers at LinkedIn.
The same mindset guides me today. In a world where AI and economic flux are rewriting the rules of work, curiosity is needed more than ever. I explore, study and accept that I don’t have all the answers.”
Dive deeper into Jessica’s experience at LinkedIn and the learnings that shaped her approach to leadership, by watching her full Diary of a CEO conversation.
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Richard Chambers, Founder and CEO at Get a Drip, the UK’s leading affordable IV vitamin drip and shot provider. |
“Remembering where it all started keeps me grounded.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on my 18th birthday and ended up in hospital. That experience changed the trajectory of my life and it opened my eyes to how hard it can be for people to access support when they need it most. My company was born from that moment.
Now, whenever I walk into a clinic or speak to a customer, I think about that younger version of myself who just wanted to feel better and understand his own health. That keeps me grounded far more than any business metric.
I also stay close to the team, talking to nurses, clinicians, and front-of-house staff. They remind me daily that we’re not just running a company, we’re helping people take control of their health in ways I never could when I needed it most.”
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Lara Stallbaum, CEO & Co-Founder at Twirl, a UGC platform with a vetted network of 5,000+ content creators across the world, delivering work to over 900 brands and agencies. |
“Throughout my 10 years of building companies, the only thing that’s kept me grounded is my partner. No matter what happens, I know there’s someone who’s seen every version of me – the good and the bad, and still chooses to listen and support me.
He’s seen me as an 18-year-old finishing high school, starting my first company at 21, watching it collapse seven years later, and then helping me rebuild from scratch.
People always talk about support systems as big networks or mastermind groups, but honestly, you only need that one person – a partner, sister, mother, or best friend – who carries the weight with you and celebrates your wins. Someone you can talk to about random things, like a bad hire or a nightmare client. That kind of connection keeps you sane more than any productivity hack ever could.”
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Talk soon,
Steven