A “Swift” Interruption
Protecting Your Energy Like a Luxury Item
Every now and then, someone says something so wise, so grounded, that it feels like a lightning bolt of truth. This week, that someone was Taylor Swift.
(We’ll return to our regularly scheduled inner dialogue series next week…I promise.)
During her appearance on the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, Taylor offered this gem:
“You should think of your energy as if it’s expensive, as if it’s a luxury item. Not everyone can afford it… what you spend your energy on—that’s the day.”
Let’s pause there. Because, wow.
We talk a lot about time as a finite resource. Time is money. Time is precious. You can’t make more of it. But how often do we talk about energy with the same reverence?
As leaders, we tend to fill our calendars with meetings, tasks, and deadlines. We budget time down to the minute. But we often forget to budget energy. Big mistake!
Budgeting Energy: The Hidden Currency of Leadership
Most leaders figure out the hard way: influence doesn’t come from how many hours you work. It comes from how you show up.
When you walk into a team meeting, are you present? Or just physically in the room?
When a direct report is struggling, do you have the bandwidth to coach? Or are you mentally drained?
When conflict arises, do you bring clarity and calm, or do you show up with reactivity?
Your energy shapes every interaction. It affects how people experience your leadership. And just like Taylor said, “What you spend your energy on—that’s the day.”
You can spend your energy trying to fix everything for everyone, spiraling over things you can’t control, or chasing validation from people who don’t see you clearly. But is that really what you want to become your day?
Leadership is not just about getting things done. It’s about how you do them. And you have to consider not just how much time, but also how much energy it will cost you. Budget that energy wisely.
Considering the Source: Why This Wisdom Hits Hard
Taylor Swift isn’t just a global superstar. She’s also a leader of teams—creative teams, tour crews, collaborators, designers, and strategists. She manages partnerships, reinvents her brand, and creates space for others to thrive. And she’s been doing it under a microscope for nearly 20 years.
To sustain that kind of influence, creativity, and output, you have to be ruthless about what you give your energy to.
It’s easy to assume that success means being available to everyone, saying yes to every opportunity, or responding to every comment or critique. But that’s not it. Taylor models discernment in carefully selecting where to invest her energy.
Leadership requires this type of discernment. Not everyone gets access to your inner world. Not every piece of feedback deserves your emotional labor. Not every challenge is yours to solve.
Sometimes, the most courageous leadership move is choosing not to react.
Putting it Into Practice
If you’re wondering what this looks like in everyday leadership, here are a few tangible ways to treat your energy like the luxury item it is:
➡️ Guard your mornings. Protect your first hour. Don’t jump straight into emails or Slack messages. Use that energy for strategic thinking or conversations that matter.
➡️ Notice your people-pleasing reflex. Ask yourself, “Am I doing this because it’s aligned with my leadership, or because I don’t want to disappoint someone?”
➡️ Take a beat before responding. When a request, criticism, or crisis shows up, pause. Ask, “Is this worth my energy right now? Or is this a distraction from where I need to be focused?”
➡️ Use post-meeting reflection. After 1:1s, team meetings, or tough conversations, take a moment to reflect. “Did I spend my energy wisely? Did I walk away drained or energized?”
➡️ Set boundaries with compassion. You can be kind and still say no. You can care deeply and still conserve your bandwidth.
So let’s take a cue from Ms. Swift herself. Take a moment to ask yourself…
- What have I been giving energy to lately that doesn’t deserve it?
- Who or what consistently depletes me, and how can I create boundaries around that?
- Where does my energy naturally flow and how can I give myself more of that?
Your energy is expensive. It’s also powerful. Use it on what matters most.
P.S. I’ll see you next week when we will return to our series on managing your inner dialogue. But for now, here’s to treating your energy like the luxury item it is.