Grit Has Limits: When Determination Needs Discernment with Dawn Wolfgram
What happens when grit—one of the most celebrated traits in leadership—actually starts to work against you?
In this powerful and reflective conversation, I sit down with Dawn Wolfgram, a seasoned executive, mother, and trusted mentor in the Wealth Investment Industry, Dawn opens up about learning to balance hustle with wisdom, and how she had to reevaluate the very mindset that helped her rise through the ranks.
We talk about burnout, boundaries, and the subtle ways ambition can disconnect us from our true priorities. Dawn shares how a life-altering moment with her daughter reframed everything she thought she knew about leadership, success, and being present.
Whether you’re climbing the ladder or leading from the top, this episode is your reminder that grit is powerful—but it’s not everything.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Why grit without self-awareness can become a liability.
The moment that caused Dawn to shift her entire leadership style.
How to lead from values, not just goals.
Red flags that you're pushing too hard—and what to do instead.
The gift of grace when you're learning to lead differently.
Practical tools for reevaluating your definition of success.
Links:
https://www.stangibsonspeaks.com
Video Mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTnHN8YDUuE
Episode Minute By Minute:
00:00 - Welcome + Dawn’s leadership background
04:22 - What “grit” looked like in her early career
08:05 - When pushing hard starts pushing people away
12:17 - A wake-up call moment with her daughter
15:50 - Choosing presence over performance
18:30 - The hardest leadership lesson she learned
21:55 - How to reframe success in a burnout culture
25:40 - What Dawn would tell her younger self
28:10 - Living and leading from a deeper place
30:00 - Final thoughts and encouragement
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