Put on Your Oxygen Mask First: Why You Need to Prioritize Yourself in Business

As I was getting ready for our much anticipated vacation. I started thinking about the part I hate the most, flying. I am not scared to fly, I just don’t enjoy anything about it. I think the least enjoyable is the pre-flight safety briefing: “In the event of an emergency, put on your oxygen mask first before assisting others.” It’s classic advice, and very important — you can’t help anyone if you’re gasping for air.

It got me thinking about Kevin Lawrence’s book, “Your Oxygen Mask First,” and I remembered that rule doesn’t just apply at 30,000 feet. It applies to your business too.

If you're leading a team, building a vision, or carrying the weight of a company on your shoulders — you need your own version of the  oxygen mask. When you’re depleted, distracted, and overextended, it’s not just you who suffers. Your team feels it. Your business stalls. That brilliant vision of yours starts to fade into the background noise of day-to-day chaos.

So here’s the permission slip you might not have given yourself lately:

It’s okay to focus on YOU. In fact, it’s essential.

And get this — it’s not just a fluffy self-care mantra, the science backs it up. Studies show that leaders who invest in their own well-being make better decisions, build stronger teams, and (wait for it) make more money. Teams with leaders who practice self-care actually feel safer, more motivated, and more productive. Your wellbeing doesn’t just impact you — it sets the tone for your whole organization.

This isn’t selfish. It’s sustainable leadership.

Putting on your oxygen mask looks like:

• Letting go of the need to be in every meeting.

• Getting support to wrangle the chaos behind the scenes.

• Having someone else hold your team accountable so you don’t have to.

• Getting systems in place so your business runs smoothly — even when you're not in the room.

  
  

Now, before you start spiraling because you’re already overwhelmed (I see you!), let me say this: starting small is enough. Take one thing off your plate. Say no to one thing that drains you. Say yes to help — the kind that gives you back time and mental space. The kind that lets you breathe again.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present.

So if you’re ready to see your business take off — consider this your sign. Pause. Take a breath. And remember: your business needs a leader who can breathe.

Start with YOUR mask so you can assist others.