Dear Family,

I’ve spent so much of my life trying to keep my "work self" and my "grandma self" in separate boxes, terrified that if they touched, the whole system would collapse. We are taught to compartmentalize—to leave the grief at the door so we can execute our duties with competence. But in the Second Cradle, that door has been ripped off its hinges.

This week, I sat down with Brad Hoffman, a pastor and organizational leader who is raising two of his grandchildren after the loss of his daughter. We dove deep into what it means to lead a family when your heart and your battery are being stretched across generations. It was a masterclass in what I call "The Integrated Leader."

The Raw Truth: The Colliding Calendars

We often feel like we have to choose between being a powerful advocate and a grieving grandparent. But as Brad reminded me, our trauma and our exhaustion are not distractions from our leadership—they are the crucible that defines it.

Inside the Project: Episode 101

This Week’s Guest: Brad Hoffman | "The Integrated Leader: Dreaming Through Disruption"

Brad joins us to discuss the "quiet dismantling" of identity and why success in this season is measured by presence rather than productivity.

​[🎧Link to EPISODE #101: Brad Hoffman]​

The Reflection Room

I want you to step into the Reflection Room with me. Brad mentioned that we often ask "Why?" when we should be asking "How?" Take a look at your calendar for this week.

Are you living in the "Why"—staying stuck in the bitterness of what was lost—or are you living in the "How"? What is one simple grace you can note in your journal tonight to prove that you are present in the race you’re actually running, not the one you planned?

The Toolbox: Tactical Moves

• Move 1: Perform an "Identity Audit." List the roles you held before the Second Cradle. Instead of mourning the lost roles, identify one leadership skill from your past (negotiation, vision, logistics) and apply it to a current family hurdle.
• Move 2: Practice "Protected Margin." Identify one hour this week where you are not "The CEO." Delegate a non-essential task or release the desire for a "perfect" house to buy back an hour of silence or prayer.
• Move 3: Reframe the Win. Shift your daily goal from "Productivity" (getting it all done) to "Presence" (being emotionally available). If you were present for the hard conversations today, you won.

I’m sitting at my desk this morning with a full heart.

Last week, I told you we were opening the doors to our new YouTube home. I asked you to help us give the algorithm a signal that our mission matters.

Over the weekend, we hit our first milestone: 10 Founding Subscribers. 🥂

To some, ten might seem like a small number. But to an Invisible CEO, ten represents ten more chairs pulled up to the boardroom table. It represents ten more families who now have access to the "3 R's" for their grandsons and the "Systems" they need to survive the week.

If you haven’t claimed your seat yet, here is what you missed this weekend:

• The Survival Guide: My conversation with Pat Hankin on the "hourly rate" of your sanity.

• The Emotional Shift: Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst on how to handle the "Big Emotions" of the boys in our care.

• The Welcome: Our 2.7 Million Manifesto—why we do what we do.

​[Link: CLICK HERE TO BE SUBSCRIBER #11]​

Our next goal is 25 subscribers. Reaching 25 tells YouTube that this isn't just a hobby—it’s a movement. If this podcast has ever helped you breathe a little easier during a hard week, would you hit that "Subscribe" button today?

​[Link: WATCH & SUBSCRIBE HERE]​

Thank you for being part of the first ten. Let’s see how many more "Warrior Hearts" we can bring into the room before next Tuesday.

With a warrior’s heart,

Laura Brazan

Founder, The 2.7 Million Project/Host of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity

​https://www.grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org/​