Marisol Solarte-Erlacher | The Hidden Cost of High Achievement

🎙️ Episode Overview:

In this episode of Women Choosing Growth, Tina Sue welcomes leadership and resilience expert Marisol Solarte-Erlacher for a powerful, real conversation about what resilience actually looks like — not just for leaders, but for every human trying to thrive in a chaotic world.

Marisol shares her raw journey from running a successful practice to facing deep burnout, the emotional cost of leadership, and how unacknowledged stress silently sabotages even the most "high-functioning" among us. She also breaks down how entrepreneurs and leaders can proactively build emotional resilience — and why you must model it first if you want your teams to thrive.

This episode is packed with insights every leader needs — especially in today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world.

🔥 What You'll Learn:

Why high-achievers are often silently struggling — and how to recognize it before it's too late.
How to build your Window of Tolerance so you can stay calm and strategic under stress.
The real signs of hyperarousal and hypoarousal (and why they aren't always obvious).

Simple leadership questions that help you support your team without becoming their therapist.

Why your self-care and resilience work isn't optional if you want to be an effective leader.

How strong beliefs can act like hidden triggers that sabotage communication and collaboration.

🧠 Notable Quotes:

"You can’t lead others well if you’re not first leading yourself through your own challenges." – Marisol Solarte-Erlacher

"You don't have to wait until a breakdown to start building resilience — it’s a muscle you train every day." – Marisol Solarte-Erlacher

"High-functioning doesn't mean healthy functioning. Silent struggles are happening more often than you think." – Marisol Solarte-Erlacher

"Self-care isn't fixing yourself in the moment of crisis — it's the preparation you do when things are still calm." – Marisol Solarte-Erlacher

"Three in five employees are silently struggling — and the highest performers might be hiding it best." – Marisol Solarte-Erlacher

🎯 Actionable Takeaways:

Understand Your Window of Tolerance: Recognize the early warning signs when you're slipping into hyperarousal (anxiety, overwhelm) or hypoarousal (shutdown, detachment).

Create a Personal Resilience Plan: Don't wait for burnout. Build daily habits like meditation, journaling, or strategic check-ins that strengthen emotional stamina.

Ask Simple Check-In Questions as a Leader:
How are you doing today?
What challenges are you facing right now?
What strategies have helped you overcome challenges before?
How can I support you right now?
What are you doing to take care of yourself this week?
Model Resilience Yourself: Your team will mirror your self-care habits—or your stress. Show them what resilient leadership looks like.
Recognize Silent Struggles: Remember that your highest performers could be masking the deepest struggles. Stay connected.