The Program Director Who Wants to Do More
Ana is a bilingual program director working with Spanish-speaking communities in multiple countries. She spends her days coordinating events, training support teams, and designing outreach materials. She loves the work, but she often feels torn between wanting to take on new projects and needing to scale back so she doesn’t overwhelm herself.
This month, she received an invitation to partner with a new team in Brazil. The opportunity is exciting, and it aligns with her long-term vision. But she has a habit of overextending herself, and her calendar is already packed. She once joked that she “bit off more than she could chew” during a previous project, but she notices she’s beginning to repeat that same pattern.
During a meeting yesterday, her assistant asked whether they should expand the next workshop or keep it simple. Ana hesitated — not because she lacked ideas, but because she suddenly realized she was tired. It’s a quiet kind of fatigue that doesn’t stop her from working but makes everything feel heavier. She wants to grow her programs, but she’s unsure whether she can do it sustainably.
Questions
What factors should someone consider before saying yes to a new opportunity?
How can ambition become both a strength and a challenge?
What signals suggest that someone needs to slow down before growing further?
