Principal in Balance 2 - Jessica Cabeen

When May gets chaotic, do your systems hold—or do you?

by Jessica Cabeen | Apr 25, 2026 | Principal in Balance, Slow Leadership

In Minnesota, we have a phenomenon called false spring. One day it’s 80 and sunny.Next, a blizzard cancels school.You adjust… and then it shifts again. End-of-year leadership feels the same. Plans go sideways.Staff transitions disrupt routines.And the tension between...

Are You Aligned to Your Goals — or Reacting to Noise?

by Jessica Cabeen | Apr 16, 2026 | Permission to Rest, Principal in Balance, Slow Leadership

You set the goals.The strategic plan is clear.The priorities are named.The outcomes are defined. And yet… Your days don’t feel aligned.They feel reactive. Emails.Parent concerns.Staff tensions.New initiatives.District asks.Community pressure. By 3:42 p.m., you’ve been...

What If the Pace You’re Proud Of Is the Very Thing Undermining Your Leadership?

by Jessica Cabeen | Feb 20, 2026 | Permission to Rest, Principal in Balance, Slow Leadership

Is Your Leadership Sustainable — or Just Impressive? The Hidden Cost of Hustle Culture You’re getting it done. The meetings are covered.The emails are answered.The fires are handled.The outcomes look solid. From the outside, it’s impressive. But here’s the question...

How Do I Lead When I Don’t Feel Confident?

by Jessica Cabeen | Feb 13, 2026 | Principal in Balance, Slow Leadership

I wish I felt more confident.I second-guess decisions.I replay conversations.I assume others could lead better. Some days, I’m not sure I trust myself. How do I lead when I don’t feel confident? What’s really going on Confidence is often misunderstood. We think it...

Before You Go: How to Wrap Up 2025 with Purpose, Presence, and Closure

by Jessica Cabeen | Dec 13, 2025 | Permission to Rest, Principal in Balance, Unconventional Leadership

Before you go…I know—you saw this title and panicked. What did I forget? What still needs to be done? This isn’t about adding one more thing to your plate. It’s about resisting the urge to mentally sprint into 2026 before 2025 is actually finished. December tempts...

But I Turned It Off… and the World Kept Spinning (Part 2)

by Jessica Cabeen | Nov 22, 2025 | Permission to Rest, Principal in Balance, Slow Leadership

Last month, I shared the truth I didn’t want to admit: that the hardest part of a long-awaited, bucket-list trip wasn’t the planning, the packing, or the travel. It was the idea of turning off my email. Well, I did it. And here’s what happened when I finally...