What if your next big leadership breakthrough started with booking a vacation?
In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer dives into a powerful and often overlooked leadership lesson: the transformative value of R&R. With summer in full swing and the midpoint of the year approaching, BJ challenges leaders to rethink their relationship with rest, reframing time off as a strategic imperative for sustained impact, clarity, and growth.
From redefining “busy” to modeling a culture that celebrates vacation time and drawing inspiration from military leadership models and Bill Gates’s Think Week, this episode offers practical insights for leaders ready to recharge and lead with renewed purpose.
Tune in to find out why stepping away might be the most powerful move you make this year!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The importance of prioritizing time off and planning ahead.
- Lessons from military models of reflection and leader development.
- Investing in your career when you're young and then modeling rest as a leader.
- Practical tips to help you “disconnect, re-energize, and redeploy.”
- A leadership challenge: book time off and encourage your team to do the same!
Quotes:
“Don't confuse action with results. Don't confuse a full calendar with impact.” — BJ Kraemer
“The greatest leaders I know are always creating space for themselves.” — BJ Kraemer
“The way that we can – use R&R to grow is [to] disconnect, re-energize, and then redeploy that new energy towards something new.” — BJ Kraemer
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
What is Leadership Blueprints?
Leadership Blueprints is a podcast dedicated to helping leaders align teams, navigate chaos, and accomplish the mission. Hosted by BJ Kraemer—West Point graduate, combat veteran, and President & CEO of MCFA—this show dives into the principles, stories, and strategies behind effective leadership.
With a background in military service and experience leading teams in business, infrastructure, and complex projects, BJ understands that success comes down to execution, adaptability, and leading people well. Through in-depth interviews with accomplished leaders across business, sports, the military, and beyond, Leadership Blueprints will help you bring your vision to reality on projects that shape communities and industries.
Whether you’re leading in the boardroom, on the field, in the military, or within your own organization, this podcast is designed to provide the tools and mindset needed to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Subscribe now and start building your Leadership Blueprint.