The Wednesday Play: Rest & Relaxation

Hi Playmakers,

I’m writing this from across the world, where the air is warm, the signal is weak, and for once, my schedule is completely clear.

This week, I’m on vacation, celebrating my 13th wedding anniversary. This is not the kind of vacation where you bring your laptop and sneak in calls between meals. This is the real kind — no meetings, no inbox, no agenda. Just time to rest.

And to be honest, I needed it more than I realized.

Lately, I’ve felt it. It’s the same weight that so many of us are carrying. Everything feels a little heavier right now. The news is hard to watch. The pressure to keep up, stay visible, stay relevant, is nonstop. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind if you’re not constantly building, posting, and planning.

But I’ve been reminded this week that rest isn’t the opposite of progress. It’s part of it.

Some of my clearest thinking has come not in front of a screen, but with my feet in the sand and my phone on airplane mode. When we stop forcing clarity, it tends to find us. I did a similar trip this time of year last year, where my husband and I rented an RV and drove from Los Angeles to the Arctic Circle (yes, really!)

So if you’re feeling stuck, tired, or just numb — you’re not alone. The best thing you might do right now is pause. Not quit, but pause. Step away long enough to hear your own thoughts again.

We don’t rest because we’re weak. We rest because we’re strong enough to know what we need in order to keep going.

Sending you permission to unplug, even if just for a moment.

Where’s that special “place” for you?

Hit reply and let me know (but you probably won’t get a reply until next week).

Jenny

Before she became the youngest woman to ever lead a Fortune 25 company, Sarah London was a tennis-playing kid from St. Louis who loved literature and learning. Today, she is the CEO of Centene Corporation, a $144 billion healthcare powerhouse serving over 28 million people.

Her story is not about arriving at the top by accident. It is about deep curiosity, quiet confidence, and a vision for making healthcare more human.

Read the story now.

Sarah London grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, in a family that valued both intellect and empathy. Her father, John McGinty, was a successful business executive and graduate of Chicago Booth. He played a significant role in shaping her approach to leadership. He passed away just weeks before her wedding, but his influence never left her.

As a child, Sarah balanced academics with athletics. She developed a love for reading and writing, but also became a competitive tennis player, eventually earning a spot on Harvard’s Division I tennis team.

Read how Sarah became the youngest ever female Fortune 25 CEO.

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Insights are only valuable if they’re acted on. Let’s turn this knowledge into impact with small but powerful action steps.

This week’s challenge: TAKE. A. BREAK.

Seriously. Cut yourself some slack and take it easy. Sometimes the best way to leap forward is to take a step back. Find a way to recharge and give yourself some space to not think about what’s on your plate. You’ll be surprised how problems that seem insurmountable become solvable with a fresh mind and a renewed perspective.

Call to Action:

1️⃣ Set aside some time to relax your body and mind completely.

2️⃣ Don’t report back. Relax, instead.

Every week, I spotlight somebody from the community who is making a big play in their career or industry. This week’s play comes from Alexandr Wang, now-former CEO of ScaleAI.

Alexandr took a rare opportunity this week to use the company’s astronomical new $14 billion dollar investment from Meta to… pay employees. A rarity in Silicon Valley, shareholders and employees will receive payouts for their vested equity, despite no exit taking place. Truly admirable and hopefully a sign for more CEOs to do the right thing in years to come…

Want to be featured next?

Make sure to tag @Jenny Stojkovic on your post for a chance to be featured.

The Wednesday Play isn’t just a newsletter — it’s a community. I’ll be announcing much more in coming weeks and months! For now, let’s connect across social.

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