On Sunday night, Lucy Bronze helped England win Euro 2025.
A national hero. A warrior on the pitch.
And then came the post-match bombshell…
She’d played the entire tournament with a fractured leg.
Let that sink in.
She didn’t just grit her teeth for one game.
She pushed through six high-stakes matches, against the best teams in Europe, while injured.
And not once did she let it show.
It’s a stunning display of resilience.
But it also raises a bigger question for anyone running a business right now:
Are you pushing through pain… and at what cost?
As business owners, we’ve been conditioned to grind.
To take pride in never stopping.
To show no weakness.
To do “whatever it takes”.
And yes – there are moments when that mindset gets you over the line.
But when the grind becomes your default, it’s often a sign that something’s broken beneath the surface.
Lucy Bronze had medics, physios, elite recovery protocols.
You? You’ve got a Google Calendar that doesn’t give you room to breathe.
Going to bed each night with anxiety or overwhelm from the relentless pressure.
Real Strength Isn’t Always Carrying On
I speak to clients all the time who are “just getting through the week.”
Saying things like:
“Once I get this project done, I’ll take a breath.”
“I just need to get through next month.”
“It’s fine – I’ve handled worse.”
Until they hit a wall.
Because truthfully, resilience isn’t about always saying yes.
It’s about learning when to pause or say ‘no’.
When to delegate.
When to get help.
And when to admit: this isn’t sustainable anymore.
So, what’s your fractured leg?
Is it a key team member you’re covering for – again?
A part of the business you know isn’t working but feels too messy to fix?
A diary that’s so rammed there’s zero time for you to think, plan or breathe?
Here’s the truth:
Your business doesn’t need you to suffer your way to growth.
It needs you to lead with clarity, structure and support.
To put systems in place that stop you being the bottleneck.
And to recognise that you’ll grow faster when you’re not holding it all together on your own.
You can keep playing on a fracture.
But eventually, it breaks.
Take the win when it comes – yes.
But make sure the cost of victory isn’t your long-term sustainability.
If you want to build something that lasts – and feels good along the way – I’m always up for a conversation.
Just hit reply, or Book a Free Discovery Call
