Leadership Solutions by Design

05/29/2026

My caricature is having a WAY BETTER hair day than I am having today - in real life… 😁

✨ A Little Reminder for Anyone Who Needs It Today… ✨

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to earn your worth.
You don’t have to carry every burden by yourself.

For years, I chased achievement, approval, and the next goal, believing that if I accomplished enough, I would finally feel enough.

What I’ve learned is this:

💗 My value was never found in my accomplishments.
💗 My peace was never found in my circumstances.
💗 My identity was never meant to be built on the opinions of others.

It was found in Jesus all along.

When life gets heavy, I remind myself:
✨ I am loved.
✨ I am chosen.
✨ I am forgiven.
✨ I am enough because He says I am.

The older I get, the more I realize that faith isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the One who does.

No matter what you’re facing today, God hasn’t forgotten you.
He sees you.
He knows your story.
And He is still writing beautiful chapters ahead.

🙏 “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

💕 Remember: You don’t have to be perfect to be loved by God. You already are.

Share what you’re grateful for in the comments…

05/26/2026

Life is a lot like hiking… 🥾💙

Some trails are easy.
Some feel uphill the entire way.
Some leave you wondering if you took a wrong turn.

But every trail teaches you something.

Keep chasing the views.
Keep choosing joy.
Keep stretching beyond your comfort zone.
Keep becoming the person you’re meant to be.

And don’t forget to look around while you’re climbing… because sometimes the journey itself becomes the reward. ✨⛰️

P.S. Fresh air, blue water, sunshine, and a little perspective can fix a lot of things. ☀️

05/24/2026

First backpacking overnighter of the season. 🎒🥾🌲 May 16-17

We were a little bit rusty, but for the most part, we make a good team - which improves the overall camping experience. ⛺️

The bugs welcomed us with open arms, especially Matthew 😳… and the ticks were also very excited to have visitors - especially our little furry camper. 🐾🦮 😣

05/23/2026

I am on information overload and am highly overstimulated by the whirlwind of events for the past two days. 😁🫩 but processing it all with gratitude. 🙏🏻

I am soaking my tired body in a bath full of Epson salts as I post this… 🥱🛁🫧

My stories/videos give the best play-by-play of our awesome two days at the Winsome Women conference held at the Grand Hotel in Mackinaw Island. (more photos and videos to come) 📸

Back Story🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

When we planned this trip back in February, it had sentimental value for Shawna and myself.

The last time I was at this women’s event - was in the fall of 2002. I was pregnant for the first time and unfortunately lost that baby the following month… 👼

The last time Shawna was there was in 2009, and she had sadly, miscarried her first pregnancy - just a few months prior. 

So we both thought it would be a beautiful full circle moment to go the week of Mother’s Day and bring our daughters that we had after our miscarriages… 🥹

A beautiful promise that God always … I repeat always comes through for us. ✝️🙏🏻

Even if life seems bleak, empty, or you feel like God is silent right now… Just remember a lot can happen in that pause before He blesses you.

Keep the faith and keep walking in the light… your upgrade is coming! ♥️

P.S. there’s something magical about hearing 300 or more women, singing, praise and worship… 🎶🎵😁🥰


05/20/2026

Life has a way of feeling like a mountain climb sometimes. 🥾⛰️

There are seasons where the trail feels clear… and seasons where you’re carrying more than you ever expected. But I’ve learned that growth rarely happens standing still.

Keep taking the next step.

Lead with purpose.
Choose progress over perfection.
Stay grounded in what matters.
Lift others as you rise.

You are stronger than you think, more resilient than you feel, and more capable than you realize.

The view ahead is worth the climb. 💙

Resilience

04/27/2026

I see this all the time with high-performing leaders…

They think doing more = leading better.

So they step in.
They fix.
They fill the gaps.
They carry the weight of the team.

And on the surface, it looks like leadership.

But over time?

It creates dependency, burnout, and a team that stops stepping up.

In this week’s episode of The Leadership Lounge, I’m breaking down a shift every executive needs to make:

What happens when you stop overfunctioning.

Because real leadership isn’t about doing it all…
it’s about creating the space for others to rise.

And when you stop overcompensating…
you finally see where the gaps really are.

🎧 Link in bio

04/23/2026

March will always feel like our month 🌷☘️

From a cozy spa getaway with Shyla at the in Petoskey…
to celebrating my birthday in the middle of a record-breaking blizzard in Traverse City (because of course we did 😄)…
to a simple, low-key birthday lunch for Shyla with family…

And then wrapping it all up with Easter…church at and brunch together at - just a full heart all around.

The simple moments really are the best ones 🤍💐🌷☺️

04/22/2026

You can have your life together…
and still feel like something’s off.

Like…
you’re productive ✔️
you look put together ✔️
you’re doing “all the things” ✔️

…but internally?

😅 a little tired
🤯 a little overwhelmed
🤔 maybe even questioning things

If that’s you—you’re not broken.

You might just be out of alignment.

I just dropped a new podcast episode breaking down the 6 pillars of a fully aligned life—and why focusing on just one or two (hello physical + career 👋) isn’t enough.

Because real fulfillment?

It’s not just how your life looks…
it’s how it feels.

🎧 Link to episode in bio

04/20/2026

You can have your life together… and still feel like something’s off.

Like...

you’re productive ✔️

you look put together ✔️

you’re doing “all the things” ✔️

…but internally?

😅 a little tired

🤯 a little overwhelmed

🤔 maybe even questioning things

If that’s you—you’re not broken.

You might just be out of alignment.

I just dropped a new podcast episode breaking down the 6 pillars of a fully aligned life—and why focusing on just one or two (hello physical + career 👋) isn’t enough.

Because real fulfillment?

It’s not just how your life looks… it’s how it feels.

🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/54wT4JXEfPrU6uXsO00LJk?si=yl6h2TfhQO6MDVFNVxxRww

Curious… which pillar do you feel most out of alignment with right now?

The Leadership Lounge with Karie Millspaugh · Episode

02/24/2026

Let’s normalize something…

You can be a strong leader AND still be learning how to lead yourself.

One of the most relatable leadership gaps I see in coaching is this:
Leaders are trained to manage performance…

…but rarely taught how to manage their own energy.
And energy is contagious.

If a leader walks into a room:
⚡ Stressed → The room tightens
🌿 Calm → The room stabilizes
🧭 Curious → The room collaborates
🛑 Defensive → The room shuts down

Leadership isn’t just strategy.
It’s emotional climate control.

Three simple ways to lead your energy (before leading others):
1️⃣ 🏷️ Name your state
You can’t regulate what you don’t recognize.
2️⃣ ⏱️ Check your pace
Speed communicates pressure. Presence communicates confidence.
3️⃣ 🎙️ Choose your tone intentionally
People often remember how leaders made them feel more than what they said.

Leadership doesn’t require perfection.
It requires awareness.
And awareness is a skill you can absolutely build.

Which one impacts your leadership most: pace, tone, or emotional state?