In a recent LinkedIn post, Christine Carrillo discusses the critical distinction between true inner peace and a reliance on external circumstances for well-being, particularly as observed in founders and CEOs. Carrillo challenges the notion that peace derived from everything going well is genuine peace, framing it instead as a form of control that falters under pressure.
Carrillo highlights how this conditional peace is exposed during challenging times, such as a difficult business call, a lost deal, or a missed target. She observes:
“The steadiness doesn’t survive the first tough call of the week. The deal that slips. The hire that flakes. The number that misses. And the peace goes with it.”
This observation, Carrillo suggests, reveals that a perceived sense of peace was conditional all along, rather than a stable internal state. She elaborates on these conditional states:
- Sleeping well only when things go well
- Feeling confident only when it’s done your way
- Being patient only when nothing is on the line
The Illusion of Control as Leadership
Christine Carrillo argues that mistaking these conditional states for leadership is a common pitfall. She distinguishes between the outward appearance of control and genuine steadiness, asserting that what many leaders label as leadership is merely a temporary state of control that evaporates when faced with adversity.
According to Carrillo, true leadership maturity for a CEO is not about expecting or ensuring that only good weeks occur. Instead, it is about maintaining personal equilibrium and character consistency across both successful and challenging periods.
Defining Real CEO Maturity
Carrillo posits that real CEO maturity is demonstrated by the ability to remain the same person, with the same values and composure, regardless of the external outcomes. This internal steadiness, she implies, is the bedrock of sustainable leadership and personal peace.
“Real CEO maturity isn’t expecting only good weeks. It’s being the same person on the bad ones.”
She further emphasizes that this authentic steadiness is not contingent on favorable conditions but is an inherent quality that withstands the inevitable fluctuations of business and life. Carrillo’s insights are drawn from her experience coaching founders and observing the internal dynamics of CEOs at scale, as detailed in her weekly newsletter, ‘Big Business Tiny Team’.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Christine Carrillo on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on May 8, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →