Cut The BS

Your guide to leading stronger, scaling smarter, and staying sane

Welcome to another edition of Cut the BS!

A newsletter dedicated to help you achieve sustainable peak performance for your entrepreneurial journey.

Being a human is HARD, and being a entrepreneur, leader, creative can be even more challenging and isolating.

The intention of this newsletter is to give you the tools you need to heal, lead, and scale with ease. 🤎

Before we jump in...

🗓️ Fall 2025 + Spring 2026 Leadership Retreat bookings are open and available in the U.S. and Europe. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to bring your team together – this is it. Discovery calls end June 19!

This week we’re diving into → How I maintained peak performance while on the road for 6 weeks.

I realized just how much depth and detail this insight holds, so I’m splitting it into two parts:

Part 1 (this week):

• The boundaries and routines that kept me sharp.

Part 2 (next Tuesday):

• The behind-the-scenes habits that protect my energy and how to build your own high-performance system.

How I maintained peak performance while on the road for 6 weeks.

On February 26, 2025 I left the Italian Alps for a non-stop facilitation, coaching, and speaking tour in the US.

6 Weeks. 10 Cities. 14 Hotels. 4 Leadership Retreats. 5 VIP days.

0 Margin For Error.

I’m not just guessing I achieved and maintained Peak Performance.

I measured it.

My team (shout out to Alissa Lukovics) collected pre and post assessment data for every client engagement and the results speak for themselves.

The data revealed massive growth in:

• connection + belonging
• improved communication + trust
• breakthroughs in clarity + purpose
• greater readiness to lead + execute

I don’t just “run a retreat.” Me and my team design transformational experiences that ignite deep relationships, clear leadership, and sustained momentum – for high-performing leaders and teams who are ready for REAL change.

If you want to stay sharp when the pressure’s high and the pace doesn’t slow – keep reading ↓​
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But, first…
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… As you know, I only have one mode – vulnerable and transparent.

This article is more than a playbook to maintain peak performance – it’s an honest reflection and share of what worked for ME.

Before we begin I need to share something very personal.

🙈 In writing this article, I’ve been forced to do a bit of soul-searching as I began to notice a few things I did to sustain peak performance that, well, I’m not super proud of.
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I invite you to read this article with curiosity and compassion for your own journey and an opportunity to watch your thoughts that may elevate or belittle my own.
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Ok peanut 🥜 here we go!

My Peak Performance Playbook

An honest reflection on how I did it, what I learned, what worked best, what I mastered, what I regret, how I’m evolving, what’s next for my Peak Performance.
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🤎 Boundaries + Routines

My job requires that I stay razor sharp, I never get sick, and I always deliver.

My superpower is that when I speak, facilitate, and guide sessions I can hold every important detail of the company and every attendee – in my brain, at one time.

I have the ability to hold the 80,000 foot view of the company’s mission while simultaneously remembering every single person’s learning style, strength, weakness, and what they hope they accomplish during the retreat.
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This is possible because:

1. I am a goddamn Superhero;
2. The gift my childhood trauma gave me is the ability to hold excessive amounts of intel in my brain at one time and be able to instantly know how to use it to help others;
3. I DON'T compromise on the routines and boundaries that work for me.

🤎 My Boundaries

• No alcohol. Zero. Even on days off.
• No sugar. Not even fruit.
• No grains.
• No assholes.
• No economy flights.
• No late nights.
• Diet of only veggies, protein, fats.
• Nothing but excellence.

However, in reflection of holding 100% keto I had a serious crisis of conscience when I got home. Although turning my body into a human machine allows my brain to function at peak performance – I chose to not prioritize the care of my heart, cells, and hormone function.

Eating only protein, low-starch veggies, and fats – kept me razor sharp. However, although I slept solid, I never slept more than 5-6 hours per night. I was always hunting for food, and squirreling away packaged meat in my bag or hotel mini-bar.

🌏 Choosing to consume animals as if there is no impact on the animal kingdom, the planet, or my health – fills me with guilt. I have some big feelings about how I always choose bacon over blueberries.
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[If this is interesting to you let me know and I’ll share where I land.]

This can get sticky in two areas → My team + My friends/ Family
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⏳ Being on tour is all consuming. Going from one location to another with the sole purpose of being fully present for the client I am with, makes things very challenging when it comes to relating with other human beings.

My entire energy, focus, and spirit – are poured directly into the people I am working with at that moment – it’s as if time stops and we get to co-create in the land of excellence. It’s my drug of choice and a high unlike any other.​
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When on this high – it feels impossible to remember that anything else is going on in the world or with the people closest to me.

👉🏻 I get very hard on my team because I have the luxury and ability to stay in a state of excellence 24/7, and I forget they’re living an actual life.
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👉🏻 I am a shit friend because time stands still for 6 weeks and although they have things evolving and changing – I do not. I go in the zone the day I leave and I do not become a regular person again until 2 weeks after I get home.

✈️ For my next tour…

I’ll work with my team in advance to better prepare them for my expectations (because excellence with clients is non-negotiable), what my team will need from me/ themselves/ their support systems to perform at the highest-level, clarity around their boundaries, and what we all commit to doing.

I’m still struggling with what to do with my friends + family. In this season of my life it’s an interesting journey with these relationships as it is. I’ve made a commitment to cut the bullshit and really acknowledge what I tolerate in myself and from my loved ones. It’s painful and I’m angry I have to do it. But, it’s time.

[I’ve recently started to work with this Internal Family Systems therapist and she is next-level good.]

🤎 My Routines​
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If you want to stay sharp when leading there’s two routines you need to honor:

1. Settle down: The routine to get to sleep
2. Wake up: The routine to start the day
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By honoring the same routine that gets you to sleep and the same routine in which you begin your day – you’ll master your sleep AND you won’t feel the cognitive, physical, and emotional weight of living on the road.

💤 Sleep Training

On tour I’m sleep trained to be in bed between 8:45-9:00 pm. Occasionally I have to extend that 10:00 pm. Depending on my brains and hormones I wake between 4:00-6:00 am.

Over the course of that 6-week period, if I did not have clients or engagements the following day – I was willing to have fun with clients, often staying up till midnight.
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[Like in NYC when I got to hang with the mastermind group I’ve led for over 3 years… nothing was going to pull me away from that precious IRL time.]
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✍🏻 NOTE: When you’re sleep trained, and you go to bed later than your set time, you will 100% wake up at the usual time in the morning. I’m comfortable sacrificing that sleep when I trade it for deep connection.

🌙 How I master the settle-down​
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• Wear the same PJ’s every night (pack two exact sets)

• I bring my own pillow (pack two cases)

• I bring a hot water bottle, travel kettle, sound machine, humidifier, ear plugs, slippers

• Every night I follow the same order: Lights down > humidifier on > lavender oil bath > PJ’s > hot water bottle > supplements > ear plugs > plug in phone > sound machine on (clock visible) > lights out.

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☀️ How I master the wake-up

• I refuse to wake up to an alarm. Instead, I prefer the ambient sound of the white noise app to disappear. This will 100% of the time wake me up. Because the stakes are so high, I set up a back alarm.

• As soon as I open my eyes I drink nearly a liter of water, stretch, pop on my own slippers, fill the kettle, morning skin care and brush my teeth.

• Make a coffee into my Fellow Carter travel mug using a Hario V60 Switch and low caffeine grounds I bring from home.

• As I drink my coffee I align to my intention for that day and the big vision for what I’m trying to create with my life.

• Check if my team or that day's client needs anything. Once I have addressed anything urgent, I move my body, get ready for the day, eat eggs, and start working.

These routines are short, focused, and powerful rituals that ensure I can sustain peak performance.

Check your inbox next week I'll be sharing part 2 of my playbook.

🤎 I'd love to know what you think about part 1 of the playbook. Reply to this message and share your thoughts. If you respond before this Thursday, I'll be able to reply to you before I fly to Japan.

🗓️ Coming next week:

My Peak Performance Playbook: Part 2

In addition to routines and boundaries – I’ve mastered the small behind the scenes magic that ensures peak performance. You'll learn:

• My exact habits and protocols that ensure easy travel
• The supplements and rituals that prevent me from getting sick
• How to build your own peak performance system

If you want to stay sharp when the pressure’s high and the pace doesn’t slow – don’t miss it!

It drops next Tuesday. 🔥

👋🏻 Meet Your Coach

Angela Parker

Founder (1X exit), certified executive coach, international speaker, and master workshop facilitator

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Angela Parker partners with visionary leaders, high-performing founders, and elite creatives to unlock their full potential, refine their leadership, and scale with precision and ease.

Her clients experience radical personal transformation and epic professional success by learning how to lead based on living their values.

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Angela designs and facilitates in-person & online coaching workshops, masterminds, retreats, and experiences for leaders, teams, and communities around the world.

Renowned for her profound empathy, insightful wisdom, uncompromising directness, infectious humor, and a keen ability to distill transformative insights, Angela crafts sessions that resonate deeply and produce lasting impacts.

Interested in working with Angela? Book a Discovery Call!​