Unbreakable Book Review: Why Every Woman Leader Should Read This Book
My Personal Experience
I have spent my career helping individuals and organizations become more resilient.
For years, I believed resilience was primarily about mindset - how we think, respond to adversity, adapt to change, and continue moving forward despite difficult circumstances. While I still believe those things matter immensely, a couple of years ago I learned a lesson that completely changed how I think about resilience.
Sometimes resilience isn't about trying harder.
Sometimes it's about taking better care of the body that's carrying you through life.
A couple of years ago, I found myself experiencing something I couldn't quite explain. I was constantly fatigued. My energy seemed to disappear overnight. My libido had all but vanished. The muscle I had worked hard to build over the years seemed to be melting away, replaced by body fat no matter how disciplined I was. Even my skin seemed to age like a prune before my eyes. I didn't feel like myself anymore.
So, like many women, I went to my healthcare providers looking for answers.
What I received instead was something I suspect millions of women have heard before.
"That's just part of being a woman."
"You're getting older."
"You'll just have to get used to it."
That was the conversation.
No meaningful discussion. No compassion or empathy. No education. No options. No roadmap for improving my quality of life.
Just acceptance.
Except...I wasn't ready to accept that this was simply the way life had to be. I became sad mad. Yes, you heard me – sad mad. I was mad about the changes, and what I was being asked to accept, and sad that my body was seemingly giving up on me.
Thankfully, I was not willing to give up looking for an answer. Through persistence in research of my own health, I was introduced to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). And after doing more research to locate a healthcare professional who specialized in women's hormonal health, I made the decision, to pursue HRT.
The difference was remarkable.
I felt like myself again.
My energy returned. My mental clarity improved. My workouts became productive again. I wasn't merely surviving each day. I was thriving.
More importantly, it reiterated something I already believed but now know that it also applies far beyond menopause.
The way we care for ourselves personally directly affects how we show up professionally.
As a leadership coach, I often tell clients that you cannot pour from an empty cup. Yet here I was trying to coach executives, facilitate strategic planning sessions, speak to audiences, and lead my own business while my body was quietly working against me.
No productivity system could solve that.
No leadership book could solve that.
No amount of positive thinking could solve that.
I didn't need to become mentally tougher.
I needed to become a better advocate for my own health.
That's why Dr. Vonda Wright's book, Unbreakable: A Woman's Guide to Aging with Power, resonated with me so deeply. And it's why this Unbreakable book review is as much about leadership as it is about health.
Rather than treating aging as an inevitable decline, Dr. Wright presents a compelling argument that much of what we associate with "getting older" can actually be influenced by the choices we make decades before disease ever appears. Her message isn't about chasing youth. It's about extending healthspan, which is the number of years we remain healthy, strong, capable, and independent.
My Unbreakable Book Review: Six Lessons That Stood Out
Lesson 1: Aging Is Not the Same as Declining
One of the biggest mindset shifts from this book is that aging and decline are not synonymous. Dr. Wright explains that while we cannot stop the clock, we have tremendous influence over how well our bodies function as we age. Many of the conditions we associate with "getting older" are actually influenced by lifestyle choices, strength, nutrition, sleep, inflammation, hormones, and movement.
As leaders, this matters. We often invest thousands of dollars each year in business development while neglecting the one asset that powers every decision we make, our body. Healthy leadership starts long before we walk into the office.
Lesson 2: Muscle Is One of Your Greatest Assets
I had no idea how important muscle truly was until reading this book.
As women age, especially during and after menopause, muscle loss accelerates. Unfortunately, that doesn't just affect our appearance. It impacts our metabolism, energy, bone density, balance, insulin sensitivity, and even cognitive function.
Dr. Wright emphasizes lifting heavy, not simply exercising to burn calories. Building muscle is one of the best investments women can make for long-term health and independence.
This was validating for me because I had experienced firsthand how quickly my body changed during menopause. What I thought was simply "getting older" was actually my body telling me it needed a different approach.
Lesson 3: Menopause Deserves More Than "That's Just Part of Life"
This chapter hit home.
Like many women, I sought medical help only to be told that fatigue, brain fog, low libido, body composition changes, and declining energy were simply part of becoming a woman in midlife.
That answer never sat well with me.
Dr. Wright encourages women to become educated about what she calls menolescence - the major hormonal transition that occurs during menopause. She explains how estrogen affects not only reproduction, but also the brain, heart, muscles, bones, and overall quality of life.
For me, learning more about hormone replacement therapy with knowledgeable healthcare providers completely changed my life. While every woman's healthcare journey is different, my biggest takeaway is this:
Advocate for yourself. Ask questions. Seek providers who are willing to educate you instead of dismiss you.
Lesson 4: Exercise Is Medicine
Dr. Wright introduces what she calls the FACE Protocol, a framework that goes far beyond simply "working out":
F – Flexibility and mobility to protect joints and maintain movement.
A – Aerobic activity, focusing primarily on Zone 2 training with strategic high-intensity intervals.
C – Carrying a load, emphasizing heavy resistance training to preserve muscle and bone.
E – Equilibrium and footspeed to improve balance, agility, and reduce fall risk.
I appreciated that this wasn't about achieving a certain body type. It was about maintaining the ability to live independently, prevent injuries, and continue doing the things we love for decades to come.
Free Download: The Unbreakable Leader's Healthspan Toolkit Get the FACE Protocol quick-reference card, a healthspan self-audit, and five questions to ask your healthcare provider, all in one printable guide. Download the free toolkit here. |
Lesson 5: Your Physiological Age Matters More Than Your Birthday
One concept I found fascinating was the difference between chronological age and physiological age.
Chronological age is simply the number of birthdays we've celebrated.
Physiological age reflects how well our body is actually functioning.
That is incredibly empowering because it reminds us that many aspects of aging remain within our influence. Every workout, healthy meal, good night's sleep, stress-management habit, and decision to prioritize recovery is an investment in our future.
Lesson 6: You Can't Separate Personal Leadership from Professional Leadership
One of the reasons this book resonated with me so much is because it reinforced something I've believed for years: personal always transcends over to professional.
As leaders, we often compartmentalize our lives. We think our health is personal, our business is professional, and somehow the two exist independently of one another.
They don't.
When I was struggling through menopause, I wasn't leaving those challenges at home. I brought them into every coaching session, every strategic planning meeting, every keynote, and every business decision. Fatigue affected my focus. Brain fog slowed my thinking. Low energy made it harder to bring my best to the people I serve.
The opposite proved true as well. Once I began prioritizing my health and advocating for myself, I became a better leader, not because I learned new leadership techniques, but because I had the physical and mental capacity to lead well.
I've always believed that personal leadership drives professional leadership. Unbreakable reminded me that taking care of ourselves isn't separate from leadership, but one of the foundations of it.
How Resilient Are You, Really? Resilience isn't just a mindset. It's a capacity you can measure and build. The Intentional Resilience (IRx) framework, developed and founded by Karen Atiles, helps leaders understand where their resilience stands today and where to strengthen it. Take the IRx assessment at intentionalresilience.me. |
Who This Book Is For
Dr. Wright's Unbreakable is a valuable resource for every woman. It shines a light on a stage of life that far too many women enter without the education or support they deserve. If you're experiencing symptoms and feel like you're not getting the answers you need, this book will equip you with the knowledge to ask better questions, advocate for yourself, and take a more active role in your health.
Your future self will thank you.
And so will everyone you lead.
Reflection Question
What is one area of your health you've accepted as "just getting older" that may actually deserve a second opinion?
Final Thoughts
Unbreakable isn't really a book about aging.
It's a book about taking ownership of your future.
Whether you're in your thirties preparing for what's ahead, navigating perimenopause, or already in menopause, Dr. Wright reminds us that we have far more influence over our health than we've often been led to believe.
My biggest takeaway wasn't simply learning more about menopause. It was realizing that taking care of my health isn't selfish. It's one of the greatest investments I can make in the people I love, the clients I serve, and the leader I want to become.
Thanks for reading.
Keep Building Your Capacity to Lead Download the free Unbreakable Leader's Healthspan Toolkit, take the IRx assessment, or bring the "Sustainable Leadership: Protecting the Asset Behind Every Decision" keynote to your organization through Lifelong Development. |
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Lifelong Development earns from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
This post reflects my personal experience and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider about your own health decisions.
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