Dana Perino’s Masterclass in Grace under Pressure
By Emma Foley
When Dana Perino was in the backseat of an SUV on January 20, 2009, her last day as White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, she had a moment of clarity:
“Nothing I do for the rest of my life will ever be that important or that hard.”
The realization marked the end of one act, but, more importantly, it set the stage for the trajectory of Perino’s life. At just 36, she still had a lifetime ahead—one that would include dominating cable news time slots at 9 A.M. and 5 P.M., authoring four New York Times bestsellers, founding Minute Mentoring® for women professionals, and catching ballroom dancing classes in her spare time.
In her latest title, I Wish Someone Had Told Me, Dana Perino offers a well-rounded guide to navigating life’s transitions. She reveals never-before-shared moments of her own journey—from uncertainty in her early career to her whirlwind rise as White House Press Secretary, to finding her own voice on America’s Newsroom and The Five.
Perino speaks with authority and humility. Confident in her lane, Perino offers pertinent advice where she can: taking the risk, embracing the “deputy” role, and managing “up.” Then, for those mountains she hasn’t climbed—motherhood, military service, retirement—she humbly defers to the experience of others.
Fox News personalities Martha MacCallum, Ainsley Earhardt, and Jessica Tarlov chime in on raising children while balancing a demanding career. Johnny Joey Jones vulnerably recounts his alternative to a white-collar career: joining the American armed forces. And, naturally, Greg Gutfeld and Jimmy Failla provide comic relief along the way. The book is a collection of experiences diverse in personality, perspective, and circumstance.
Perino and company’s advice is refreshingly practical. Life isn’t a straight line. In fact, it’s supposed to be hard! The message is clear: prepare as best you can, trust your instincts, and embrace the bumps along the way.
In a society that often encourages complacency and victimhood, Perino offers a kick in the pants for professionals of all ages. In her book, Perino promises that although, ultimately, all indeed will be well, that affirmation “is not a passive exercise.”
This no-nonsense approach to every endeavor is what has helped Perino achieve the top position or highest award across several industries: the Bush White House, cable television, and publishing. Lucky for us readers, she generously passes on her pearls of wisdom.
In an exclusive conversation with The Conservateur, Perino reflected on her journey—from standing at the podium in the White House to becoming a friendly face in family rooms across the country—and how writing books and mentoring young women allows her to share her personal philosophies on remaining grounded in an industry often defined by chaos.
As if it weren’t the same day her book hit the New York Times list, or as if eighty percent of The Five wasn’t waiting for her in-studio, she doubled the interview time promised. She offered book recommendations (Things That Matter by Charles Krauthammer) and content endorsements (Culture Explorer on X). No rush. No pretense.
That grace under pressure carries into every area of her life—from mentoring to managing packed days with an uncommon calm.
The Work-Life Balance Myth
How does Dana Perino do it? “A lot of it is attitude, I believe.”
“I personally have a very high tolerance for working many hours,” she shared. The grit isn’t a stroke of luck, however. From personal examination, she has determined which conscious choices she must make in order to thrive in each of her commitments.
She juxtaposed her life as press secretary with her life now.
“At the White House, I didn’t take very good care of my health. I hardly ate anything. I drank a lot of caffeine. I didn’t hydrate enough. I ended up not being able to sleep without a pill. I got an eye twitch. I got an ear ringing.” She was snappy to those closest to her, and her forearm went numb, she recalls, from using her Blackberry.
The day she left the White House, she determined nothing would ever again be that hard because she wouldn’t let it be.
“Work-life balance is elusive, right? It’s never perfect.” Dana believes Americans have become “obsessed” with the concept, festering into irrational anxieties.
Cultivate Curiosity
Instead of chasing balance, Perino wishes more young professionals at Fox—and beyond—would chase curiosity. Americans live at a moment where every answer—from the inner workings of a dishwasher to the politics of the Roman Empire—is literally at our fingertips, if only we are willing to ask. Some are born curious, but all can create the habit.
It’s not just a personality trait; it’s a professional advantage.
“Having a curious mind will make sure: one, you are never bored; two, that you have something to talk about with others; and three, that you are the one people are going to look to when they need information.”
The curious woman isn’t just competitive. She’s indispensable.
Learn Levity
The theme that rings through the stories of the cast of characters in I Wish Someone Had Told Me, that can be heard in her voice as she flips a press interview into a mentorship session, is levity. When you are able to laugh at yourself—and at life—you are able to learn about yourself.
Perino proudly recalled the day after the infamous “shoe incident” during the Bush administration, when an Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at President Bush. Perino lit up the briefing room with a quip about the black eye she earned in the scuffle. She praised her successor, Karoline Leavitt, for the genuine fun she seems to have in the role.
Honed by the tumultuous time in American government, Perino learned levity. That’s why her life after January 20, 2009 will never be as hard.
When Perino finally learned to relax her shoulders and ask, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”— a mindset she learned from President Bush—that’s when life got good.
“I love this life,” she told me. “And, Emma, I would buy all the minutes in the world if I could to add more time to my days. There’s so much I want to do and get done.”
Emma Foley is a Content Manager at National Review in New York City. Originally from Pennsylvania, Emma earned a degree in Marketing and Theology from Boston College. You can follow her @emmafoleymedia.