Break Free Consulting

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲:

Instead of jumping in with the answer, I ask, “W𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪s?” or “W𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣e?”

The first time you try it, your team will look a little panicked. You’ve never asked them before. They are caught off guard.

Give them a minute. Ask again if necessary.

You might be surprised by what they come up with.

Day 31: Refining Abundance

Many of us cherish the abundance in our lives—our careers, relationships, and the belongings we've collected over time. {I know I do. I have a couple of complete Topp's baseball card collections from the 1970's.} Yet, this very abundance can sometimes cloud our ability to see and seek new desires and dreams.

Steve Jobs once said, "Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things." This reminds us that curating our lives to align with what truly matters is not about having less or more. It's about having what truly enriches us.

In the book The Crux, Dr. Richard Romell echoes this sentiment, urging us to "focus on what you must leave behind, not just on what lies ahead."

We often look at our to-do list and spend time prioritizing it. To desire more and dream bigger, we need to practice posteriority (not just priority)—eliminating the things in our lives that are NO LONGER part of the path to our dreams or that no longer reflect our deepest aspirations.

Embrace the power of posteriority (more on this tomorrow) and permit yourself to want more. By shedding the excess (those things no longer needed to achieve what's next), we make room for new growth and fulfillment.

What are you shedding? What baggage are you carrying that is weighing you down?

Day 28: Why I Ditched My 'To-Do' List for a 'To-Be' List

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that no to-do list, no matter how meticulously crafted, will ever end. It's a race we're always trying to win, but the finish line just keeps moving. So, recently, I decided to try something different.

Instead of chasing the horizon (which I'll never reach) by focusing solely on what I need to do, I began paying attention to who I want to be. Each morning, I ask myself: How do I want to show up today? What attributes of WHO I am will I bring to my efforts? Focused? Encouraging? Resilient? Deliberate? Generous? Powerful?

I get to decide! You get to decide for yourself as well.

Of course, the tasks still matter—emails to send, meetings to attend, decisions to make. But when I lead with a to-be mindset, the day feels more purposeful and less frantic. I find I'm not just checking off tasks; I'm actually showing up as the leader I aim to be. I can effectively set my priorities by focusing on what to say "Yes" to and those things to which I will politely say "No." If the work isn't aligned with who I want to be (and someone else can do it), the answer is a polite "No."

When I stay focused on what I can bring and HOW I can bring it best, I inevitably end the day feeling fulfilled and accomplished. Aligning your actions with your identity brings a deep sense of satisfaction.

And the amazing part? The to-dos still get done—sometimes even better, because I'm aligned with what truly matters.

So here's my challenge to you: What if you started your day by asking yourself who you want to be? I'd love to hear the attributes and characteristics on your "to-be" list. Share in the comments below and tag someone who already has those attributes to let them know you've noticed their 'being'!

Day 27: Sunday Punday

I only know 25 letters of the alphabet.

I don't know Y.