Busy Ain’t Brave: How High-Performers Can Stop Spinning and Start Winning

You’re not here to do everything. You’re here to do what matters most.

The Busyness Trap

You ever feel like you’re doing a lot but not actually getting anywhere?

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re just stuck in the cycle of busyness. It looks impressive on the outside but feels empty on the inside.

And I get it. I’ve been there.

As a Navy Chief with combat deployments, sea tours, and stateside leadership roles, I had a certain belief. I thought being the busiest person in the room meant I was crushing it. Now, as a coach to high performing leaders, I see that same pattern repeating in their industry. Parentpreneurs also observe it in their businesses.

Here’s what I’ve learned:
👉 Busy ain’t brave. It’s reactive. Intentionality is what moves the mission.

I realized my busyness was robbing my presence.

Everything Feels Urgent

Let’s be honest — when every task screams “ASAP,” it’s easy to confuse motion with progress.

I used to start my day reacting: to emails, to problems, to calendar invites I didn’t even remember accepting. I thought I was being productive. But I was really just firefighting, not fire building.

The deeper problem?

We confuse being needed with being effective.

And that comes at a cost — to our clarity, our leadership, and our families.

The Decision Filter Framework™

Here’s what changed everything for me. I began using a tool that I now teach my clients. It’s a Decision Filter Framework™ based on the Eisenhower Matrix.

It’s simple. It’s powerful. It’s battle-tested.

Break every task down into four categories:

Urgency \ Importance	Important	Not Important
Urgent	✅ Do It Now	🔁 Delegate It
Not Urgent	📆 Schedule It	❌ Eliminate It

Ask these three filter questions:

1. Does this task align with my long-term mission?
2. Will this create lasting impact or just momentary relief?
3. Am I the best person to do this right now?

I run this check on everything — from business strategy to my personal schedule. And it works.

The Wake-Up Call I Didn’t Expect

Let me tell you what really snapped me out of it.

One afternoon after work, I was home, trying to answer “just one more email.” My daughter was trying to get my attention, pulling my hand away from my phone. But I didn’t respond. I ignored her and she cried. That hit me hard.

That moment hit me harder than any combat boot camp or C-level coaching session. I realized my busyness was robbing my presence.

So I made a shift.

I started time-blocking — creating sacred blocks of time for high-focus work and undistracted time with my family.

Here’s what changed:

• My productivity skyrocketed.
• My relationships deepened.
• My leadership leveled up.

What If Everything Still Feels Important?

Let’s keep it real — sometimes it all feels important. Deadlines. Clients. Meetings. Family obligations. Self-care.

So how do you deal with that without the guilt?

Answer: You anchor to the mission, not the emotion.

Here’s what I mean — revisit your goals weekly. Remind yourself what the true objective is. And then reapply the Decision Filter Framework™.

If you don’t choose your priorities, someone else will. And their priorities won’t serve your purpose.

Leadership Application: This Works at Home and in the Office

This framework isn’t just for Fortune 500 leaders or busy CEOs. It’s for:

• Parentpreneurs juggling businesses and bedtime routines
• Executives leading multi-layered teams
• Side-hustlers navigating a 9-5 and 5-9
• Anyone who wants to stop living on autopilot

You don’t need more time. You need more clarity. And the right tools to act on it.

Make This Your Weekly Habit

If you’re ready to trade “busy” for breakthrough, here’s your next step:

🎯 Download the FREE Intentional Leader Roadmap
This roadmap includes my Task Prioritization Matrix and step-by-step guide to using the Decision Filter weekly.

👉 Click here to get your copy

Let it be your mission map.

Drop Your Response!

What’s your current productivity challenge?

💥 Saying no to loud, urgent stuff
🧠 Deciding what truly matters
🤹 Balancing all your responsibilities

Drop a comment. Send me a DM. Hit reply if you’re reading this in your inbox.

Final Words:

You weren’t built to be busy — you were built to lead.

Not just at work. At home. In life. In legacy.

And leadership begins with clarity.

The world doesn’t need more overwhelmed leaders. It needs intentional ones — people like you, who take the time to align their actions with their purpose.

You ready?

Let’s go.