Yesterday I introduced this thought from Kevin DeShazo:
“Focus on your actions, your mindset, your intentions, your decisions. Lead yourself first.”
I am at a stage in life where I find myself reflecting more on the different phases of the journey. Earlier this year, I turned 50—and somewhere along the way, I realized I had lost sight of some goals and even a few milestones.
Why is that?
I asked myself that question this morning as I started writing this.
And the answer wasn’t complicated.
I didn’t stop long enough to think.
Busy Isn’t the Same as Intentional
We live in a world that rewards constant movement. Stay busy. Stay active. Keep going.
But busy doesn’t equal better.
And movement doesn’t always mean progress.
Somewhere between responsibilities, routines, and daily demands, it’s easy to shift from being intentional to just being active.
That’s where the disconnect happens.
Discipline Isn’t Just Doing—It’s Thinking
Daily discipline still matters. Showing up matters. Doing the work matters.
But there’s another level to it:
The discipline to step away and think.
If you’re always reacting, you’re not leading—you’re just responding.
If you’re always moving, you’re not necessarily progressing—you’re just staying in motion.
At some point, you have to create space to ask:
What am I actually doing each day?
Is it aligned with where I want to go?
Or have I just fallen into a routine?
Why We Avoid It
Because it requires honesty.
It’s easier to keep going than it is to pause and evaluate.
Honest about your habits
Honest about your focus
Honest about what needs to change
But that’s where growth happens.
Not in the noise.
In the moments where you actually stop and take inventory.
Self-Leadership Requires Adjustment
Leading yourself isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a daily check.
A reset.
A recalibration.
You don’t just build discipline—you refine it.
You don’t just take action—you evaluate it.
That’s the piece I missed.
Not the work. Not the effort.
The reflection.
The Next Step
Discipline gets you started.
Awareness keeps you improving.
So yes—lead yourself first.
But don’t just focus on doing more.
Take time to think. Adjust. Refocus.
Because the difference isn’t who’s doing the most.
It’s who’s staying aligned with what actually matters.
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