I recently worked with a CEO who had built an incredibly successful company. He was sharp, strategic, and a natural connector. Yet, as we spoke, he sighed and admitted, “The news is pulling me in.”
He wasn’t talking about light, casual reading—he was doom-scrolling like it was his second job.
“I check headlines constantly—markets, politics, world events. I’m making decisions with half my mind somewhere else.”
Sound familiar?
If you’ve ever sat down to strategize but somehow ended up reading three think pieces on inflation, a deep dive on AI taking over the world, and an alarming UFO update, you’re not alone.
This is the hidden cost of distraction.
Many CEOs I work with start their day clear-headed and focused, but soon, they get tangled up in the chaos of emails, meetings, breaking news updates, and urgent crises. They wonder where the time went—and why they feel exhausted despite being “busy” all day.
There is a cost to operating on autopilot. The daily grind quickly pulls leaders into its rhythm. Meetings, investor expectations, and never-ending demands pull them in every direction. But the key question is:
Are you leading with intention, or are you just reacting?
Five Actionable Steps to Lead with Intention
- Implement a Distraction Audit
Start by tracking where your attention goes. For one week, log how much time you spend on emails, meetings, social media, and news. The goal isn’t to shame yourself but to gain awareness. Once you identify the biggest distractions, you can set boundaries to reclaim focus.
- Establish Non-Negotiable Thinking Time
Block out dedicated time on your calendar daily—free from calls, emails, and interruptions. Even 30 minutes of uninterrupted thinking can dramatically improve clarity, decision-making, and leadership presence. Treat this time as sacred as any investor meeting.
- Make Prioritization a Habit
Every morning, write down the three most important things that will move the needle in your business. Not ten, not five—just three. Focusing on these priorities ensures you drive impact rather than getting lost in endless to-do’s.
- Create a Decision-Making Buffer
Leaders can’t afford to make decisions in a reactive state. Instead of responding immediately to emails, requests, or breaking news, build in a buffer. Pause, reflect, and ask: Does this require my attention now, or is this an external pull distracting me from my greater mission?
- Align Leadership with Personal Values
Your leadership isn’t just about driving results—it’s about how you show up for yourself and others. Take a moment to reflect:
- What kind of leader do you want to be?
- What vision do you have for your personal life beyond work?
- Is your leadership approach aligned with your values?
The best leaders don’t just react to what’s in front of them. They step back. They think. They choose where to focus their energy.
Your Leadership Advantage: Conscious Creation
Being a CEO doesn’t have to mean living in constant firefighting mode. The most successful leaders consciously create their lives—they don’t just let their circumstances dictate their actions. They shape their time, decisions, and leadership with clarity and purpose.
Leading with intention isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what truly matters. It’s about designing a life and leadership approach that maximizes impact without sacrificing presence.
Conscious creation is your most significant competitive advantage in a world that thrives on chaos and distraction.
How will you take back control today?