Break Free Consulting

Motivational posts we like & pictures that inspire us. Our favorite time of year is summer.

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.

Remember when being the “go-to person” felt like a compliment?

𝗨𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁.

One exec I worked with discovered it was costing him 12 hours a week — 624 hours a year — but the real cost wasn’t time. It was freedom.

How about you? Have you reached this point in your life/career? Share your thoughts in the comment section. ✍️

From the field to the dugout to behind the plate, there’s a female player, umpire, coach, interpreter, and team host, who are all part of what makes Williamsport such a unique experience.

Day 32: The Power of Posteriority

Like most people, I enjoy the complex. There's a certain pleasure that arouses our minds and our egos when we can understand it. We like thinking about the complex. It gets our brains fired up—literally and figuratively.

Yesterday, I wrote about embracing the power of posteriority. Today, we'll talk about what that is.

Steve Jobs and Apple have been great at this concept. I mean, who reduces the complexity of a phone by removing its buttons?!? He's famous for saying, "Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple." He also said, "Simplicity came not by ignoring complexity, but rather by conquering it." That's the power of posteriority!

In my life, I've seen that when the goal isn't big enough, it creates complexity. Why? There are simply too many choices, too much variation, too many distractions, and too much! We've got to eliminate the noise in our lives so we can hear our heart's desires and pursue them with focus and intention.

Imagine a balloon tethered by strings; cutting off the unnecessary ones can make it soar higher. By practicing posteriority, we clear the clutter that encumbers our ascent metaphorically and practically. This act of selective focus can liberate us from stagnation and propel us towards our true potential.

What have you recently done to simplify your growth? What is it that you are holding onto that is actually holding onto you?

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.

Day 26: My Favorite Business Mistake: Helping Those Who Needed It vs. Those Who Wanted It

Early in my career, I thought I was on a mission to help everyone who needed it. If I saw that need, I would fill it; I was all in. I was eager and ready to dive in and bring my expertise.

One time, very early in my career, after a speech in Orlando, FL, a woman approached me and said, "You need to work with my husband." I was running a coaching program at the time, and she felt it would be beneficial for him. Well, silly me, I set up a meeting, talked with her, and then him, and his wife enrolled him in my coaching program. 🤦‍♀️

After about four sessions, I asked, "Is this working for you?" He said, "Well, maybe sort of." With that, we both smiled and ended our coaching arrangement. I refunded his money (not because I had to, but because it was the right thing to do). I learned a valuable lesson...

**Just because someone needs help doesn't mean they're ready to accept it.**

Since then, I've discovered that the most impactful and rewarding work happens with people who are ready and open to change. They're invested, engaged, and willing to grow. When you work with those who want help, transformation happens faster, and everyone wins.

The experience taught me a powerful truth: You can't push someone up the mountain—they have to want the climb. True growth, the kind that transforms lives and businesses, begins when the desire to reach the top comes from within.

What about you? Any memorable early career mistakes that taught you a lesson you carry with you? I'd love to hear your stories and learn from your experiences. Let's start a conversation.