The cost of misplaced priorities

Priorities, goals, and values should be the driving force of any professional or organization. They shape our decisions, define where we invest our time, and ultimately determine our path to success. When we get our priorities right—and align our actions with them—we lay the foundation for lasting growth. They act as the catalyst, propelling us toward our mission and destination.

But let’s be honest: if there were unlimited time, energy, and resources, we wouldn’t need to worry so much.

Unfortunately, there aren’t. We live in a world full of competing responsibilities—to ourselves, our families, our friends, our workplaces, and our broader purpose. This constant juggling act creates a self-inflicted pressure cooker of thoughts, emotions, physical reactions, and tasks—either we’re consumed by what needs to be done, or we’re trying to block it out entirely.

The Spinning Plates Illusion

Before I began this new chapter in my life, I often felt like a circus performer—spinning plates, each one representing a responsibility. The goal was to keep all of them balanced and in motion. But in reality, that illusion of balance was dysfunctional and led me toward a place where all these plates would eventually shatter.

I treated every responsibility as equally urgent, giving the same energy to the least important tasks as I did to the ones that truly mattered.

Over time, I realized the truth: not every plate deserves the same attention. You can’t give equal weight to what’s out of your control or irrelevant, while the critical and urgent spin wildly, neglected. I had a distorted view of what truly mattered—and of myself.

So Now What?

This brings us to the critical questions that cuts through the noise:

“Who do I want to be today?”

or

“What is our organization's mission?”

These questions force us to move through the fog of possibility and plant our feet in the present—where we are most powerful.

Without clarity on who we are or what we’re trying to achieve, we’re like a ship without a rudder. We may stay afloat, but we drift—reacting to everything and driving toward nothing. All it would take is a large enough squall to capsize ourselves and/or organization.

I’ve seen this happen—individuals and organizations consumed by their own sense of self-importance. They act as if they’re invincible, irreplaceable, and immune to failure. But no one is infallible. And no one succeeds alone.

Existing vs. Living

Personally, I don’t want to just exist—I want to thrive. I want to grow.

Living means building something greater than yourself. It means defining a purpose that transcends ego and becomes the standard by which you measure every decision.

When you have that kind of purpose—clear, meaningful, and uncompromising—it becomes the hill you’re willing to climb, the flag you’re willing to plant, and the place you refuse to abandon.

Purpose doesn’t just inform our priorities—it is the priority.

Clarity in Action

Let’s break it down simply:

• If Option A pulls you away from your purpose, cut it.

• If Option B and Option C both move you toward your purpose, but B is smoother and C is full of unnecessary friction, take B.

• Don’t mistake struggle for progress, and don’t wear hardship like a badge if it leads nowhere meaningful.

The Shift That Changed Everything

Earlier, I mentioned that I used to treat purpose as just another spinning plate. It was something I had to do, not the reason I was doing anything at all. That mindset left me exhausted and directionless.

Eventually, I realized I had to step out of the circus.

I had to stop being the clown who was performing for others while ignoring what really mattered. That meant letting go of the ego, the “me,” and the illusion of control—and replacing it with purpose.

Because when you lead with purpose, extraordinary things become possible—not just for you, but for the people you serve, the organizations you lead, and the legacy you leave behind.

Final Thoughts

You can’t control everything.

But you can control what you choose to prioritize.

Put purpose at the center—and let everything else align around it.

Just because you were spinning yesterday doesn't mean you have to today.