Listen to the Insight

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Next week is my birthday, and I've been reflecting on a decision I made three years ago that changed how I work: I stopped answering my phone.

Not entirely—clients and close colleagues can still reach me. But I stopped treating my phone as an open line for anyone, anytime, about anything. I now keep it on Do Not Disturb. Only two people can interrupt me at any time: my best friend and my godmother.

At first, it felt uncomfortable. What if someone needed me urgently? What if I missed an important opportunity? What if people thought I was difficult or unresponsive?

Here's what actually happened:

My strategic thinking improved. Without constant interruptions, I had space to think clearly, plan ahead, and do the deep work my clients actually need from me.

I became MORE responsive where it mattered. Instead of reacting to everything, I could show up fully for client work, strategic planning, and the conversations that truly move things forward.

I stopped confusing availability with value. Being reachable 24/7 didn't make me a better consultant. It just made me tired and reactive.

The lesson: Chaos has a cost. Being constantly available, saying yes to everything, reacting to every demand—it all adds up, even if you don't feel it immediately.

But here's the part most people miss: The quiet life has a cost, too.

Setting boundaries means tolerating discomfort. It means saying no. It means people sometimes wait longer for answers.

But those costs are visible and manageable. The cost of chaos is invisible erosion of your capacity, your judgment, and your ability to lead strategically.

Last month, we talked about what burnout does to you. This month, we're going to talk about why it keeps happening.

The culprit isn't weakness or poor time management. It's the invisible systems and expectations that reward constant availability and punish leaders for protecting their capacity to think.

This month, I'm launching a series called Chaos Has a Cost. The first video drops on Tuesday at https://bit.ly/harden-leadership.

Cheers to me and to another year of doing work that matters — on my own terms.

Take care.