We’ve covered a lot of ground in this series:

Part 1 – We identified what hurry costs you.
Part 2 – We talked about the necessity of beholding God & how rushing prevents it.
Part 3 – We looked at the belief system underneath the hustle.
Part 4 – I shared what happened when I was forced to stop producing in London.

Now I want to address the fear I know has been sitting in the back of your mind since part one:

What if slowing down costs me everything that’s made me successful?

The Real Fear

What if optimizing for presence eliminates our intensity? The part of us that’s on mission, won’t be denied, and rises up to the occasion when it matters most.

Will focusing heavier on “being” over “doing” cause us to trade our edge for a warmer, more present version of ourselves but a version who no longer can perform at elite levels?

If that resonates, you’re not alone.

Intensity Is Not the Same as Velocity

Before I left London, I expressed this exact concern to my coach and he looked at me bewildered as if I had four eyes.

“I don’t understand what you mean.

The more present I am, the more intense I become.

I think you’re confusing intensity with velocity.”

Moving fast is not the same as being powerful. I don’t have to move fast to be intense. A sniper is more intense than someone firing wildly in every direction, and yet a sniper is completely still.

Think about the leaders who’ve impacted you most. Did they make you feel like another item on their to-do list or did they make you feel like you were the only person in the room?

That’s the power most of us are leaving on the table every single day.

As a leader, we are most impactful and most intense when we are present. 

Slowing down, even slightly, will lead to higher levels of results because you’ll see problems more clearly, make better decisions, and have a greater impact when you’re in front of your key leaders, employees, or customers.

Velocity kills presence and is a sort of pseudo intensity. An intensity that bull-dozes over others in a mad rush to get more done. And it’s holding you back from succeeding at the next level.

Your Definition of Productivity Needs a Remodel

Why is productivity the goal?

And what makes you think YOUR current definition of productivity is the most accurate one?

For most of my life, my definition of productivity was checking stuff off my list, getting the things done I had set out to do. If I got my stuff done, it was a good day, if people and problems got in the way, it was an unproductive day (and I was usually in a bad mood).

But here’s what I missed…

PRESENCE is a measure of productivity.
In fact, it is the foundation.

Without presence, I cannot see others, honor them, value them, or let them feel loved.

What You Were Actually Given These Gifts For

God has given you leadership, drive, the ability to develop and influence others, and you are meant to steward them well.

The next evolution of your growth isn’t another skill or strategy; it’s 100% about who you’re being when you show up.

You cannot lead people well when your highest aim for the day is to check stuff off your list.  

Try This…

This week, in one conversation (with your spouse, a key employee, one of your kids) put your phone face down, stop multi-tasking, and make eye contact.

Ask a question that’s not attached to logistics of getting stuff done and instead ask a question that explores their thinking, their life, or their perspective. Then just listen.

Don’t fix it, don’t advise, don’t redirect it back to yourself. Just be there.

Notice what happens in that person when they feel fully seen. You’re slowing down your velocity to optimize for true intensity.

That’s intense presence. And it’s the most powerful thing you’ve got.