June 12, 2025

Why Being Here Now is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage

I woke up at 4:30 a.m. this morning—no alarm, just the nudge of curiosity. Before the sun spilled over the Rockies, I grabbed my journal, breathed in the stillness, and asked myself a question we explored in Episode 188: “What problem do I have right now—this very second?” The answer, of course, was none. In that sliver of silence I felt the raw power of the present moment.

For years I’ve preached that clarity equals velocity in business and in life. Yet clarity is impossible when the mind is cluttered with yesterday’s regrets or tomorrow’s hypotheticals. My 97-year-old mom taught me that lesson in her final act of grace. The week before she passed, she kicked us out of her room so she could “sleep.” She slipped away exactly as she intended—fully present, even in goodbye. Her departure reinforced my conviction: attention is our most valuable currency. Spend it wisely or watch it evaporate.

In hockey rinks, boardrooms, and kitchen tables, I see the same pattern: phones buzzing, eyes darting, conversations half-lived. We’ve convinced ourselves that multitasking is mastery, but it’s really emotional overdraft. When we split our focus, we bankrupt creativity, connection, and resilience. The cure isn’t complicated; it’s courageous. You have to slow down long enough to notice what your ego whispers and decide whether that story still serves you.

Here’s the practice I shared on the podcast and doubled down on this week:

1. Mind-Shui Mornings. One hour of undistracted writing, gratitude, and intentional breathing to sweep mental cobwebs.
2. Single-Task Listening. When someone speaks, I imagine their words are gold coins; dropping even one feels expensive.
3. Reality Checks. Whenever anxiety spikes, I ask, “What is actually happening to me right now?” Ninety-nine percent of the time, nothing is on fire.
4. Future-Vision, Present-Action. Dream big, but build the blueprint in the moment. You can’t lay tomorrow’s bricks with yesterday’s hammer.
5. Digital Fasts. Phones off at dinner. If the world ends during dessert, we’ll hear the sirens. Until then, pass the salmon.

These micro-habits recalibrate my nervous system and sharpen my leadership edge. They also remind me that the people sitting across from us—whether toddlers, teammates, or aging parents—are never guaranteed a “next time.” Presence is a gift that expires if left unopened.

5 Key Takeaways

1. The present is the only creative arena. Future success is born from actions taken now.
2. Mental clutter kills momentum. Clear it with journaling, breathwork, and intentional silence.
3. Attention is currency. Treat every distraction like an overdraft fee on your goals and relationships.
4. Ego seeks to be right; awareness seeks to be real. Question stories that keep you stuck.
5. Anxiety dissipates in real-time reality checks. Focus on what’s true in this second, not imagined in the next.