Finishing up January: 1. What is now true about me that wasn’t true on January 1? 2. What promise will I carry into February as proof that I am a different being? 🔹 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝟏 – 𝐔𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. February 1 - Who have I been pretending to be, and what does that pretense cost me? February 2 - What standard have I avoided installing because it would make me unrecognizable? February 3 - What identity or role am I still clinging to even though I’ve outgrown it? February 4 - Where am I waiting for clarity, when what I really need is courage? February 5 - What fear is keeping me loyal to a version of myself I no longer respect? February 6 - What part of my past identity do I still use as an excuse? February 7 - What story am I done telling myself about who I am?

You’ll see this phrase on my LinkedIn this week: “Identity isn’t something I create — it’s something I return to.” Here’s what I’ll add just for you. I’ve learned that identity shows up most clearly under pressure — when we’re forced to choose, speak honestly, or act with courage rather than comfort. Last year, while leading a year-long Bible reading group, I watched commitment reveal itself quickly.Courage took longer. It always does. Right now, this is where my own identity feels anchored — exercising courage, not just understanding it. So I’m curious: When pressure shows up, what do you tend to return to — habit, role, or identity? - Which one takes the most courage for you right now? Drop a thought below. Even naming it counts.

Attached is today's call and the slides that came with it.

This idea was sparked by a comment from my pastor that stopped me cold: The word “priority” used to be singular. 😳 Historically, priority meant first — from the Latin prior. For centuries, you had one priority. Not many. Not ranked. Just the first thing. Somewhere in the 20th century, as work and life grew more complex, we pluralized it. We started talking about priorities— as if multiple things could all be first at the same time. That small linguistic shift had a big consequence. By calling everything a priority, we avoided hard choices. We replaced trade-offs with lists. The result is familiar in modern business: motion without traction, activity without progress. As Greg McKeown notes in Essentialism, when everything is a priority, nothing truly is. A singular priority doesn’t mean doing less forever. It means deciding what comes first now — and letting that decision shape everything else. So here’s the real question: If priority were still singular, what would have to change about how you’re working right now? That’s not a productivity question. It's a leadership one. As I'm thinking of my going FOR NO, I need to know what I'm going FOR NO for 😬

Can’t join the call today or next week. Appointments today, traveling next week. I’ll post my thoughts here later today. Don’t forget to hit record Mike!