Here's something I've been thinking about lately: most of us aren't actually drowning in work. We're drowning in fog.

You know that feeling when you look at your to-do list and everything seems urgent? When you're moving fast but somehow getting nowhere? That's not a time management problem. That's a clarity problem.

We've been sold this idea that being busy equals being productive. That if we're not juggling ten things at once, we're somehow falling behind. But here's what I've noticed, both in my own work and with the leaders I talk to: the busiest people are often the most stuck.

Because when you can't see what actually matters, every task feels like it deserves your attention. Every email feels urgent. Every meeting feels necessary. And you end up spending your energy on things that don't move the needle.

Clarity changes everything. When you get clear on what you're actually trying to accomplish, on what success really looks like for you, something shifts. Your decisions stop being reactive and start being strategic. You stop saying yes to everything and start saying yes to the right things.

I'm not talking about some grand vision statement or a five-year plan you'll never look at again. I'm talking about the kind of clarity that helps you on Tuesday afternoon when you have three competing priorities and limited time. The kind that helps you see the difference between what's urgent and what's important.

The ironic part? Getting clear requires slowing down. It requires creating space to think, to reflect, to ask yourself honest questions about what you're doing and why. And in a culture that worships speed, that feels counterintuitive. It can even feel irresponsible.

But a clear mind makes better decisions than a busy one. Always.

So if you're feeling overwhelmed today, maybe the answer isn't to work harder or faster. Maybe it's to pause long enough to figure out what you're actually working toward. To subtract the noise and elevate the signal.

Because chaos thrives in confusion. But it has no power over clarity.

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