Make Moves. Not Excuses

Many high-achieving leaders find themselves in a paradox: they have achieved the “success” they worked for, yet they feel trapped. They have built what I call a “Gilded Cage”—a business or career that looks beautiful from the outside but offers no freedom on the inside.

If you feel like your business is an exhausting obligation rather than a thriving asset, the problem isn’t your work ethic. The problem is your framework. To break out of the cage and move toward the results you were appointed to achieve, you must stop operating in the world’s “Have-Do-Be” model and embrace the transformative power of Be. Do. Have.

The Myth of “Have-Do-Be”

The world teaches us to live in reverse. We are told:

• Once I HAVE more money/time/staff…
• Then I will DO the things a leader does…
• Then I will BE successful/at peace.

This model keeps you in a state of constant “chase.” It creates a “Doing” addiction where you are always one more task away from the life you want. But the reality is that your current “Have” is simply a reflection of your current “Be.” To change the output, we must change the engine.

The Pillar of “BE”: Identity, Intent, and Mindset

The “Be” is the internal architecture of your life. It is your identity, your belief system, and your character.

In Psalm 139: v13, David declares “You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb”. You are God’s intricately designed, divinely appointed creation.  In my work, we focus on the core of the individual. Why? Because you cannot out-perform your own self-image. 

• If you “Be” an operator who believes “no one can do it as well as I can,” you will always “Do” the micromanagement that stifles team growth
• If you “Be” an operator who believes “it’s only valuable when it’s hard”, you will always “Do” the tasks that are hard and difficult
• If you “Be” an operator who believes “I have to prove myself”, you will always “Do” the tasks that others value the most

In short, you will “Do” the task that build and reinforce your Gilded Cage.

To shift your results, you must first shift your identity. You must “Be” the confident, responsible, and trust worthy owner before you can sustainably have a thriving asset.  

The Pillar of “DO”: Action, Mechanism, and System

Once your identity is set, your “Do” becomes an act of alignment, not an act of desperation. In the “Do” phase, we utilize proven mechanisms to support the identity we’ve claimed:

• The Power of Experiential Learning: We don’t just study theory; we use the Kolb Learning Cycle to turn every business challenge into a “Concrete Experience.” By moving through reflective observation and active experimentation, we ensure that your “Do” is constantly evolving based on real-world results rather than repetitive habits.

• The Strength of Collaborative Community: Success isn’t a solo sport. By leveraging the Mastermind model—similar to the high-level cohorts I coach in BNI and Klemmer—we tap into collective intelligence. Surrounding yourself with other mission-driven leaders provides the external “Do” necessary to challenge your blind spots and accelerate your launch.
• Precision Tracking via Strategic Scoreboards: We move beyond “to-do lists” by implementing a specialized tracking mechanism that integrates the James Clear Habit Scorecard for daily consistency and the 12 Week Year Progress Scorecard for high-velocity results. This system was further fine-tuned through my years of coaching students and leaders in Klemmer, ensuring that we aren’t just tracking activities, but measuring the critical shifts in behavior that lead to breakthrough results. By using a scoreboard, you shift from guessing to knowing, allowing you to manage your progress with the same data-informed precision I used to oversee university budgets and launch multi-partner firms.

The Pillar of “HAVE”: The Result and The Legacy

The “Have” is the fruit, not the root. When you align your identity (Be) with strategic action (Do), the results (Have) become inevitable. This is the stage where your business becomes a thriving asset, and you finally have the time to honor your legacy and your community.

“Real-World Results: How the Shift Saved My Success”

When I launched Salt Capital Management during the 2020 pandemic, the world said it was a time to ‘Be’ afraid. I chose to ‘Be’ a bridge-builder. Because of that shift, we ‘Did’ the work of organizing 5 partners via Zoom and ended up ‘Having’ a successful investment firm while others were closing their doors.”

The Next Step: The 30-Day Mindset Detox

Recognizing the bars of your “Gilded Cage” is only the beginning. To truly unlock it, you must undergo a systematic Mindset Detox.

This 30-day program is designed to build the foundation of a “MAKE MOVES. NOT EXCUSES.” lifestyle before you enter full-scale execution. The Detox is divided into three core components to align your identity with your God-appointed results.

I. The BE. DO. HAVE. Action Plan

Most planners focus only on the “Have.” This framework prioritizes identity and virtue as the engine for results:

• BE (Your Virtues): Define the identity required for success (e.g., disciplined, confident, courageous).
• DO (Daily Virtue Practices): Identify the micro-actions that embody your chosen virtues.
• HAVE (Weekly Reality): Define the observable outcomes that result from your being and doing.

Accountability built-in: We map out your Start Date, Deadlines, Obstacles, and Resources, breaking every goal into Big Steps and Little Steps.

II. The Daily Momentum Ritual

Build an “action bias” similar to the Mel Robbins 5-Second Rule with a structured daily routine for continuous self-correction:

1. AM Mindset Shift: Proactively set your intention and neutralize excuses before the day starts.
2. Mid-Day Check-in: Immediate management of negative self-talk and mental redirection back to your virtues.
3. Execution Reflection: An evening audit to learn from resistance and guarantee follow-through.

III. The 4-Week Detox Phases

Each week, we systematically exterminate a common mental block through specific daily audits and reflections:

Ready to stop making excuses and start making moves?

The 30-Day Mindset Detox is the bridge between the leader you are and the leader you are called to be. It is the tactical key to your Gilded Cage.

Click here to START YOUR 30-Day Mindset Detox

Stop settling for the cage. Start your shift.