Stop Working Harder. Start Moving Ahead.

Hi there,

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly pushing, putting in the hours, working harder than you ever have…. yet nothing really seems to move forward?

Maybe you glance at social media, seeing others crushing it, and wonder, What secret have they unlocked that I haven’t?

You might feel that lost passion, the draining energy, or even the urge to throw in the towel.

If so, you’re not alone.

Many of us, especially high performers (people with high expectations for themselves), fall into the trap of focusing only on what isn’t working. That leads to burnout, stagnation, and the quiet sense that we’re stuck.

I know because I do it too.

When I reviewed onboarding reports and coaching interviews recently, I saw a clear pattern: some clients take quantum leaps. Others stall.

And within this process, sometimes I label myself as a failure and start working more, reading more, studying more, trying to be more, rather than coming back to myself.

And when I get caught in that cycle, and I notice it! I remind myself of the same principles I coach my clients on:

• Mindset shapes reality. What you focus on expands.

• Your story drives your behavior. Change the narrative and you change the action.

• Energy follows clarity. Without clear priorities and a bigger why, more effort only creates more exhaustion.

That’s when I pause and remember, that working harder only fractures me more. Progress comes when I reforge my mindset, my story, and my priorities into alignment.

1. Master Your Mindset and Rewire Your Story

The way you feel is fundamentally shaped by what you focus on. Think of your focus like a camera lens. You decide where to point it and what to zoom in on. When nothing feels like it’s working, your lens is locked on problems. But you can choose to widen it.

Instead of obsessing over setbacks, ask yourself:

• What could I celebrate now?

• What did I learn today?

• What am I proud of right now?

These questions don’t ignore challenges. They redirect your focus toward progress and possibility.

And then there’s the story you tell yourself. Because facts are just facts. You are the one who gives them meaning.

A client is not following the program. One story says: “I failed.” Another says: “I’m closer to finding the right fit and improving my offer.”

Same fact. Different destiny.

Remember: the meaning you attach determines the future you create.

Action step: When faced with a setback, consciously challenge your first story. Ask: What’s another way to interpret this? What empowering story could move me forward?

2. Prioritize What Actually Matters

Let me be honest: I’ve spent over a decade trying to master prioritization. And I still get distracted… I still lose time. I still have moments of distraction.

Most of us were taught to put our heads down, work hard, and eventually get recognized. That worked in factories. It doesn’t work in today’s world.

If you’re focusing on the wrong things, no amount of hours will move you forward.

The key isn’t time management. It’s priority management.

The most successful people I’ve studied and worked with do one thing really well: they plan and protect their time. Some plan daily, some weekly. Either way, they give their brain clarity so even while they sleep, their subconscious is working toward their goals.

In The Reforged Leader™ program, we use the Kairos Map for this. It’s a one-page system that ties your 10-year vision all the way down to your 90-day sprint, and then down to daily habits. That way, you know exactly what matters today and what doesn’t.

Want to try it? Reply Kairos to this email and I’ll send you a blank A3 Kairos Map to start building your own.

And here’s one more tip: cultivate a Not-To-Do List.

Because saying yes to everything is the fastest way to burn out. When you put yourself last, you drain your energy until nothing is left for the work that actually matters.

Say no. Protect your focus. That’s how you move ahead.

3. Embrace Failure and Anchor to a Bigger Why

The gap between where you are and where you want to be can feel overwhelming. The weight of a 10-year dream can freeze you in place.

But the antidote is simple: break it down.

Consistent, daily action—even 15 minutes—compounds. In 90 days, 180 days, you’ll look back and see you’ve made more progress than in the past couple years of grinding.

And yes, failure will happen. But failure isn’t the end. Failure is a GPS.

Every time something doesn’t work, you learn what doesn’t move you forward. Tesla once said he didn’t fail 99 times, he found 99 ways that didn’t work.

That mindset makes you anti-fragile, it makes you unf*ckable. 

Why? It builds confidence and resilience through reps. And that is what most people are missing, let me say it again, if you don’t do the reps, you’ll never truly be you.

And when you feel like giving up, because you will feel like it a thousand times, shift your focus beyond yourself. Because when your “why” is about something bigger—making an impact, solving a problem, serving a mission—discipline becomes easier.

I find my drive in the moments when a client says, “Your program changed my life.” Those moments remind me why I do this, specially when the path feels heavy.

The Shift

These three pillars, mastering your mindset, managing priorities, and anchoring to purpose, are what separate grinding harder from truly moving ahead.

By choosing your focus, telling a better story, protecting your priorities, taking small consistent steps, and reconnecting to a why beyond yourself, you’ll stop just working harder.

You’ll start moving forward.

Want some positive vibes this hump day? Show some love.
How? Forward this to a friend or loved one who’d smile just knowing you thought of them today.

Until next Wednesday,
Carlos

P.S. Want to test the Kairos Map for yourself? Reply Kairos and I’ll send you a copy.