Curiosity In Motion: Redefining Productivity, Leadership, and Learning

➡️ When Work Ethic Works Against You

Most people don’t struggle with laziness—they struggle with doing too much of the wrong things. Hidden under the surface of “hard work” are habits that erode productivity and decision quality over time.

Here are three common patterns to watch for:

1. Always Being Available
If you’re constantly in response mode, you’re letting others manage your focus. Being reachable 24/7 comes at the cost of deep thinking and high-leverage work.

2. Saying Yes to Everything
Overcommitting can feel like ambition, but it often leaves your top priorities buried under noise. Choose what moves the needle—and learn to say no without guilt.

3. Perfectionism Masquerading as Quality
Spending hours refining minor details delays progress. The best operators know when to ship at 80% and iterate later. Progress beats polish when you’re building momentum.

💡 Key Takeaway: Productivity isn’t about packing more into your day—it’s about protecting the space to think, decide, and build. Simplify your inputs, and you’ll magnify your results.

➡️ The Uncomfortable Truth About Real Leadership

Great leadership isn’t about being followed. It’s about making other people better—even when it’s uncomfortable.

Here’s what that really looks like:

Empowering Others, Not Yourself
The best leaders build systems and people that succeed without them. Leadership isn’t a spotlight—it’s a lever. If everything still depends on you, you’re managing, not leading.

Choosing Respect Over Popularity
Hard decisions often won’t make you liked—but they earn trust over time. Avoiding tough calls creates instability. Clarity and fairness matter more than approval.

Leading Through Pressure
The toughest moments are often the most defining. Staying steady, taking ownership, and keeping teams grounded is what separates strong leadership from temporary authority.

💡 Key Takeaway: Leadership isn’t about charisma or control. It’s about building resilience—in people, in culture, and in the systems you leave behind. That’s the real legacy.

➡️ Leadership Books That Don’t Make Bestseller Lists—But Should

88% of CEOs read at least one book a month. But not all books are created equal—and some of the most transformational titles aren’t the ones trending on LinkedIn.

Here are three underrated reads that focus on deep mindset shifts:

📘 Turn the Ship Around! by L. David Marquet
A former nuclear sub commander shares how he went from top-down control to full team empowerment—transforming one of the Navy’s worst-performing crews into one of the best.
→ Core idea: Leaders should create more leaders, not followers.

📘 Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute
This book challenges how you relate to others at a fundamental level. It unpacks how we often sabotage collaboration and trust—without even realizing it.
→ Core idea: Leadership starts with how you view people, not how you direct them.

📘Multipliers by Liz Wiseman
A practical breakdown of two leadership archetypes: multipliers (who grow team intelligence) and diminishers (who unintentionally suppress it).
→ Core idea: Great leaders get more from their people—not by pushing harder, but by giving them space to think.

💡 Key Takeaway: The best leadership books don’t just teach tactics—they shift how you see yourself and the people around you. These three are worth revisiting, whether you manage a team of three or three hundred.

This week’s edition was about letting go—of old habits, outdated leadership myths, and surface-level learning. Real growth doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from being more intentional with your energy, your team, and your inputs.

Until next time,
– The Curiosity in Motion Team