Feeling drained by too many priorities? Discover how Awareness, Willingness, and Energy help leaders focus on what truly matters.
It was June of 2015. Just a shade past my birthday, and I stumbled upon an article by Mark Manson — The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck.* (Precursor to his book with the same title published in 2016). It felt like a present.
At the time, I was giving a f*ck about way too many things, and it was taking its toll on me and everyone around me. But his message began to set me free.
It didn’t happen right away. Turns out, I had been over-investing my energy for way too long. I kept that article handy and even got myself an accountability buddy. (Thank you, Sharlene Dinolfo.) Whenever we successfully let something go, we would text each other: IDGAF. It became a shorthand for freedom.
I’m sharing this now because it comes up often with the leaders I coach. Drinking from a fire hose. Feeling like every single thing demands their attention. That’s a dangerous assumption—because when everything feels equally important, nothing truly is.
A Limited Number of F*cks
Here’s the thing: we can’t give a f*ck about everything.
In the article, I locked into Mark’s SUBTLETY #3: We all have a limited number of f*cks to give; pay attention to where and who you give them to.
That truth hit me hard. The energy drain of giving time and attention to things that don’t matter is massive. And that’s where my AWE framework comes in.
How AWE Fits
- Awareness – First, you have to notice where your energy is leaking. What’s getting your attention that really doesn’t deserve it? Whose approval or priorities are you carrying that don’t actually align with your values?
- Willingness – Then comes the hard part: being willing to let go. To say “this isn’t mine to hold anymore.” Willingness is about giving yourself permission not to carry it all.
- Energy – Finally, when you reclaim that wasted attention, you shift your energy. Suddenly, you have fuel for the people, projects, and values that truly matter. This is where leaders go from burned-out and reactive to focused and intentional.
Closing Reflection
Every time I texted “IDGAF” to my accountability buddy, I was really saying: I’m choosing where my Awareness, Willingness, and Energy go.
If you are a leader drinking from a fire hose, you may be drifting toward what I call Quietly Burning Out—overextended, exhausted, and perhaps hiding it well from the outside world. You’re not alone. This is one of the most common challenges leaders face in the messy middle. If this is you, let’s connect.
So let me ask you:
What’s one thing you’re giving a f*ck about today that doesn’t deserve it?
And what would become possible if you chose to redirect that energy toward what really matters?
