Case Study: Alignment Over Willpower
What can happen when you shift your perspective and align yourself with your Zone of Genius.
[2-Min Read Time]
If you keep checking the news or email instead of doing the thing, you probably don’t have a focus problem. You have an alignment problem.
We think we need more discipline or willpower to stop procrastinating. Most of the time, the real issue is that our days are packed with work that drains us. When the work fits our strengths and actually matters to us, starting gets easier and focus shows up.
This was exactly Shanik’s struggle. For six months we met twice monthly, ran small experiments, checked in between calls, and used a daily Non-Negotiables tracker to keep his energy up and his effort/intention on what mattered.
“The breakthrough was realizing my work wasn’t aligned with my energy and talents. I left every session [with Coach Tyler] with actions that actually moved me forward.”
The shift - why alignment beats willpower
Stop trying to try harder. Start matching your time to work that fits your energy, your strengths, and what actually matters to you. Reduce or reshape the draining tasks. When the work fits, you start sooner, finish more, and still have energy for your family.
Experiments that sparked change
Energy Map (20 min): List five things that energize, five that drain, and three in your zone of genius (where effort pays off big).
One-Thing Blocks (5×/week): Forty-five to ninety minutes for one important task tied to your genius. Phone in another room.
Define your Recovery Blocks: your mind and body needs space from all the mental work you’ve been doing.
Examples: lift some weights, go for a long walk, set an earlier bedtime.Set Attention Guardrails: These are the time-sucks, your drains - what always seems to pull you in for much longer than you expect. Define them, and set some concrete boundaries.
Examples: One ten-minute news window after lunch on desktop only. Check email twice a day. Rearrange or remove apps that trigger autopilot scrolling.
Cornerstone habits that stick - what Shanik implemented
Daily movement
Five minutes of breathwork
Wake at 6:00 a.m., no snooze
Set the frog each night (frog: tomorrow’s single must-do)
Phone sleeps in the bathroom
The big breakthrough
For Shanik, naming his Zone of Genius and committing to that lane flipped the switch and made him genuinely excited. One question kept him centered: “What would it look like to be undeniable in my craft?” That lens made it obvious what to double down on, and what to delegate, batch, or drop.
Try this
Do the Energy Map.
Schedule 3 one-thing blocks and 1 recovery block.
Tonight: write tomorrow’s frog and keep that as the first thing you see on your phone in the morning. Make sure your phone is out of the bedroom at night (I recommend the bathroom).
Want to ignite your Zone of Genius?
Apply for the Leader OS free fit-check call + blueprint session.
We’ll map your next 90 days—strength, inner work, and weekly rules—and confirm fit.
If it’s not a fit, at least you’ll leave with a plan.