Sudden, disruptive change doesn't always call for a fast decision — and treating it like one can cost you clarity when you need it most. In this episode, Tom breaks down the difference between tactical emergencies that demand immediate action and identity-level disruption — a layoff, a business shift, a life event — that calls for something else entirely: solitude.
Tom walks through the exact three-step protocol he uses when life falls apart: getting truly alone (a half-day minimum, a full day as his real standard), running a foundations audit across identity, purpose, and focus, and refusing to leave that space without at least one concrete next step. He shares a real, still-unfolding example of applying this protocol to a recent business opportunity that forced him to rethink his direction — including where a quick tactical response and the longer solitude process worked together.
This episode isn't a replacement for professional counseling, especially where health is involved — it's a practical protocol for the disruptive changes many leaders face in work and life.
For more information on my planning processes, see these episodes:
Episode 5: https://youtu.be/pUDaCm_QxI0
Episode 34: https://youtu.be/F6pm5-qCRts
Timestamps:
00:00 The Story That Started This Episode
00:40 Two Kinds of "Sudden" - And Why This Isn't Counseling
02:17 Step 1: Get Alone - For Real
03:30 Step 2: The Foundations Audit
05:12 Step 3: Don't Leave Without a Next Step
06:17 A Real Example: A Business Shift Still in Progress
08:32 Why This Leans on Your Focus Framework
08:54 Get Quiet Before You React
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Tom DeBell is the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer/Consultant, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. Learn more about Tom and Modern Leadership Solutions here:
https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com
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