Fear of missing out doesn’t just make you anxious.It makes you overcommitted. Exhausted.And trapped in a life you never consciously chose.
Last episode we talked about strategy being subtraction; choosing the best and releasing the rest.
Today, Shawn names why that’s so difficult.
It’s not that you don’t know what to subtract.
It’s that you’re afraid of what you’ll miss if you do.
Through a story of a coach who said yes to a “great opportunity” while already depleted, he exposes the real cost of fear-based decisions. The talk happened. The stage was big. But the presence wasn’t there.
And that’s the insight that lands hard in this episode:
FOMO doesn’t protect you from loss. It guarantees it.
Because when you chase every opportunity, you stop being fully present for any of them. And presence, not access, is what actually changes everything.
This episode challenges leaders to stop confusing scarcity with ambition and start protecting the one thing that makes leadership sustainable: presence.
In This Episode
* Why fear of missing out leads to chronic overcommitment
* A real story of saying yes when the honest answer was no
* How FOMO masquerades as ambition and strategy
* The hidden cost of fear-based yeses
* Why presence matters more than access or exposure
* A practical filter for deciding when to say yes or no
Reflection Prompts
* Where am I saying yes out of fear instead of alignment?
* What opportunities am I chasing that are costing me presence?
* When was the last time I said yes even though I was already depleted?
* What might open up if I trusted myself to say no?
The Boost (Action Step)
Run the FOMO Tax Practice.
Think of the last three commitments you agreed to.
Ask yourself honestly:
“Did I say yes because this was aligned or because I was afraid to say no?”
If fear was the driver, that’s the FOMO tax.
And it’s costing you more than you think.
If you want support applying this filter to your real commitments, book a No-Cost Identity Clarity Call. No pitch. Just clarity.
On the Next Episode
The Strategic Decline: How to Say No Without Burning Bridges
Because knowing you need to say no is one thing. Saying it cleanly, confidently, and without guilt is another.
✦ If Today’s Episode Sparked Something…
* Share it with someone who’s exhausted from saying yes to everything
* Subscribe to Daily Power Boost for identity-driven leadership recalibration
* Join the R.E.A.L. Mastery™ Hub → realmasteryhub.com
* Apply for Beyond the Boost live coaching
✦ Engage With Me Online
* Instagram: @coachshawnmichael
* TikTok: @coachshawnmichael
* YouTube: @coachshawnmichael
* LinkedIn: @coachinguatemala
✦ References & Influences
* Greg McKeown – Essentialism on the cost of non-essential commitments
* Jim Collins – Good to Great on disciplined choice and focus
* Joe Hudson – The Art of Accomplishment on fear-based decision loops
* Parker Palmer – Let Your Life Speak on integrity and self-betrayal
* Cal Newport – Digital Minimalism on protecting depth and presence
With strength and heart,
❤️🔥 Shawn Michael
