I have 40 minutes before I get to school for another shoot, and I don’t want to waste time sitting in traffic.

Earlier today, I wrapped up a podcast interview—but it wasn’t just any interview.

It was an entrepreneurship podcast, but instead of glorifying success, we talked about failure.

I loved that.

Success stories can create a false illusion—making people believe that all it takes is one great idea, one lucky break, and everything will fall into place.

But that’s not reality.

Failure is relatable. Failure connects people. It shows the real dangers—what not to do, what to avoid, and what happens when things go wrong.

The host was surprised I agreed to meet him.

I told him:

“If just one out of a hundred people listening to this podcast has their life changed, it’s worth it.”

A Unique Podcast Approach

What I loved about the host’s approach? It wasn’t just a sit-down interview.

• Instead of meeting for coffee, he invited me to a studio—because he’s a photographer, and he wanted to integrate visuals into the storytelling.
• The podcast wasn’t structured or scripted—it was casual, conversational, just like two people chatting in a coffee shop.
• After recording, he planned to edit, package, and distribute the content across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and RedNote—to engage young people where they already are.

That’s smart.

In this fast-paced world, people don’t have time for formal sit-downs. But a casual podcast? That works.

This also got me thinking: why don’t we do something similar?

A short podcast series—not long, just a few episodes. Conversational. Simple.

I love this idea.

Frameworks That Shape My Journey

During the interview, I shared my origin story and the frameworks that shaped my life.

• EDUpreneurship – The intersection of education and entrepreneurship.
  • Embracing discomfort – Growth only happens when you lean into discomfort.
  • Design to impact – Be specific about the problem you solve. Don’t follow the crowd – Independent thinking is key.
  • Understanding money – Not just price, but value.
• The 3Ms: Mentors, Mentees, Mates – The secret weapon for long-term success.

If you don’t have mentors, you’re missing out on wisdom.

If you don’t have mentees, you’re missing out on impact.

If you don’t have mates, you’re missing out on accountability.

Managing Priorities in a Distracted World

After the interview, I had lunch.

For a few hours, I didn’t check my phone.

When I finally did, my screen was flooded with notifications.

And you know what?

I wasn’t bothered.

People assume I must be glued to my phone, constantly replying to messages.

But I’m not.

Why?

Because not every message deserves my attention.

Some people will text:

• “Daniel, please call me back.”
• “Daniel, I need help.”
• “Daniel, do you have time?”

And by the time I check, the issue is already resolved.

This happens all the time.

So I started categorizing messages into four groups:

The Four Quadrants of Decision-Making

1. Necessary But Not Important

• Urgent, but not something that requires me.
• Often solves itself with time.

Example: Someone panics over a minor issue, but figures it out later.

If I drop everything to handle these, I become a firefighter—wasting energy on problems that fix themselves.

2. Important But Not Urgent

• Long-term projects.
• Health, relationships, and personal growth.

These should be priorities—but they’re often delayed.

Reading a book? Later.

Quality time with family? Maybe next week.

Health checkup? Next year.

Until one day, your health collapses, your marriage falls apart, and you wonder what went wrong.

The most successful people? They focus on the important before it becomes urgent.

3. Necessary AND Important

• Commitments you must keep.
• Life-and-death situations.

If you consistently fail to follow through on commitments, people will stop trusting you.

Right now, my wife is pregnant.

I’ve reduced travel as much as possible. If she calls, I make sure I can be home in 15–30 minutes.

Some things cannot wait.

4. Not Necessary, Not Important

• Gossip.
• Social media distractions.
• Endless debates that go nowhere.

These waste your time and drain your focus.

The problem? Most people can’t classify priorities correctly.

• They overreact to “necessary but not important” things.
• They ignore “important but not urgent” things—until it’s too late.
• They waste time on “not necessary, not important” distractions.

Misclassifying priorities leads to mismanaging life.

Your Priorities Will Define You

Most people let others dictate their priorities.

Someone demands an answer in 15 minutes—so you drop everything to reply.

Someone cries for help—so you make it your responsibility.

And suddenly?

Your life is no longer yours.

So ask yourself:

• Do YOU know your priorities?
• Are you compromising your goals for someone else’s urgency?
• Are your personal priorities aligned with your organization’s priorities?

If not, you need to rethink your path.

Wisdom From My Wife: Boundaries Create Clarity

Before we started dating, my wife had this wisdom.

When I texted her?

• She took her time to reply.

At first, I was frustrated.

• Did I not matter?
• Was she ignoring me?

But looking back, I’m grateful.

She knew how to set boundaries.

Even today, as a leader, she micromanages when necessary, but also protects her personal space.

• She walks around campus to check on things.
• She ensures staff and parents are aligned.
• But she doesn’t let every little problem get into her head.

That’s not neglect.

That’s leadership.

She doesn’t allow small distractions to build up and drain her mental space.

Great Leaders Set Boundaries

The world is faster, louder, more connected than ever.

People have anxiety attacks just from hearing their phone vibrate.

But here’s the truth:

• If you can’t handle small responsibilities, you won’t be given bigger ones.
• If you drown in minor distractions, you’ll never reach real leadership.
• If you let every text message shake you, you’ll never build true resilience.

So set your priorities.

• Define them clearly.
• Guard your time.
• Protect your heart.

Because at the end of the day, the ones who master priorities master life.