Disruption Can Be Life-Giving

At least once a week, someone asks me how I handle so much travel. It’s a question that always catches me off guard. I don’t feel like I travel as much as they assume, and this year, I’ve significantly cut back on work trips. But I get it—if you rarely travel, it probably seems like I’m always on the go.

However, I’ve sat next to plenty of salespeople on flights who spend Monday through Friday in a different city each day. Now that’s a lot of travel! But no matter how often you travel, we all face our own challenges.

For me, it’s food. Between hotel breakfast buffets and airport meals, it’s easy to consume 1,500 calories in a single sitting. Not to mention, some hotels are in industrial areas where finding a decent restaurant can feel like a scavenger hunt.

I was relieved on a recent work trip when my Uber dropped me off at a hotel that shared a parking lot with a local Mexican restaurant. I could eat Mexican food multiple times a day and be completely content. This was one less stressor for me.

I woke up the following day and reviewed my notes for an afternoon keynote. Then, I headed across the parking lot to Rosa’s Mexican Restaurant for lunch. The colorful exterior and large patio indicated a family-owned business. As I opened the heavy wooden door, I was greeted by traditional décor and the familiar warmth of a local restaurant—but something was off.

To my left, there was a counter where people were placing their orders. This surprised me. I was expecting someone to seat me and take my order at the table. At a Taco Bell, I expect a walk-up counter—but not at a place like this. I stepped in line to place my order and mentioned that it was my first time there. The staff then walked me through the menu, and I felt good about my selections.

The woman who took my order then handed me a paper cup. Again, I was surprised. I thought, ”I guess I need to get my own drink.”

I selected my beverage, picked a table, and waited for them to call my order number. Within a few minutes, my meal was ready. As I ate, I couldn’t help but think about how their approach challenged my expectations. I had assumed a sit-down, full-service experience, but instead, I found an efficient model that worked well. I could choose my table, refill my drink whenever I wanted, and enjoy great food—all at an affordable price.

My initial resistance shifted to appreciation as I realized they weren’t just breaking the mold—they were improving the experience. That insight got me thinking about leadership.

Healthy leaders know when to break a pattern, when to introduce a shift, and when to trust a new way of doing things.

Leadership requires us to believe that disruption can be life-giving.

I thought about clients who are working hard to replicate what everyone else is doing. So many leaders feel the pressure to duplicate what has worked for other leaders, but what if there is a different way, a better way, a way designed just for you?

And then, I began to question if I was leading my life or managing my business just to copy what others were doing.

How often do we, as leaders, follow the template of others without asking if there might be a better way? Time and again, we try to replicate what’s been done before, even when it might not serve us or our people.

Sometimes leaders are called to be disruptors.

Recently, three words have been running in the background of my life: affordability, simplicity, and community. These words feel like a nudge, a reminder to rethink the systems and mindsets in my life. They may very well be asking me to disrupt my own life, not for the sake of change, but to create something better.

Now is the time to lean into disruption and lead your life with purpose and courage. The path to transformation is paved with the willingness to do things differently, and it starts with us.

We need more leaders who embrace disruption, not with judgment but with curiosity. When we let go of the familiar to explore new ways, we open the door to growth—for ourselves, our teams, and the people we serve.

I’m moving forward, past the judgment, and embracing the disruption that leads to a more meaningful, connected life.

Are you ready to disrupt in life-giving ways?

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