Presence Over Plans

We talk a lot about plans — business plans, life plans, game plans.

But presence?… That’s rare.

Presence is what’s left when the plan blows up. It’s the ability to stay here when everything in you wants to run there.

I’ve learned this the hard way.

There was a day on the water when everything went wrong, the kind of day that strips the noise out of your head and leaves only what’s real. Wind shifting, lines tangled, the ocean reminding me who’s in charge. In that moment, my plans didn’t matter. My ability to stay present did. I was stuck at sea, my wife got sick, presence came quick and loud.

You can’t plan for a diagnosis. You can’t schedule your emotions. All you can do is show up. Not to control, not to fix, but to be there fully, awake and steady, when it counts.

Presence isn’t about escaping the world. It’s about feeling it. The noise, the tension, the heartbeat of the moment, and still staying grounded enough to lead, love, and decide clearly. Meditation has lots of benefits and there are times that we should sit in silence and reflect, and we’ll talk about that in the future, but don’t be afraid to be in this moment in your daily life. The most simple thing to do is, take a breath and be in this moment right now. 

Science backs it up. Why Presence Matters

Research from Harvard shows that people’s minds wander nearly 47% of the time, almost half their waking life spent somewhere else. And when the mind wanders, happiness drops.

Another study from the University of Miami found that athletes who trained focused-awareness drills (essentially, presence reps) improved performance consistency by more than 25%.

Presence isn’t just a feeling,  it’s a skill that sharpens everything you do:

• Focus: Presence keeps your attention from splitting across what-ifs and what’s-next.
• Emotion: It lowers cortisol and balances your nervous system, letting your body perform under pressure.
• Decision-Making: MRI studies from Yale show that mindful attention literally rewires the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for clear thinking and emotional regulation.

When you’re present, you don’t just react — you respond. You see what’s really happening instead of what your fear wants to see.

What I’ve Learned

Presence isn’t mystical. It’s mechanical. It’s a rep you train every time you catch yourself drifting and come back to now. It’s the deep breath before you speak in a tense meeting. It’s looking your kid in the eyes instead of at your phone. It’s pausing long enough to choose the right action, not the fastest one.

Presence is leadership — period.

And the truth is, this moment is all we ever have. The plan will change. The wind will shift. The world will throw you something new tomorrow. But here, right here, is where composure is built. Because presence isn’t a retreat from life. It’s how you live it fully. Feel the sun on your face. Enjoy the sound and smell of the rain. Remind yourself that your kids are only young once. 

90 Second Re-set:

You don’t need incense or silence  - just 90 seconds and a little awareness.

1. Pause and Plant.
   Put both feet flat on the floor or ground. Feel the weight of your body settle.
   (If you’re standing, imagine you’re rooted — solid and still.)
2. Breathe on a Count.
   Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 2, exhale for 6.
   Do this three times. Slower on the exhale — that’s what calms your system.
3. Name What’s Real.
   Out loud or in your head, say three things you can see, two things you can touch, one thing you’re grateful for.
4. Ask the Anchor Question:
   “What actually needs my attention right now?”

That’s it — 90 seconds.

No apps. No lectures. Just you, present and composed.