Consumption is easy. Creation changes your life.
Most people assume overconsumption is a discipline problem. But in the real world—especially for leaders—it’s often a capacity problem.
When you’re tired, depleted, or mentally overextended, your brain starts looking for stimulation without responsibility. You want to feel engaged without being exposed. You want to feel “in the game” without being on the hook.
That’s where consumption thrives.
And it doesn’t just show up on a phone.
How Leaders Quietly Drift Into Consumption
Here are a few “respectable” forms of consumption that often masquerade as growth:
1) Learning without implementing
Books, podcasts, webinars, training… all good. But if the learning never turns into a decision, a habit, a conversation, or a new standard—then it becomes entertainment dressed up as development.
2) Planning instead of doing
There’s a version of preparation that’s wise.
There’s also a version that’s fear with better branding.
If you’re always refining the plan, you may be avoiding the discomfort of execution.
3) Optimizing instead of living
Self-optimization can be powerful—until it becomes constant “tweaking” that keeps you busy but disconnected from real presence, relationships, and momentum.
The Missing Middle: Conversion
Most people think life is a simple choice between consuming and creating.
But there’s a middle step most people skip:
Consume → Process → Create
Processing is where the conversion happens:
- reflection
- journaling
- prayer
- prioritizing
- deciding what you will do with what you learned
Without processing, input accumulates… but doesn’t transform.
And over time, input without action trains passivity.
Why Creation Feels Hard (and Why That’s a Good Sign)
Consumption is smooth. It’s safe. It asks nothing of you.
Creation has friction:
- you can be misunderstood
- you can fail publicly
- you have to commit
- you have to carry responsibility
That resistance isn’t always a stop sign.
Often it’s the clearest signal you’re standing at the edge of growth.
Reflection Question
Where are you consuming instead of creating—and what might you be avoiding by staying there?
Book Recommendation
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Reach out if you’d like to dialogue more on this topic.