I’ve got a client who’s incredible under pressure.

He’ll admit it, too. He doesn’t move until a deadline is bearing down like a freight train. Then? Boom. Focus. Decisions. Execution. A hero in the final hour.

Sound familiar?

He’s not lazy. He’s addicted to urgency.

And honestly? It works.

Think about every action movie ever. The hero doesn’t save the day three weeks in advance. They dismantle the bomb at 00:01. They cross the finish line just in time. That’s the drama. That’s the win.

And we’ve internalized it.

We wake up at 7:45 and still manage to make our 8:55 meeting- coffee, kid drop-off, emails and all. So the next day? We ask: can I wake up at 7:55 and beat my record?

There’s a thrill in the chase.

But here’s the problem.

What happens when the adrenaline fades?

When the deadline isn’t a wall, but a dot on the horizon?

When no one is chasing you, do you still want to run?

This is the real test of leadership.

Because if pressure is the only thing that gets you moving, you’ll end up designing a career or a life, where you’re always on the edge. Always behind. Always waiting for a threat to feel alive.

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Why this costs you (according to science)

When you run on urgency mode, your body pumps cortisol, adrenaline, and glucose into your system to help you react, fast.

You’re sharper, more alert, more focused.

But repeated spikes of these stress hormones come at a cost:

• Poorer sleep
• Shorter attention spans
• Worse immune response
• Emotional volatility
• Decision fatigue

And your baseline energy? Gets lower over time.

You’re using hero mode for tasks that don’t need heroics.

So here’s the shift:

You need a way to operate before the countdown clock starts.

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10 ways to create FAUX urgency (that don't kill you)

If you love the thrill, don’t try to erase it. Redirect it.

Here’s how to channel urgency in smart, sustainable ways:

1. Time-box your work like a game show → "You have 12 minutes. GO." Set a timer. No extensions.
2. Public deadlines → Tell someone your deliverable and due date. Accountability = adrenaline.
3. Fake constraints → “I can’t use my phone until this is done.” (You’ll move fast.)
4. Race the clock → Wake up at 7:57. Can you beat your 8:55 start time?
5. Reward stakes → “If I finish by 3pm, I get the good coffee.” (Or an episode. Or a walk.)
6. Create a consequence → “If I don’t hit submit, I owe my friend $10.” (Venmo requests are brutal.)
7. Do it on camera → Record yourself doing the work. Your brain performs better under light scrutiny.
8. Co-working sprints → 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off with a buddy who’s also working.
9. Use a countdown → Visual timers trigger your brain’s urgency light.
10. Commit, then plan → Say yes to the meeting before your deck is ready. Now you’ll make the deck.

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Ask yourself: “Where am I waiting for a crisis that doesn’t need to happen?”

Now choose one of the 10 above. Create urgency on your own terms. Feel the thrill, without the crash.

Because you’re not just a hero in the final scene. You’re the director. You choose how the story plays out.

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My best, always,

Shar