The Crazy Ones: Finding the Space to Really Live

This last weekend was good for my soul. I had the privilege of spending time with my dad, my sisters, and their spouses. We laughed hard, shared deep stories, and shared great meals. Between taking in a couple of baseball games, visiting local coffee shops, and exploring museums, those moments reminded me exactly why the journey from Fog to Focus to Freedom matters so much to me.

The True Purpose of Productivity

The goal of my work has never been about productivity for productivity's sake. The goal was always space—space for what matters most. Since my mom passed away a couple of years ago, I’ve been constantly reminded of how precious time really is. It’s not just about managing time; it’s about using it well and using it on purpose.

That got me thinking this week about focus in a different way. Part of staying focused is knowing what you are truly obsessed with. I don't mean an unhealthy obsession, but the kind where you can’t stop thinking about it—where you keep showing up even when it doesn’t seem to make logical sense.

Beyond the ROI: What Is Your Life Worth?

One of my brothers-in-law made a comment this week that stuck with me. He admitted that his brain works differently than mine; he thinks in terms of statistics, ROI, and efficiency. He asked the logical question: If something takes 12,000 hours and doesn’t produce much money, why keep doing it?

Honestly, I understand that logic. But I also realized that some things are more valuable than money. Some things are worth your life, even when they don’t immediately pay you back financially.

Years ago, when I worked with hospital volunteers—ranging from retirees to students—we constantly asked a simple question: "Do you want to make a difference?"

That question changes people. I remember a surgeon once walking into my office and quietly admitting, "I don’t want to be a surgeon anymore… but I owe half a million dollars in student loans." That hit me hard. How many people spend their lives becoming who they thought they were supposed to be, only to wake up realizing they never actually chose it?

Choosing to "Really Live"

For a long time, I did exactly what everyone expected of me. Now, I’m learning to ask: What do I believe I was made to do? Right before helping start a new church in our town, I was wrestling with whether to stay comfortable or step into the unknown. Around that time, I watched the movie Braveheart, and one line wrecked me:

“Every man dies, not every man really lives.”

Deep down, I think most of us are terrified of wasting our lives. We aren't afraid of failing, struggling, or looking foolish—we are afraid of playing it safe, sleepwalking through our days, and ignoring the calling we can't stop thinking about.

A Toast to the Crazy Ones

Steve Jobs famously said: "Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently…"

I love that because every person with a true calling feels a little crazy sometimes. You work on things others don’t understand. You keep going when the numbers don’t add up. You care about a mission that most people would have quit long ago. And that’s okay. The people who change the world are rarely the ones who played it safe.

In marketing, they say people buy for health, wealth, or relationships. But I believe there is a fourth category: Calling. These are the people who know they are carrying an assignment, even if they can't fully explain it yet. They are the ones willing to look foolish in pursuit of purpose.

Wake Up and Focus

I’m not suggesting you be reckless, but I am saying don’t ignore the pull on your heart. As the manifesto in Jerry Maguire says: "A life is not worth living if you are sleepwalking through it."

So, wake up. Ask yourself: What are you living for? What are you willing to give your life to? At the end of your days, will you be glad you risked something meaningful?

Real focus isn't just about calendars and productivity systems; it comes from clarity about what matters most. Freedom comes when you stop living someone else’s life and start living the one you were created for.

Time Tip Tuesday

This week, carve out 30 quiet minutes and ask yourself one question: “What can I not go a day without thinking about?”

Don’t rush the answer. Sit with it. Let me know what you discovered—that answer may tell you more about your calling than you realize.

Fog to Focus,
Chad Earhart

Reflections from the Negro League Museum

One activity my family did together was visiting the Negro League Museum. I was moved by the individuals who challenged the status quo until the world recognized their humanity and allowed them into the National Baseball League. A specific scripture at the entrance stood out to me from Ecclesiastes 2:1-2: “My son, if you aspire to be a servant of the Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set a straight course and keep to it, and do not be dismayed in the face of adversity.”

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