August 12, 2026
Family matters.
Faith matters.
Health matters.
Meaningful work matters.
Friendships matter.
Financial stewardship matters.
Rest matters.
Generosity matters.
Personal growth matters.
The problem isn’t identifying what matters.
The problem begins when two of those good things compete for the same time, energy, or attention.
Because eventually they will.
And when they do, something has to win.
That’s why I believe one of the most important exercises a leader can undertake isn’t simply making a list of priorities.
It’s establishing a Hierarchy of Priorities.
There is a profound difference between the two.
Very few have a hierarchy.
Ask almost anyone what matters most in life, and they’ll give you a thoughtful list.
Health.
Family.
Faith.
Purpose.
Career.
Relationships.
Community.
Security.
Most of us don’t need help creating that list.
The challenge comes on Tuesday afternoon.
Your daughter has a ballgame.
An important client asks for a last-minute meeting.
Your spouse was hoping for dinner together.
A key employee needs your attention.
You’re already behind on a project.
None of those choices are between right and wrong.
They’re all good.
But they cannot all occupy first place.
The question becomes:
Which one wins?
That answer reveals something deeper than your priorities.
It reveals your hierarchy.
James Clear popularized the idea that every habit is a vote for the kind of person you’re becoming.
I think something similar is true about leadership.
Every decision is a vote for the future you’re building.
Every “yes” casts a vote.
Every “no” casts a vote.
Every hour you spend.
Every commitment you accept.
Every meeting you schedule.
Every dollar you invest.
Every conversation you avoid.
Every opportunity you pursue.
None of those decisions stand alone.
Together, they’re quietly shaping your life.
Which means the question isn’t simply,
“What do I value?”
It’s:
“What am I consistently voting for?”
Because over time, our decisions tell the truth.
Sometimes more honestly than our words.
Here’s something I’ve observed over the years.
Every person already has a hierarchy of priorities.
Most have simply never written it down.
Instead, it’s revealed in subtle ways.
What gets interrupted.
What gets postponed.
What gets protected.
What gets sacrificed.
What receives your best energy.
What receives whatever is left.
If someone followed you for the next six months—not listening to your words, but simply watching your calendar, your spending, and your attention—they could probably describe your hierarchy with surprising accuracy.
That thought humbles me.
Because there have been seasons when my stated priorities and my lived priorities weren’t telling the same story.
Not intentionally.
Just gradually.
Life has a way of rearranging priorities if we don’t revisit them regularly.
One of the things that has always fascinated me about Jesus is how remarkably clear He was about what mattered most.
He loved people without question.
He cared deeply for individuals.
He healed.
He taught.
He fed hungry crowds.
He withdrew to pray.
He invested deeply in twelve disciples.
He spent time with close friends.
None of those responsibilities competed by accident.
They reflected intentional priorities.
When Martha became distracted by many good responsibilities, Jesus didn’t criticize her for serving.
Serving was good.
He simply reminded her that, in that moment, Mary had chosen “what is better.” (Luke 10:42)
Not because service didn’t matter.
But because priorities are often determined by the moment and the mission.
That’s an important distinction.
A hierarchy of priorities isn’t rigid.
It’s responsive to God’s calling in the season you’re living.
One of the worst times to determine your priorities is in the middle of a crisis.
Pressure has a way of making urgency feel ultimate.
Instead, build your hierarchy while you have space to think.
Ask yourself:
What is absolutely non-negotiable?
What deserves my best energy?
What receives attention first—not what’s left over?
When two good things compete, what consistently wins?
And perhaps the hardest question:
What am I willing to disappoint in order to remain faithful to what matters most?
Those questions won’t eliminate difficult decisions.
But they will make them more coherent.
Take out a blank sheet of paper.
Across the top, write:
“If two good things compete…”
Then begin listing the major priorities in your life.
Not just what matters.
Rank them.
Don’t rush.
Pray through them.
Talk with your spouse.
Invite trusted friends into the conversation.
Because eventually life will force you to choose.
The question is whether that choice will be made intentionally—or reactively.
I’ve come to believe that clarity isn’t simply knowing where you’re going.
It’s knowing what matters most along the way.
Destination gives you direction.
A hierarchy of priorities gives you a compass.
One tells you where you’re headed.
The other helps you decide how you’ll travel when the road presents more than one good option.
Perhaps that’s why Jesus could live with such remarkable peace in the midst of constant demands.
He wasn’t trying to do everything.
He was faithfully doing what mattered most.
Maybe that’s our invitation as well.
Not to become busier.
Not to become more productive.
But to become increasingly aligned.
Because every decision is quietly shaping the future you’re building.
The question is:
Are your priorities building the future you actually want to live?
