One Life. No Rehearsals. I’m Choosing the Standard!

I didn’t pick up Slaying the Standard to be inspired. I picked it up because something in me was ready. Not ready in the polished, public-facing sense. Ready in the quiet way. The way that says: I’ve been circling the edge of something for too long. And I’m done waiting for the perfect moment to begin.

Antonio Iozzo doesn’t write like a guru. He writes like someone who’s been through it. The book isn’t motivational. It's method. It’s not a TED Talk in hardcover. It’s a field manual for people who are tired of compromising. And I felt that. Deeply.

Each chapter met me somewhere I’ve already been. Somewhere I’ve already led. Somewhere I’ve already resisted. But it also showed me where I’ve been holding back. Where I’ve been rehearsing instead of risking. Where I’ve been waiting for permission to speak, to launch, to lead.

And I realised: no one is coming to save me. No one can do the work for me. One life. That’s all I get. And I intend to live it fully.

When You’re Tired of Pretending

There’s a fatigue that comes with high-functioning leadership. With being the one who always delivers. With holding the standard while others lower theirs. This book didn’t soothe that fatigue—it named it. And then it offered structure.

Strive for perfection, knowing you’ll never achieve it reminded me that progress is the point. That refinement is a form of respect. That small wins matter. And I’ve earned more of them than I’ve admitted.

Finish what you start echoed the way I’ve built coaching programmes, partnerships and healing spaces. Not always loudly. But always completely. Completion is a form of integrity. And I’ve held it, even when no one was watching.

The rules of engagement felt like a mirror. Boundaries, empathy, and  clarity aren’t soft skills. They’re survival tools. I’ve learned to lead with emotional intelligence, not just strategy. And this chapter affirmed that relationships thrive when expectations are clear and emotions are respected.

Creating a culture of accountability reminded me that trust is built in the follow-through. I’ve built reputations on consistency. On showing up. On doing what I said I would do. And I’ve seen how quickly credibility erodes when accountability disappears.

What It Means to Lead Without Applause

Leading with vision, not ego helped me name something I’ve always known: I don’t lead for recognition. I lead because I see what’s possible. Vision is enough. Ego isn’t required.

The EQ standard didn’t teach me anything new. It confirmed me. Emotional intelligence is how I coach. How I curate. How I connect. It’s my compass. And it’s non-negotiable.

Turning adversity into strategy met me in the places I’ve rebuilt from. Loss. Silence. Resistance. I’ve learned to mine adversity for insight. To turn pain into clarity. To turn setbacks into systems. And this chapter reminded me that adversity isn’t the end. It’s the raw material.

Design with the end in mind echoed how I move. I don’t start anything without knowing where it’s meant to land. Whether it’s a wellness experience or a stakeholder engagement, I build backwards. With intention. With outcome. With clarity.

Risk, Resilience, and the Quiet Return

Energy is the advantage felt personal. I protect my energy now. Not out of fear—but out of respect. When I’m well, I create better. Lead better. Heal better. And this chapter made that non-negotiable.

The founder’s dilemma helped me reframe risk. Not as recklessness—but as readiness. I’ve taken quiet risks. Brave ones. And I’m taking more now. Launching new work. Speaking more clearly. Showing up more fully.

The art of the comeback reminded me that resilience isn’t about bouncing back. It’s about returning with more truth. I’ve rebuilt. Not loudly. But fully. And I’m stronger for it.

When risk pays off stirred something. I’ve been sitting with ideas: a podcast, a new offer, a clearer voice. This chapter reminded me that visibility is part of the risk. And part of the reward.

Discipline over motivation affirmed how I’ve built. Not on hype. On consistency. On early mornings. On late-night edits. On boundaries held. Discipline is the quiet force behind everything I’ve created.

The Shift That Changes Everything

Leading through crisis reminded me that calm isn’t passive. It’s strategic. I’ve led through pivots. Through pressure. Through uncertainty. And I’ve learned that clarity is the anchor.

The wealth mindset shift helped me reframe what I’m building. Not just income. Impact. Legacy. Leverage. I’m shifting from survival to strategy. And this chapter gave me the language for that.

The cost of complacency was a warning. I refuse to settle. I’ve seen what happens when people stop learning. Stop risking. Stop refining. Curiosity is my currency. And I intend to spend it.

Your name is the standard made me pause. My name carries weight. Not because it’s loud—but because it’s earned. Every choice, every silence, every boundary reinforces that. And I’m not lowering it for anyone.

Have You Chosen Your Standard Yet?

This book didn’t change me. It reminded me. Of who I already am. Of what I already know. Of what I’m already building.

And if you’re reading this, I’ll ask you what it asked me: Where does this meet you? What are you avoiding? What standard are you choosing?

Because no one is coming to save you. And that’s not a threat. It’s a gift.

You’re the story now. So, what will you do with it?

* Slaying the Standard is available at Exclusive Books.