Minute With Mallon: Unfreeze the Status Quo 🥶

Welcome to Minute with Mallon! 

Something I Taught:

I was working with a relatively new client this week, and we were discussing how anytime we want to move in a new direction—personally or professionally—it requires change. You can’t keep doing the same things, thinking the same way, and operating with the same habits and expect a different outcome.

In other words, you can’t be the same person you were and still accomplish a new goal. Something has to change.

I showed him a simple slide that captures this idea well:

“In order to change, we must first unfreeze the status quo by recognizing the undesirability of the present situation and the benefits of transformation.”

— Kurt Lewin

We talked about how this applies everywhere in life.

If you want a better marriage, you can’t keep showing up the same way.

If you want to grow as a leader, you can’t manage people the way you always have.

If you want better health, more margin, or more clarity, you can’t cling to the same routines that got you here.

Before change happens externally, something has to unfreeze internally.

You have to admit the current situation isn’t working as well as it could.

You have to recognize the cost of staying where you are.

And you have to become honest about what needs to change. 

After explaining this, I asked him, “In your own words, what does this mean to you?”

He didn’t hesitate. He smiled and said,

“You can’t kill a deer laying in bed.” 🤣

I laughed—but he was exactly right.

If you want a result, you have to get up, move, and do something different. Comfort doesn’t produce growth. Intention without action doesn’t produce change. Staying frozen in what’s familiar keeps life exactly the same.

That’s the real lesson.

Growth requires movement. And movement requires letting go of what’s comfortable so you can step into something better.

Call to Action:

This week, ask yourself one honest question: What needs to be unfrozen in my life right now?

Then take one small, intentional step—because nothing changes until you do. 

Something to Ponder:

 “It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.” 

Bruce Lee

Something I Learned:

A few years ago, I came across a study called “Supertaskers: Profiles in Extraordinary Multitasking Ability.” The researchers were trying to find people who could truly multitask—doing multiple things at once without a drop in performance. 

Here’s what they discovered.

Only 2.5% of people could actually do it well.

That means 97.5% of us aren’t multitasking—we’re just switching tasks poorly. And that constant switching quietly costs us focus, energy, quality, and presence.

Most leaders don’t need to get better at multitasking.

They need to get better at single-tasking.

Because when you focus on one thing at a time:

• Thinking sharpens

• Work gets done faster

• Decisions improve

• And people feel truly heard

This week, choose one thing—one conversation, one meeting, or one block of work—and give it your full attention. Focus isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters better.

Something I Saw:

Haha! This concerns the big winter storm we had from a couple of weeks ago!

Think this could help someone you know? Share the link: RobertMallon.com/Newsletter

Hope you have an incredible week! 

Robert