Overcoming Decoys, Shortcuts, and Shenanigans

Posted on August 2, 2025 by

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We all want to grow. To lead with integrity. To live fully and leave a meaningful legacy.

So why, despite all the books, mentors, and motivational talks, do we so often feel stuck?

As a Human Potentialist, I’ve spent decades unraveling that very question. And the answer may surprise you.

It’s not a lack of discipline or talent. It’s not your environment, your team, or your past.

The real culprits are much sneakier—I call them Decoys, Shortcuts, and Shenanigans.

🎭 What Are Decoys, Shortcuts, and Shenanigans?

Decoys: Disguised Distractions

These are the distractions that appear noble but steer us away from what truly matters.

  • The perfectly color-coded planner you never use.
  • The meeting prep that delays the tough conversation.
  • The slick performance dashboard replaces an honest dialogue.

Decoys help us avoid discomfort while making us feel like we’re doing something important.

Shortcuts: Quick Fixes That Cost You

Shortcuts are the ways we bypass the hard work of reflection and growth.

  • Skipping self-reflection to jump into action.
  • Relying on external accountability instead of building inner discipline.
  • Grabbing someone else’s framework instead of doing your own inner work.

Shortcuts rob us of mastery and the long-term transformation we seek.

Shenanigans: Rationalizations That Keep Us Stuck

Shenanigans are the clever excuses we use to avoid telling ourselves the truth.

  • “That’s just how I am.”
  • “I don’t have time.”
  • “They need to change first.”

They sound logical but reflect a deeper misalignment with your values or vision.

🧠 Why Do We Rely on Them?

Because they feel safe.

They help us survive in systems built on performance, perfection, and pressure. They let us look aligned even when we feel lost.

But here’s the truth: Survival isn’t the same as flourishing.

These behaviors—while understandable—keep us from our truest, most powerful selves.

🔥 The Shift: From Performance to Presence

My research into Person-Centered Accountability (PCA) revealed something profound:

Real accountability isn’t something we impose on others—it’s something we ignite from within.

When we shed these patterns with honesty and compassion, everything changes:

  • We stop outsourcing our worth to performance.
  • We stop living in reaction and start responding with intention.
  • We move from pressure to presence, from noise to alignment.

That’s the shift—from the exhausting loop of Decoys, Shortcuts, and Shenanigans to a more grounded, integrated path of Truth, Practice, and Becoming.

🌱 An Invitation to You

Ask yourself:

  • What decoys am I entertaining right now?
  • Where am I choosing shortcuts over steady practice?
  • What stories or shenanigans keep me from telling the truth?

Then choose this instead:

  • Replace performance with practice.
  • Replace control with coherence.
  • Replace compliance with compassion.

This is not about judgment—it’s about reclaiming your power.

🎤 Ready to Break Free?

I created a TED Talk on this very topic—how we move beyond Decoys, Shortcuts, and Shenanigans and begin living with more profound truth, deliberate practice, and an ever-evolving sense of becoming.

The world doesn’t need more polished performers—it needs more of you.

🙋‍♀️ Let’s Connect

If this message resonates with you, I’d love to hear how these patterns show up in your life or leadership.

Leave a comment, share your experience, or message me directly. And if you’re building a team, a culture, or a life that aligns with this vision, let’s talk. I’d love to walk alongside you.

#PersonCenteredAccountability #HumanPotential #TruthPracticeBecoming #Leadership #GrowthMindset #DrDebbieStock #AccountabilityReimagined

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