Episode 279: Phone Down, Head Up: Reachable Is Not the Same as Present

Be the CEO of Your Life and Business Podcast · Sep 27, 2026 · 16m

Last week, self-defense instructor Tina Pascal gave me four words I haven't been able to shake: phone down, head up. She meant it as a safety rule. I heard it as a rule for my whole life.

A few weeks ago, I told you about our family trip to Florida — the day I stood at the locker at the water park and told everyone their phones were going in. My kids looked at me like I was out of my mind. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip. Nine days later we walked back into the house, and before our feet were fully on the ground, every one of us was back on our phones. Including me…