Most people spend a lot of time trying to create more energy. They focus on better sleep, nutrition, workouts, and routines.

All important.

But there's a problem.

You can add all the fuel in the world and still struggle to move forward if there's a leak in the system.

In aviation, fuel is critical.

But fuel alone doesn't guarantee performance.

A helicopter can have a full tank and still have a problem if something is draining the system somewhere else.

Leadership works the same way.

Most people know what gives them energy.

Fewer know what's quietly taking it away.

That's because energy leaks are often difficult to see.

They're rarely dramatic.

They're usually small, persistent, and easy to ignore.

An unresolved conversation.

A difficult decision you've been avoiding.

A commitment that no longer aligns.

Constant notifications.

Poor boundaries.

An environment that drains more than it contributes.

The challenge isn't always finding more fuel.

It's finding the leak.

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One of the questions I ask during my Daily Inspection is simple:

What's fuelling me?

And just as importantly:

What's draining me?

Most people never stop to ask the second question.

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Instead, they continue adding more.

More coffee.

More meetings.

More effort.

More hours.

Meanwhile, the leak continues.

Over time, that creates something dangerous.

Not burnout overnight.

Drift.

You begin operating with less capacity.

Less focus.

Less patience.

Less energy for the people and priorities that matter most.

The leaders who sustain momentum understand something important.

Energy isn't just created.

It's protected.

They pay attention to what fuels them.

But they are equally aware of what drains them.

Because removing a major energy leak can sometimes create more momentum than adding another productivity tool, workout, or morning routine ever could.

Before trying to optimize your energy, start by inspecting it.

The answer may not be found in what you're missing.

It may be found in what you're tolerating.

Learn about the Daily Inspection and how to create awareness of what matters to perform higher.

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Today's Shift

Ask yourself two questions:

What's fuelling me right now?

What's draining me right now?

Then identify one energy leak you can remove this week.

Momentum doesn't always require more fuel.

Sometimes it starts by fixing the leak.

If this resonated, join The Shift — my weekly newsletter on leadership, energy, and systems, where we build sustainable momentum one shift at a time.

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Chris Wilson