Aligned Leadership

 by Derrick Kunsman

I was standing in my chiropractor’s office the other day. Well, hunched, if I’m being honest; and, he hit me with two truths that, surprisingly, had less to do with my spine and more to do with how I want to live and lead.

The first thing he said was simple but stuck with me:

“It’s better to come in proactively than after you throw your back out.”

Now, I’ve thrown my back out before. And if you’ve been there too, you know that “can’t put on socks without crying” kind of humility. But this time, I was showing up before disaster struck, before the sock-pulling turned into a wrestling match. And, he applauded that.

That made me think about leadership. My routines. The standards I set for myself.

When I’m at my best, I’m doing the things that keep me proactively aligned: journaling, exercising, eating like a grown-up, reading something that doesn’t have bullet points, spending a few minutes in silence, and tracking my habits on my organizational scorecard like the spreadsheet-loving guy I am.

When I’m not doing these things?
I don’t just throw out my back, I throw off my whole alignment. I get anxious. Short. Unmotivated. I feel like a glitchy version of myself trying to run on low battery.

But those small, daily habits?
They’re my adjustment. They keep me centered. They prevent me from metaphorically waking up on the floor, unable to reach my shoes.

The second truth he offered came during one of those subtle mid-back cracks that somehow resets your entire life.

He said:

“Once in a while, do the opposite.”

He was talking about posture, how I should occasionally throw my arms back, look up at the sky, and stretch the opposite way from how I usually sit, slouched over a laptop or staring down at my phone.

But it hit me deeper.

Because I’m a routine guy.
I like plans. Spreadsheets. To-do lists. I like knowing what’s for dinner before lunch.
I even have a favorite pen for taking notes (don’t judge).

But maybe sometimes, I need to do the opposite.

Maybe I need to say yes to an unplanned detour with my kids.
Or, close the laptop and step into a classroom without an agenda.
Or, leave the to-do list behind and just talk to someone, no calendar block required.

Not all the time. But once in a while.
It’s those little moments that surprise me, remind me I’m alive and human and not just a productivity machine with caffeine dependencies.

Look, I’m not here pretending to be an expert. I’m definitely not always aligned. I often overdo it and wind up mentally sore and physically stiff.

But what I’m learning – slowly, imperfectly – is that staying aligned in leadership and life doesn’t come from grand reinventions or miracle breakthroughs.

It comes from small, meaningful choices.
From doing the little things before everything hurts.
From trusting that slow progress is still progress.
From letting go just enough to look up at the sky now and then.

So here’s my ask:
What helps you stay aligned?
And when you feel out of whack – mentally, emotionally, physically – what brings you back?

I’d love to hear your story. No advice needed, just real people trying to get a little better, one stretch, one habit, one choice at a time.Stay proactively adjusted, my friends.
And maybe today, just once, do the opposite.

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Aligned Leadership | Lead With Purpose. Live With Alignment.