The Cost of Static: Why My Boldest Move Was Reclaiming My Time
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Danyail Lawton
After 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, I realized the greatest limit to my evolution was the cost of staying static. Had I remained in the service, I likely would have continued giving my expertise away for free; a habit formed by a career of service. Transitioning to the private sector was the catalyst I needed to stop undervaluing my contributions and finally build something of my own: BoldMoves™ Consulting LLC. My firm is a strategic communications firm dedicated to helping executive leaders, athletes, and visionary brands within the Sports and Hospitality sectors build enduring market value. This shift also provided the space to breathe life into a 9th-grade literature assignment I wrote 27 years ago, transforming a dormant dream into a vital social-emotional learning resource for children.
The BoldMoves™ Assessment
In my military career, I was often faced with making decisions under pressure within the Intelligence field. As a business owner, I have developed a methodology for these high-stakes environments called the BoldMoves™ Assessment. This seven-step process ensures clarity:
Assess the situation.
Identify the specific outcome I am looking for.
Identify the information currently available.
Identify information gaps that could impact my outcome.
Weigh the pros and cons based on what is known.
Make the decision.
Move forward.
When you move through a structured assessment, you minimize panic. My military service taught me that poise is a choice you make before you act. When you follow a process, you replace reaction with strategic action. This allows you to remain the calm center for your team or your clients.
The Leadership Distinction
Leadership is being able to inspire someone through your actions and behaviors. Management is obligating someone to do something through command. I have played the role of the manager before, but I would much rather be in a leadership role. I have learned that you must be the leader you want to see. This is the mentality I carry into my firm. When a crisis occurs in sports or hospitality, your team doesn’t need a manager to give them more orders. They need a leader who provides the example of composure.
Building an Enduring Legacy
My book and my business are my legacy. I transitioned to life after service because I wanted to be the voice for those who may not feel heard and the avenue to make them feel seen. I was doing this throughout my military career, but I realized I wanted to apply that same mission within a different environment. One of the primary services I offer is Legacy Solutions, which provides a foundation of enduring equity for athletes. We use a signature Legacy Blueprint to unify brand narratives and define a competitive edge through Narrative Architecture (your story), Reputation Firewall Design (your protection), and Strategic Partnership Curation (your circle).
The transition from competitive performance to post-career life often involves sudden reputation exposure.
We mitigate that risk by building future influence today, transforming short-term achievements into a durable, decade-long legacy. This counsel is also available to the coaches and sports executives who support them.
The same composure I bring to these high-touch consultancies is what I instill in children through my book, Penelope and the Vase. Whether I am helping a professional athlete navigate a transition or helping a child learn to affirm themselves, the mission is the same. It is about moving out of the static and into a place of confident, bold action. That is the essence of a Bold Move.
Connect With Danyail
Comments