What 18 Silent Miles Taught Me About Leadership

Lately, work has been chaos in motion. Nonstop calls, agent training, listings, clients, marketing campaigns, content creation. I haven’t taken a full day off in what feels like months. And honestly, I love it. I’m wired for forward motion. But at some point, you realize: when every hour is filled, there’s no room to think.

That’s not just a productivity issue, that’s a leadership problem.

A few months back, I picked up two books that hit me harder than expected: The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter, and The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham. One challenges you to chase discomfort on purpose. The other reminds you that the costliest mistakes in business come from thinking too little, not doing too little.

Both point to the same truth: most of us are so busy doing that we’ve forgotten how to just be. To think. To process. To be alone with our own thoughts.

The Misogi That Humbled Me

After reading The Comfort Crisis, I decided to take on a mini Misogi — an intentionally difficult physical challenge with two rules:

There's a 50% chance of failure.
You won't die doing it.

My target? Run 26 miles in total silence. No music. No podcasts. No pacing app in my ear. Just me, the sound of my feet, and my thoughts — starting from home down to Comerica Park and then across the Belle Isle loop.

I made it 18 miles. The last 3? I cracked and turned on music.

I could give you all the reasons: it was 90 degrees, I didn’t hydrate well, I rolled my ankle last week, I was out too late the night before. But that’s all noise. Those were choices I made. The bottom line is, I didn’t finish what I set out to do.

And yet — it was one of the best experiences I’ve had all year.

Why Silence Feels So Foreign

Two hours alone with your own thoughts is not normal anymore. Not in 2025. From the moment we wake up to the moment we crash, our brains are bombarded — notifications, emails, Slack, news alerts, social scrolls, reels, shorts, podcasts. Even our rest time is filled with other people’s voices.

We’ve lost the skill of solitude. But solitude is where your best thinking lives.

That long run — even though I technically “failed” — gave me more insight than most business planning sessions. It gave me clarity on things I’ve been spinning in circles about. It gave me perspective on problems I’d been forcing. It even surfaced some personal stuff I hadn’t taken time to confront — people I’ve grown distant from, conversations I’ve been avoiding, and a reminder that no amount of professional success makes up for personal disconnect.

Thinking Time Isn’t Optional

In The Road Less Stupid, Cunningham calls it “Thinking Time.” He suggests that the smartest business leaders schedule it like a meeting — and guard it just as fiercely.

I used to approach it like that: pick a business problem, build a question around it, and use the time to think through the answer. I still do that sometimes. But lately, I’ve been leaning into a different form — purposeful silence without an agenda.

It’s become my favorite hour of the week: a solo run or lift, early Monday morning, in complete silence. No input. No stimulation. Just open space.

And the craziest thing is, that lack of purpose has made it more purposeful than ever. With no bumper lanes, my mind wanders in ways that lead to better insights — things I never would’ve planned to think about.

Clarity helps you spot myths and move smart. These 8 common misconceptions are a must-read for any local seller.

Why This Matters in Business

As leaders, we’re supposed to have answers. We’re expected to make fast decisions, spot opportunities, motivate teams, and solve problems on demand. But if we’re not carving out time to think, we’re just reacting. We’re operating on fumes and instinct instead of strategy and clarity.

The margin to think isn’t a luxury — it’s a competitive advantage.

If you're feeling stretched thin, foggy, or like you're putting out more fires than you’re lighting, try this: carve out one hour this week. No music. No screen. Just you and your thoughts. Go for a walk, a run, a drive, or sit in the backyard with a notebook.

When you slow down and think through your next move, you avoid the chaos, and that applies to real estate too. If you’re selling, here’s a great place to start.

Let your mind breathe. See what it brings up.

You might not get 18 miles. But I promise, you’ll go further than you think.

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THINKING OF MOVING TO Metro Detroit, OR LOOKING TO RELOCATE IN THE AREA? VIEW A LIST OF CURRENT HOMES FOR SALE BELOW.
Metro Detroit Homes for Sale

Sort by:

$1,250,000

1840 Tapadera Drive, Lodi township
5 Beds 4 Baths 4,068 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025050513

$1,250,000

588 Green Road, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,646 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025039059

$1,250,000
↓ $150,000
4944 Scio Church Road, Scio township
5 Beds 3 Baths 3,788 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025035742

$1,250,000
↓ $45,000
290 Shelby Court, York charter township
4 Beds 6 Baths 6,429 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025006058

$1,249,900
↓ $25,100
4115 Elmhurst Avenue, Royal Oak city
4 Beds 6 Baths 4,637 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025047304

$1,249,900
↓ $50,000
37337 Lakeshore Dr, Harrison charter township
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,854 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250029821

$1,249,000

61784 Bunker Hill Dr, Washington township
3 Beds 5 Baths 6,502 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050190343

$1,249,000
↓ $146,000
530 N Division Street Unit: Unit A, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 1,997 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025037368

$1,245,400

115 Arden Park Boulevard, Detroit city
6 Beds 7 Baths 8,173 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025039352

$1,230,000
↓ $120,000
64164 Campground Rd, Washington township
4 Beds 5 Baths 7,304 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050180513

$1,230,000
↓ $50,000
000 Knights Bridge Rd, Addison township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,397 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240056642

$1,225,000

N/A, Scio township
1 Bed 2 Baths 800 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025029630

$1,200,000

19199 Lahser Rd, Detroit city
24 Beds 18 Baths 15,845 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 58050188317

$1,200,000

15211 Fenkell St, Detroit city
20 Beds 20 Baths 10,800 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 58050188297

$1,200,000

5750 South Ridge, Wayne city
3 Beds 3 Baths 1,750 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250027013

$1,200,000

3595 E Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,486 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025042458

$1,200,000

441 S Ashley Street Unit: 405, Ann Arbor city
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,665 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025000692

$1,200,000

512 Fernhurst Crt, Orion charter township
2 Beds 2 Baths 981 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20221055222

$1,200,000

820 W Baltimore St, Detroit city
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,159 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250000860

$1,200,000
↓ $490,000
46351 W Main Street, Northville township
2 Beds 2 Baths 1,574 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025022588

$1,200,000

23831 John R Rd, Hazel Park city
0 Beds 5 Baths 5,425 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 20250022739

$1,199,900

60 Timber Ridge Court, York charter township
5 Beds 4 Baths 6,477 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025019371

$1,199,000
↓ $51,000
3093 Overridge Drive, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,144 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025043691

$1,199,000
↓ $51,000
5971 Barclay Drive, Genoa township
5 Beds 5 Baths 5,513 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025038487

$1,199,000
↓ $91,000
5011 Rockaway Lane, Village of Clarkston city
5 Beds 6 Baths 6,797 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025029041

$1,199,000

1833 N Washington Ave, Royal Oak city
4 Beds 5 Baths 4,045 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250037529

$1,199,000
↓ $51,000
29135 Scotten St, Farmington Hills city
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,829 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250020254

$1,198,000
↓ $41,000
2735 Blue Bird Lane, Highland charter township
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,430 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025004721

$1,187,535

4775 Curtis Rd, Superior charter township
4 Beds 5 Baths 4,593 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250008254

$1,185,001
↑ $1
2673 Pine Bluffs Ct, Highland charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,800 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240033950

$1,179,000

11762 Encore Dr, Shelby charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050175239

$1,175,000

877 Quarry Dr, Rochester Hills city
4 Beds 5 Baths 5,365 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050174664

$1,169,000
↑ $1,168,999
614 S 7th Street, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,482 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025049933

$1,169,000
↑ $69,000
3960 Harvest Creek Crt, Oakland charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 6,160 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250031556

$1,164,243
↑ $9,385
7331 Mulberry Dr, Washington township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,433 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050189199

$1,160,000

9470 Pontiac Lake Rd, White Lake charter township
0 Beds 15 Baths 2,700 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 20240009340

$1,159,000

6411 Lapham Court, Salem township
5 Beds 6 Baths 5,887 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025050821

$1,150,000
↓ $100,000
1928 Lorraine Place, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 6 Baths 3,677 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025044234

$1,150,000
↓ $50,000
209 N Seventh Street, Ann Arbor city
5 Beds 4 Baths 2,701 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025031502

$1,149,900

3829 Waldenwood Drive, Ann Arbor city
6 Beds 5 Baths 3,470 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025045732

$1,135,000

1704 Shadford Road, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,454 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025049417

$1,125,000
↓ $125,000
3401 Michigan Ave, Detroit city
2 Beds 2 Baths 3,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250028849

$1,114,995

3440 Maple Ridge Dr, Ann Arbor charter township
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,904 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250031963

$1,100,000

63240 Indian Hills Dr, Washington township
4 Beds 3 Baths 4,145 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050189927

$1,100,000
↓ $100,000
438 State Park Rd Rd, Groveland township
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,142 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050188557

$1,100,000
↓ $74,000
32830 Jefferson Ave, St. Clair Shores city
5 Beds 3 Baths 4,763 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250022356

$1,100,000

93 Merriweather Rd, Grosse Pointe Farms city
6 Beds 5 Baths 5,200 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050180494

$1,100,000
↓ $85,000
2316 Brockman Boulevard, Ann Arbor city
4 Beds 4 Baths 2,612 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025024043

The Perna Team and Michael Perna are the best real estate agents in Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor. The Perna Team and Michael Perna have been hired as a real estate agent by hundreds of home owners to sell their homes in Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Mike was fantastic, always answering our calls and texts quickly and keeping us informed at every step. His negotiation skills got us a great deal when selling our home, and his connections made a huge difference in having our offer accepted. We never felt rushed or pressured, and Mike genuinely cared about finding the right home for us. If you need an agent to buy or sell your home in Metro Detroit, Michael Perna is the one you want.

Posted by Michael Perna on July 7th, 2025