Ever face a situation in life that forces you to review everything you’ve come to accept – examining aspects of why you do what you do like never before?

The situations that bring us to our knees are those where death is involved. Or perhaps I should say, the possibility that death is involved which really are all moment by moment occurrences since we have zero control over the when and the where of our own death.

Looking death in the eye, involves examining every choice you made leading up to the present moment.

Which is why I love the way MJ DeMarco describes some choices as treasonous.

A treasonous choice is an action or decision that fundamentally betrays your future self, goals, and dreams. 

In his best-selling book The Millionaire Fastlane, DeMarco describes choices as the “steering wheel” of your life. While many people focus on major life-altering events, he argues that treasonous choices often start as minor, daily decisions that compound into a life of “lifestyle servitude” or mediocrity. 

Here are three treasonous choices that I am thinking deeply on:

Lifestyle Servitude: Buying luxury items to “look rich” before you actually are. This forces you to stay in a job you may dislike just to pay for your “stuff”.

Lack of Accountability: Blaming external factors (the economy, luck, or others) instead of taking ownership of your choices. Denying responsibility hands the keys of your life to someone else.

Choosing the “Path of Least Resistance”: Opting for “easy fixes” (pills, supplements, or quick schemes) instead of the disciplined effort required for real change in health or wealth

How does this look in real life?

Here are a couple treasonous choices and alternative choices that would serve you better:

Treasonous Choice	Alternative Choice
Watching TV / Infinite scrolling	Reading books or building a skill
Using a credit card for lifestyle wants	Saving or investing in a scalable business
Partying every weekend	Working on a side hustle or “system”
Complaining about a low wage	Upskilling to increase your value

I’ve made some terrible choices in my lifetime. In most of those cases I was choosing easy over hard. It’s easier to do it tomorrow. It’s easier to skip the class and hang out with friends and drink beer…more fun. It’s easier to forego paying for something I agreed to pay monthly and instead use that money to go to an all inclusive fete.

In his upcoming work, Choose Hard, Live Easy, DeMarco expands on this by explaining that treasonous choices are often the “easy” ones. 

• Choose Easy: Leads to persistent hardship, debt, and disease.
• Choose Hard: (e.g., discipline, building a business, proper diet) leads to a life of “persistent ease” and freedom

Simple rule of thumb: if a choice moves you further away from your vision and goals, then that choice, my friend is treasonous.

Strategic Reflection Prompt

Are you currently evaluating a specific habit or career move that feels like it might be one of these “treasonous” choices?

About Giselle

I’m Giselle Hudson, a Business Diagnostic Specialist. I work with leaders when something feels off — where results, decisions, or team response don’t match what was expected. I examine what’s shaping outcomes beneath the surface, so the next move is grounded, not reactive.

If this feels familiar, don’t rush your next decision. We can look at your situation properly before you take action.