Two Streets Named Hard: Why the Toughest Road Often Leads to the Greatest Freedom

By Dr Barbara Eaton

Welcome

If we’ve never met, I’m Dr Barbara Eaton—a business coach, speaker, and author. I help faith-driven professionals build lives of purpose, momentum, and freedom by choosing the right kind of hard.

And today, I want to tell you a story that’s personal to me—and deeply connected to why I wrote my first book, Two Streets Named Hard.

The Day It All Went Off Script

Writing a book was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done—and one of the most rewarding. After years of coaching and leading others through their hard seasons, I knew it was time to put my framework and story into writing.

When it came time to ask someone to write the foreword, I reached out to my dear friend and mentor, Mike Michalowicz. If you know Mike, you know he’s not just a brilliant writer—he’s a man of integrity, and he shows up fully.

What he wrote surprised me.

He told a story I hadn’t thought about in years—one where he was the closing keynote speaker at my live event. Everything was set. The energy in the room was high. The day had gone beautifully.

Except Mike was missing.

His Uber dropped him at the wrong side of campus—twice. He was late, sweating, and trying to navigate unfamiliar buildings just to find the auditorium. By the time he arrived, he was flustered and worried the moment had passed.

What he didn’t know is that I had already pivoted.

I took the stage, adjusted the plan, and delivered an impromptu session of my own. Not because I had time to prepare. Not because I felt totally ready. And not because it was the easy thing to do. But because in that moment, I chose what I now call the hard-easy road.

And it worked. The room stayed electric. When Mike walked in, the crowd was energized, receptive, and fully engaged. He delivered. They responded. The impact was real.

Two Kinds of Hard

That moment—and hundreds like it over the years—is what my book is about.

Every day, we face a decision between two roads:

• Easy-Hard: Feels comfortable now, but leads to pain, pressure, and regret later.

• Hard-Easy: Requires courage now, but leads to clarity, freedom, and lasting momentum.

You don’t get to avoid hard. You only get to choose which kind you want.

Easy-hard looks like:

• Avoiding the uncomfortable conversation

• Waiting until you “feel ready”

• Dismissing the small habit because “it’s not urgent yet”

Hard-easy looks like:

• Facing things head-on

• Showing up even when it’s messy

• Investing in discipline today so life feels lighter tomorrow

I’ve lived both. And I can tell you from personal experience—only one road leads to the life you really want.

What About You?

Where in your life are you choosing easy now… but paying for it later?

Where is God calling you to lean into something difficult—not to punish you, but to prepare you?

I believe the greatest breakthroughs don’t come from finding shortcuts. They come from making bold, brave, spirit-led decisions—even when they’re hard.

Because the right hard leads to ease, freedom, and impact on the other side.

Ready for More?

This post is part of a 13-week series inspired by my book, Two Streets Named Hard. Each week, I’ll be sharing one powerful insight from the book—along with real stories, practical application, and a few questions to help you live it out.

If you’re ready to:

• Stop spinning your wheels

• Break free from “stuck”

• And build a life aligned with your faith and calling…

Then grab your copy of Two Streets Named Hard today (and leave a review, please), or join my newsletter here to walk this journey with me.

You don’t need an easier life. You need to choose the right kind of hard.

And I’m here to help you do exactly that.