27 things I’ve discovered work for everyone over 17 years of coaching leaders
List the things that prevent you from achieving your daily objectives and create a plan for each one.
Set realistic daily objectives.
List what you tend to do when things get tough. (Do you distract yourself with a shiny new idea? Write it down. When you recognise it as the enemy, you’re less likely to fall for it.)
Make a plan for when you won’t use your phone — and make it easier to stick to than not. Don’t be a hero, just aim for better. Confidence grows from success, so guarantee success. Avoid the trap of “should.”
Uncover the stories you tell yourself about why it’s different for you. We all have them. (“I’m fine with caffeine in the afternoon, my back hurts because of age, it’s normal to pee at night, alcohol is fine in moderation, I don’t need more than 6 hours sleep, I’m lucky I can eat processed food…”) No judgement. These stories keep us from seeing reality — and things can’t change until we see reality.
Write down your current reality. Don’t downplay, exaggerate, or justify. Just point your finger at what’s true — in health, finances, relationships, work. The more truth you can muster, the better things can get.
Set a bedtime that allows you to wake without an alarm. (I’m not saying don’t set one, but pulling yourself out of a sleep cycle every day will take its toll on your health and how you show up.)
Aim for incremental improvement. Chasing massive change is usually panic at your current reality — and the simplest recipe for failure. Massive shifts come from small increments combined.
Spend most of your day doing what you’re awesome at — your four areas of genius.
Choose the method you’re best at over “the best method.”
Master saying no. Not with willpower, but with questions. Keep asking until it’s clear to both of you that no is the right answer.
Let health and energy guide your consumption choices, not values. You can’t save the planet if you’re on your arse.
If you sit more than four hours a day, you need a standing desk. No amount of exercise makes this untrue.
Fix your sleep. Not sleeping well through the night IS an emergency.
End this sentence: I’m happiest when I have X in my week.
End this sentence: I feel most present when I pause to appreciate…
Accept that you are judgemental. It’s how we decide what we value. Accepting it is the first step to challenging and changing it. You can’t think again if you deny thinking in the first place.
Decide on times every day to find peace. Walking, meditating, music — the activity doesn’t matter. What matters is teaching your brain that you won’t die if you stop running.
Decide when you will worry — and stick to it.
Drink structured water. You wouldn’t make half the decisions you make if you were better hydrated.
Look at situations where you show up as less than you want to. Decide who you’ll be next time and build the environment to make that possible. One success is enough to start turning the tide.
Don’t assume that helping is always helpful — for either of you.
If you’re learning something new, commit time every day to something you’re already awesome at.
Assume you don’t understand what they mean. Ask more questions until you do. Or even better, until they do.
Get clear on your values — and their opposites. You’ll understand what pisses you off, why, and how to construct the life you want.
Create new solutions to old failures.
Sweat every day.
There are more, lots more. What I’ve learned is that people don’t really struggle with knowing what to do — but with consistently doing it. This list still stands for what it’s worth.
👉 Which one would you pick if you could only choose one?
