Last week hit me hard. After a marathon of back-to-back client sessions, I collapsed into my chair at 6 PM, exhausted. Sure, I’d been “productive” – but had I actually moved the needle on what truly mattered? My health was screaming no (hello, forgotten lunch and skipped morning walk), and that family call I’d been meaning to make? Still sitting on my to-do list.
Here’s my uncomfortable truth: I’ve been filling my days with the small stuff first – the endless emails, the “quick” calls, the reactive tasks. It’s like trying to fill a jar with sand before adding the big rocks. Spoiler alert: those big rocks never fit.
APPLY: This realization forced me to confront a question that transformed my approach: What if I scheduled my priorities instead of prioritizing my schedule?
My Personal Revolution:
• I now block 7-8 AM for my morning walk and meditation
• Family calls get a sacred Sunday evening slot
• Deep work on client projects happens before noon
• Email checks are timeboxed to specific windows
The surprise? When I honour these “big rocks” first, the small stuff naturally finds its space. My client work flows better because I’m centered. My relationships thrive because they’re not getting my leftover energy.
Today, I opened my calendar and smiled – not because it was empty (it wasn’t), but because it reflected what truly matters to me. Those urgent but unimportant tasks? They still get done, but they no longer hijack my life.
To every leader feeling overwhelmed: Your calendar tells a story about what you value. What story is yours telling?
#LeadershipJourney #TimeManagement #PersonalGrowth #PrioritiesFirst #WorkLifeHarmony
P.S. This insight hit home during a recent leadership training where I shared the Rocks, Pebbles, Sand analogy. Watching other executives have their own “aha” moments reminded me – we’re all learning to put our big rocks first. Here it is: https://youtu.be/cPgMeKfQFq8?si=PsieA40XzMVJinh3