In this issue: Just Stop It Already.. / The Death of Hobbies / There’s a new star of the U.S. economy this summer: women. ‘Is this how men have always felt?’ / The Other Side of Stopping
Why you’re getting this:
I'm Andrea J. Miller and this is my “On Leading Well” Newsletter. I send this to people in my networks, people I’ve met recently, and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can unsubscribe (SEE THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE EMAIL) anytime, I won’t be offended.
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Whether it’s the first time, or if it’s just been a while, let’s connect and get to know each other (better) as humans.
1. If we’re not connected yet, connect with me on LinkedIn. I post some useful stuff there, as well :); and/or
2. Put 30 minutes on my calendar to chat. No strings attached, whatsoever.
Of course, if there’s something I can help you with, just ask and I’ll do whatever I can to help.
I look forward to connecting!
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Just Stop It Already…
Do you ever feel like you’re struggling just to keep up?
Another new project is dumped on (I mean given to) you …
There’s yet another restructuring.
Your day seems like one endless meeting.
All amidst dwindling resources.
You hardly have time to breathe, let alone think.
So, you focus on the latest problem to land on your desk and push harder to just get stuff done.
Inevitably you put aside the things you’d planned to do.
That brilliant new strategy or all those great ideas you and your team came up with at the retreat (which you didn’t even want to go to), all have to wait.
If only you had more time.
A few more hours in each day to just get it done.
Counterintuitive Productivity
Recently, I was working with a client, a director at a multinational, with a growing portfolio.
The good news was since our last session he’d been promoted.
The bad news was since our last session he’d been promoted.
The new role was perfect for him.
Except for the fact that he was already drowning.
He had too much work to get done and finding the time to get it done had been the subject of our previous session.
This was even more critical in his new role.
He needed time to think strategically about it, but when? How would he ever be able to schedule it in?
He was caught in a loop of crisis management, constantly responding to the immediate demands of the day, while his long-term goals languished.
Being in the perpetual state of “just one more task” became his norm, and the weight of those unaccomplished goals was heavy.
We discussed how he was always going to be busy. But that the busyness didn’t equal productivity or value.
In fact, sometimes the best and smartest thing you can do is to simply stop.
It sounds counterintuitive, but there's power in saying no.
He, like so many of us, had a habit of over-committing.
By trying to be everywhere and do everything, he was diminishing his effectiveness and losing sight of the real priorities.
The secret isn't cramming more into your day.
It's about being more thoughtful with what you let into it in the first place.
By removing the non-essentials, you can create the space for what truly matters.
Embrace Intentionality
I encouraged him to schedule strategy sessions with himself, just as he would a critical business meeting.
With this newly added time to think and plan, he could elevate his focus from just the day-to-day to the bigger picture.
The result?
By dedicating uninterrupted, quality time to strategy, he transformed his approach from reactive to proactive.
It's easy to hold onto objectives that sounded great when you created them but are no longer important.
There will always be distractions and fires to put out, but the most successful individuals, learn to navigate these challenges by being selective, intentional, and adaptive.
It's not about doing more, but about doing what’s right for you, your team, and your organization.
So, the next time you find yourself upset about not having enough time or feeling overwhelmed by the mounting pressures, remember this: sometimes, the way forward is to take a step back, reassess, and just stop.
Just STOP IT Already
1. Where Did the Time Go?:
For one week, keep a detailed log of how you spend your time. This includes work tasks, personal errands, breaks, and even distractions.
At the end of the week, review your log for time that’s being wasted or could be used more efficiently. At the very least, this exercise will give you a clearer picture of where you’re spending your time and where you might recover some for essential tasks.
2. Prioritize Ruthlessly:
Start each day by identifying the top tasks that support your long-term goals or will have the most significant impact.
Commit to completing these before diving into other tasks. This will ensure that even on the most hectic days, you're making meaningful progress toward what truly matters.
3. Schedule "Strategic Time":
Block out a regular, uninterrupted time on your calendar dedicated solely to strategic thinking, planning, or any other high-level activity that often gets pushed to the back burner.
Treat this slot with the same importance as a meeting with a top client—it's non-negotiable.
4. Learn to Say "No":
Practice saying no to requests or opportunities that aren’t getting you closer to your goals.
It might feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you're used to saying 'yes' but remember that every 'yes' to one thing is implicitly a 'no' to something else.
5. Re-evaluate:
Set aside time, perhaps at the beginning or end of each month, to review your goals. Are they still relevant? Have your priorities shifted? Adjust your goals and tasks to ensure that your actions always align with your most current and essential objectives.
By actively incorporating these steps, readers can regain control over their time, focus on what truly matters, and achieve greater satisfaction and success in their endeavors.
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RECOMMENDED LISTENS, READS And Other Interesting Things
The Death of Hobbies
How side hustles turned everyone's leisure activities into work
There’s a new star of the U.S. economy this summer: women. ‘Is this how men have always felt?’
“Anybody who has ever undervalued the female purse, coming out of this summer, they are going to really rethink their methodology,” she said.
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The Other Side of Stopping
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Are there any other subjects you want me to cover? Hit “Reply” and tell me!
I love hearing from you :)!
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Andrea J. Miller
+1 (646) 556-5401 (Whatsapp)
Thanks for reading!