1: Getting better at getting better is what RiseWithDrew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something more personal or what we are doing at PCI in our quest to earn a spot on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Earlier this week, we explored the benefits of blocking off time to focus on what is most important, as outlined by Raymond Kethledge and Michael Erwin in their terrific book Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude.
“Every morning, for thirty minutes, I sit in the garden or in a comfortable chair with a cup of coffee, reflecting,” says former Campbell Soup CEO Doug Conant. “I think about five things: my family, my work, my community, my faith, and my personal well-being. I think about how I’m doing with each of these five things, and get reconnected with my values and my different roles in life. It’s a wonderful way of keeping me centered on what I truly believe.”
I, too, have a consistent morning routine. Several years ago, I started getting up at 6 am, several hours before my first scheduled meeting. Why the morning? Because as philosopher Brian Johnson points out, we tend to have more control over the beginning and end of our days.
I start my day by doing push-ups and sit-ups. Then, I write in two different journals; first, my gratitude journal about one thing from the previous day I am grateful for and why. Next, I review my goals for the year and think about what I’d like to get done this day or this week. Next, my wife Carey and I read aloud and discuss something from the Bible and pray. For the last several months, we’ve been reading through A Good Confession: Daily Reflections on the Westminster Catechism. Then, we read aloud something inspirational or thought-provoking. Of late, we’ve been selecting something from David Whyte’s Consolations or a poem from Mary Oliver. Next, we do a mindfulness practice. Then, I work on this blog.
One of the benefits of doing these practices consistently is I begin each day feeling grounded and focused. It’s also much easier to enter the day in proactive rather than reactive mode. Life still knocks me around, but I also make steady progress on my most important projects and initiatives.
As the year winds down, I’m making headway on many of my goals for the year. One is to launch a “new and improved” RiseWithDrew website in early 2022. I’m in the process of finalizing a slightly revised look and adding some new functionality for better search and indexing. In 2022, I’m also planning to experiment with video and interview thought leaders on building great workplace cultures. Stay tuned!
Finally, a note to say thank you for reading and for your words of encouragement. Let’s make 2022 the best year of our lives!
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Reflection: Am I happy with the amount of time I have to reflect and plan? Are there any changes I’d like to make?
Action: Do it!
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