To Lead Others, We Must Lead Ourselves

The most important person we ever have the honor of leading is ourselves.

If we cannot do so with discipline, intentionality and compassion, how can we ever coach, parent or motivate others?

To simplify our lives and to lead ourselves more effectively, we might first want to declutter our own minds. Charlie Denson, Nike's former brand president, once asked his team, "Would we be better off doing 25 things well, or would we be better off doing six things great?”

This question can become our own truth-telling compass in our own mastery pursuits, while influencing how we use our time and energy. As leaders and positive difference makers, we must govern our days — not have the busyness of our days govern us.

Instead of concentrating solely on productivity, let’s focus each day on energy management, time management and environmental management. Productivity ultimately becomes a byproduct of these three components. How we navigate them will allow us to explore who we are today and bring out the person we aspire to be into tomorrow. Today’s 86,400 seconds each day are an invaluable growth opportunity to get 1 percent better — and to live uncommonly.

Whatever we pay most attention to with this time will grow and represent our priorities and values. When we begin to debunk our mental fences and address self-sabotaging beliefs, we can wholeheartedly and truthfully seek our outer limits. Sustainable change and transformation always starts within and radiates out.

Realize, growth, learning, unlearning and relearning have no finish line. We must use adversity and circumstances that are out of our control as teaching moments and focus our attention elsewhere with excellence, enthusiasm and energy.

Today is a precious gift of possibility. What we do with it and where we focus our attention is more in our control than we think.

Let’s use the time wisely, earnestly and without fear or regret.