Atomic Habits

A Rewrite is in order.

Today marks day five since my knee surgery.? Everyday is now about the small win.? There are no shortcuts.? There is only patience, determination, setbacks, and advances.?

This injury has taken me back to reading Atomic Habits by James Clear .? His journey started with an injury and well, I too now have a special relationship with small wins.? And, it is not metaphorical this time.???

There is nothing more centering than being challenged to do the basics.? Like showering by yourself, going to the bathroom by yourself, and getting dressed by yourself - even if you can’t put weight on your leg yet.? You McGyver your way forward.? And, you ask for help.??

If we apply James' insights to paying odes to a small win, it helps to see progress toward the ultimate goal of getting back on your feet and being active again.? To not be dependent on your wife and family to help you through the day.? The reality is without them, you would not get your small wins.

THE WORK

The reality of being a solopreneur is that the work still needs to get done.? Your commitment to ship the work with integrity and enthusiasm is tested.? Empathy, while appreciated, is more like a welcomed sense of compassion and restores my belief in us humans.?

The work is not going away, it merely waits until you re-engage with it.? Having someone acknowledge that your intentions are solid and giving you some grace to reboot is a lesson I shall pay forward to those dealing with hardship.??

So, back to Atomic Habits and where this philosophy comes to bear.? Each day now needs to be reimagined and reconfigured such that I can optimize my time spent in small clusters of focus and energy.? It is a rewiring of sorts.

I was famous for powering through the day.? Full force.? Minimal breaks.? But, I have discovered that “think work” is taxing.? It is not a mindless transactional activity.? It is a creative process that takes energy and adaptability to see the breakthroughs while keeping the bigger picture top of mind.? It can be mentally exhausting.

BEING PRESENT

Small wins.? They are now a thing for me.? They mean more today. My script about how I get from A to B is taking on a new rewrite.? Frankly, I have no choice.? Perhaps that is the hard lesson we need at times.? Metaphors and analogies are great, but real life is the truest teacher.?

“A habit is a routine or behavior that is performed regularly - and, in many cases automatically.”? - James Clear, Atomic Habits (page 5)

And, this one really hit home today as I was preparing this newsletter.? James points out that the entrepreneur and investor Naval Ravikant said, “To write a great book, you must first become the book”.

On becoming the book, my intentions for Now New Next was inspired by helping determined companies to speak in three dimensions across their management team.? My typical project is to help invent a new category.? Unstuck a stuck company.? And or, accelerate a client to an exit.? Sometimes it is all three at once.?

It is important that the Now is intended to speak to “hitting the numbers”.? This is what Sales needs to do to make revenue happen.? Revenue drives the metrics that drive the company.? There are many hands on deck in the Now.?

New is intended to speak to the “product roadmap”.? It is the domain of the product and leadership teams to tenderize the market for what is coming next and by when.? This is a rubber meets the road for innovation and agile upgrades to advance the business forward. New fuels the forecast for why this company is going to achieve its ambitions.

Next is the intended domain of the CEO and or Founder.? It is the stated Narrative North Star of the company.? In many cases, it is not obtainable.? Nor should it be.? It is directional and purposeful in its aspirations.? It is the “why” people join the mission, overcome resistance, and pursue the impossible.?

NOW (How you are realizing this today)

1. What are your small wins over the last week?
2. How are you celebrating a small win today?
3. Are you paying attention to the human moments?????

NEW (How you will realize this tomorrow)

1. I will help the Sales team deliver on the Now as we are in the Q4 sprint.
2. I will lean into the Product team to help deliver on the New for 2025.?
3. I will work with Customer Success to find answers to help deliver on Now and set up New for success.?

NEXT (I see a world in which)?

I see a world in which working in three dimensions will be imperative in the always-on AI era.???

THE PAYOFF

"The empires of the future are the empires of the mind." - Winston Churchill

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If you are seeking a way to optimize your Now New Next, book a free consultation with me, and let's consider the possibilities.?My work has raised a collective $1B+ for the companies I have worked with over the last 10 years.? And, I have helped dozens of companies and executives to find their narrative voice.