Thank God It's Monday (TGIM): A Quick Reflection On Why Today Rocked Even Though it Wasn't Supposed To!

Thanks for taking 5 minutes to read.  It is approximately 7:52pm EST and instead of working on the 2-hour presentation I need to get done tonight and packing for my early flight to Boston, instead I decided it was more important to spend 60 minutes typing and sharing what I learned today about Monday first.

My alarm went off at 4:30am today.  I posted a quick Linked-In quote (a daily habit that sets my positive mindset in motion).  I get to the gym and run a 6-minute mile which I haven't done since high school.  From there I proceed to the basketball court where my 3-point jumper for the next 30 minutes falls like Stephen Curry on a good night (at least it felt that way wink-wink).  I get home from the gym feeling great and outline my weekly mindset planner which is a typical Monday morning habit.  I am ready to take over the world...BRING IT!

I won't kid you about what happened next.  You already know because it happened to you too.  It happens to all of us.  "Monday" shows up around 8am.  It was inevitable.  He is like clockwork (Yes I just called Monday a He!).  I'm supposed to kickoff my work day with a quick rally speech to 150 people.  Yet before I even get in the room I am already tested by irate customers and urgent conference calls that try and steal my spirit.  Let the "fire drills" begin!

I won't bore you with the mundane and exhausting details of the repeating pattern you surely experienced as well.  Let's just say my fire hose was active today!  Yet here it is 7:52 pm and despite being exhausted I want to share 3 quick reflections I hope you can appreciate about why today was a great day to be alive...and why Monday ROCKS:

"Monday is a mindset!  When you approach Monday with a Friday attitude it prepares you to shift perspectives and appreciate the day with a learning attitude"

I went to bed early Sunday.  I got good rest and started Monday with exercise, healthy eating habits, and I mentally prepared myself for all of the distractions and fire drills that would test my spirit.  Because I was mentally prepared I was able to redirect several uncomfortable interactions (including with customers) and transform them into something that I walked away feeling energized from.  My "Monday Mindset" increased my productivity and lowered my stress.

"You can't just 'wing' the week and expect to accomplish anything beyond managing tasks.  Writing a road map to your goals is essential to accomplishing anything purposeful"

I start every Monday writing a road map for the week.  I created a template that easily allows me to map out both personal and work related goals while separating between tasks and strategic habits.  I always start my road map by outlining the 3 principles which I live my life by.  These are 3 reminders of my "why".  I re-write them every week even though they never change.  The process keeps me grounded and focused on being who I am regardless of the circumstances that show up!  The strategic goals are always tied to my bigger goals for the year.  The jump shots and 6-minute mile were not random things I decided to do when I woke up.  They are daily habits that are incremental steps towards a much BIGGER outcome I am on course to pursue.  The tasks are the harder thing to manage.  It might seem like common sense to have a system for organizing the things we need to get done.  Yet I see it first hand every day where people cannot even manage their calendar effectively.  I struggle with it too, but having a system is critical to keeping your energy applied where it is most effective.  Otherwise those "fire drills" take over your Monday and from there domino their way through the rest of your week.

"Monday is a great day to give yourself a pat on the back, and remember to add value to others.  Let your final act of the day be one of gratitude to someone else in your life and I promise you the momentum will carry you into Tuesday strong"

I had my final call with my team wrap up at 6pm.  Then I ended up on the phone with each of them another 20 minutes going through their fire drills and even sharing with them the details of some of mine.  I was extremely self aware in those conversations tonight.  As I listened I found myself appreciating my role as a leader.  It is not always to have all of the answers or even to have any answers at all.  The role of a leader is to lead!  I made a conscious effort tonight to remind each person that works for me how much I appreciate them.  And not generically either.  I transparently shared the specifics of how they add value to me and why I am a better leader because of them.  Our people need that from us.  Especially to wrap up a Monday.  Here is my teachable moment for today.  Sometimes saying we appreciate someone is more energizing than hearing it.  Gifting someone that works for you with the spirit to know their showing up made a difference is the greatest gift you can give on a Monday.  It feels amazing doing it and it reminded me why I got up at 430am to begin with.  It's because at the end of the day my "why" as a leader is to help another person both see and become a better version of themselves, while inviting them into the process of reciprocating in developing me.  It was a great day!  I'm looking forward to Tuesday and I feel amazing...Back to work for now.  Thanks for reading...Have an intentional week.  Thank God It's Tuesday (TGIT)!