Win the Day

Hi there ????. Ready to lead? "Acts of Leadership" helps people, (irrespective of title or tenure), expand their leadership range one experiment at a time. Each issue shares a [pro/e]vocative definition of leadership, an idea and an experiment.

The Streak

I have 2 streaks going on right now.

First, I'm approaching 100 days straight of taking a cold water plunge daily. ??

More recently I'm on day 9 of a zone 2 bike workout.

They both create more than just the activity. When I'm on the bike I get to listen to podcasts–something I've not done for a while.

Recently I was recommended a new podcast (thank you, Ben Grey ). After listening to one episode I immediately looked to how I might apply it to myself.

In the spirit of #BuildInTheOpen I share my version 1 with you here and offer you the idea of the Win-List Scorecard.

A Definition…

"Leadership is... being the champion you want to be, today."

An Idea…

Win the Day

Champions are not made when they lift the trophy.

Success isn't made in the future when you win the accolade or get the promotion.

"You don't go to win a championship. You've got to be a champion first." (– Dr. Jerry Lynch)

You can't plan to win the championship next year. Or if you can, the plan must begin today.

So plan to win the day today, then win the day tomorrow, win the day after, and the day after that.

So says Sport Psychologist Dr. Jerry Lynch in conversation with Michael Gervais on the "Finding Mastery" podcast.

So how do you win the day?

By doing all the little, necessary, essentials that will win the day for you.

The Win-List Scorecard

Make a list of the top 10 things in your life that invite you to be a champion in the work that you want success in.

Every day use it as a scorecard. If you check 7 out of 10 or more you win the day.

A Success Engine

This is really about the model of Triple-Loop Learning that I share with my coaching clients and Learning to Learn Better.

There's the DO loop. You do the thing, and notice the results you get. There's a feedback loop here, where if the results are not what you wanted or expected, you get to go around the DO loop and do it again, this time DOing differently.

Like everything though, there's more to it than the DOing, and importantly, avoiding getting stuck in relentless DO loops that never generate the results you're chasing.

It's also about how you THINK about the task. Questioning the assumptions, reframing the problem, and challenging the status quo, generating new DO options, and ultimately different results. (Feedback loop 2.)

Perhaps most importantly, is about how you BE. How are you BEing with this topic. Change how you are being, and it will change how you think, in turn changing for sure what you do. (Feedback loop 3).

When you bring all 3 parts, doing, thinking and being, with intention, to all that you do, you build the qualities and capacity for success.

Look after the small stuff

How do you build and sustain a championship culture?

Build the habit of success, day by day. Each day, be the sort of person that wins the day.

"Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become". (– James Clear)

As a climber and a distance runner, I subscribe to the importance of taking care of the details – the small stuff. In a race when you notice your shoelace is undone, stop and fix it. Don't leave it. On a long multi-pitch mountain route, take the time to double-check your knots and ask your partner to check yours.

Be the sort of person that attends to the small stuff.

Do/Think/Be Win-List Scorecard No.1

So here's my win list. At least the first version.

Are the items on my list the right ones to win for me? I don't know yet. It's my next experiment. I do know how to find out. :-)

Let's see how I do. Actually, more important, let's see what I learn.

1. Tidy/sort/sell a thing:
2. Intentional morning routine: start the day with structure and positive mindset
3. Make a conscious food choice: mindfulness around a deliberate food choice, whatever it is
4. Zone 2 fitness work: accumulate sustainable cardio time, build endurance
5. Write something: practice communicating ideas simply, raising visibility
6. Exercise gratitude/appreciation: spend some time looking for the light
7. Intentional intervention: before every conversation, take a moment to breathe and set an intention.
8. Space for inspiration: read something
9. Check-in on playing big: how am I doing with my intention / keep myself honest in the places I want to play bigger today
10. Try my best: Agreement no.4, creating space for self-compassion. My best looks different day to day.

An Experiment…

?? - Write your Do/Think/Be Win List. Go with it. You get to change it once you've started collecting data.

An invitation to explore…

??? Podcast: Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais : The way of the champion with Dr. Jerry Lynch [01:07:15]

?? Book: The Way of the Champion - Lessons from Sun Tzu's the Art of War and other Tao wisdom for sports and life: Dr. Jerry Lynch

?? Book: Atomic Habits : James Clear

?? Book: The 4 Agreements : Don Miguel Ruiz

Leadership needn't be lonely!

Lead when ready!

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