The Post-Launch Audit: Taking the 8 Practices Assessment
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?“ — 2 Corinthians 13:5
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
What an absolute whirlwind of a week! We witnessed two massive launches:
- SpaceX—here on the East Coast, we had a front-row seat to that incredible “jellyfish” vapor trail soaring across the night sky.
2.The official launch of my book, 8 Common Practices of Uncommon Leaders!
By every anecdotal measure, book launch week was an overwhelming success. But as I sat down with my morning coffee to reflect on the chaos, I realized something humbling: I catch myself in violation of my own practices all the time!
Writing a book on leadership doesn’t mean you’ve perfected it; it means you’ve committed to a higher standard of accountability. So, I decided to put myself through the wringer and take my own 8 Practices Assessment.
On a scale of 1 to 10—with our non-negotiable “No 7s” rule—here is how I rated my own performance during launch week:
The Self-Audit: How Did I Score?
- Practice 1: Do Hard Stuff — Score: 10
Releasing the book was one thing, but hitting that red record button for dozens of promotional videos and reaching out to heavy hitters was tough. I leaned in and did the hard work.
- Practice 2: Just Knock on the Door — Score: 8
I sent out over 100 personalized texts, emails, and social media messages directly asking folks to support the book and join the mission.
- Practice 3: I Don’t Care How You Feel — Score: 6
Exhaustion set in mid-week, and I really didn’t feel like going to the gym. I missed one day, but I refused to let it become two in a row.
- Practice 4: Write the Scary Book (SMAHT Goals) — Score: 8
We set a bold target to hit #1 Best Seller in our category. While #4 is as high as we’ve climbed overall so far, we officially hit #1 New Release in two separate categories!
- Practice 5: Collect Awesome People — Score: 9
I got to reconnect with so many incredible friends I hadn’t spoken to in years. I was deeply grateful that I had built genuine relationships long before I ever asked them to buy a book.
- Practice 6: Run Toward Fear — Score: 5 I still caught myself procrastinating on a few tough phone calls and video takes. Fear is a daily opponent, and I let it delay me a bit this week.
- Practice 7: Build Relationships Before You Need Them — Score: 8
This tied directly into Practice 5. Because the foundation was already there, these weren’t cold sales calls—they were warm reunions. Plus, I made 2 brand-new high-level connections through mutual friends!
- Practice 8: Don’t Believe Everything You Think — Score: 4
This is where I truly struggled! I had to actively “flush” negative thoughts all week. Two other friends and colleagues released books the exact same week—theirs were longer, had “prettier” covers, and boasted higher-profile endorsements. Comparison tried to creep in, and I had to fight hard to take those thoughts captive.
More Than a Read: A Daily Mirror
The 8 Common Practices of Uncommon Leaders isn’t just a book filled with practical strategies, real-world stories, and inspiring quotes. It isn’t just a guide to encourage you on your journey. It is an operational assessment tool.
I lived a lifetime of leadership lessons compressed into a single week. I am so deeply grateful to everyone mentioned in the book’s acknowledgments, and especially to key mentors and colleagues who pointed out these exact lessons along the way—leaders like Nick Hutchison, Jill Schulman, Steven Pressfield, Elle Petrillo, Justin Roethlingshoefer, and so many others.
Quote of the Week
“Self-assessment is the first step toward self-leadership, and self-leadership is the foundation for leading others.” — John C. Maxwell
Being the Uncommon Leader means having the humility to grade your own performance with radical honesty. It is the “huddle room” of self-accountability—the space where you measure your actions against your standards without hiding behind a “7.” Common leaders write rules for other people to follow while exempting themselves. Uncommon Leaders take their own assessment first, celebrate the wins, confess the 4s and 5s, and get right back to work.
Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com with the subject line “ASSESSMENT” so we can connect on which of the 8 practices you are ready to audit in your own life this week!
What You Need to Do
Run Your Own Audit
Whether you’ve grabbed your copy of the book yet or not, you can run this audit today:
- Pick Your Weakest Practice: Look at the 8 practices above. Which one hit a nerve? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 (remember: NO 7s allowed!).
- Flush the Comparison: If you are struggling with Practice 8 like I did this week, write down the negative comparison holding you back, crumble up the paper, and throw it in the trash. Focus on your mission field.
- Grab Your Copy: If you haven’t secured your copy yet, head over to 8commonpracticesbook.com to get the book, take the full assessment, and start putting the practices into action!
If you want to grow, you have to be willing to look in the mirror, grade your output honestly without making excuses, and execute the adjustments.
It’s an honor to be your trusted Friday Coffee Guy. Thank you to everyone in Brew Nation who helped make launch week an unforgettable milestone! Your messages, reviews, and support mean the world to me.
If this edition challenged you to take a honest look in the mirror and audit your own daily practices, SHARE it with a peer who is committed to growth, then click SUBSCRIBE. Let’s grow Brew Nation together!
Until next week—stay honest, run the assessment, and go grow champions!
