Do you ever wish you had prioritized a consistent sleep routine earlier in life?
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:
- Uncommon Leader Insights – In my recent Uncommon Leader podcast episode with Mark Savant, Founder and CEO of Mark Savant Media and host of a great podcast, The After Hours Entrepreneur, I gleaned three pivotal takeaways that have challenged my perspective on AI, leadership and innovation.
- Eliminate wasteful tasks – One of the most eye-opening discussions we had centered on Mark’s exploration into the realm of artificial intelligence. He shared how adopting AI cut down his workload by an incredible 90%, which was an absolute game-changer for him. This encounter enlightened me on the massive potential of AI technology to revolutionize our productivity. If we, as leaders, harness AI effectively, we might just unleash a new era of efficiency and innovation that could redefine the professional landscape.
- If you’re not continuing to grow, you will get left behind – In my numerous conversations about AI, I’ve encountered a wide range of emotions, from sheer fascination to deep-seated fear. It’s important to acknowledge that both perspectives hold validity. I know that I often move between both ends of the spectrum. However, as leaders, it is crucial that we do not hide from the reality. Artificial Intelligence has become an integral part of our ecosystem, and it will continue to shape our future. We have a choice: ignore its existence and evade the challenges it presents or embrace a more informed approach and explore how we can leverage AI to enhance our effectiveness. The data speaks volumes: according to the World Economic Forum, a staggering 80 million jobs are projected to be displaced by AI this year alone, with McKinsey, the world’s largest consulting group, predicting that 30% of the global workforce will be affected in the next seven years. In the face of such profound changes, we must recognize that sometimes we are the windshield, and other times we are the bug.
- People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care – Everybody can communicate, but can you connect? I believe that as AI continues to grow, our ability to connect with others authentically must grow at a more rapid pace. What are you doing intentionally to build relationships and connect with people in your life? What was the last time you sat down and called an old friend just to check in? When was the last time you wrote (yes, hand wrote!) a card and mailed it to a friend to let them know you were thinking about them. I have a drawer full of those cards. These connections are things that AI cannot replace.
As I reflect on our conversation, I am convinced that AI will be another tool to use in our leadership belt, but it will not replace connecting with people. Pursue the elimination of non-value-adding activities with AI, but more importantly, intentionally up your game when it comes to connecting with those around you. People won’t remember what you did or what you said, they will remember how you made them feel.
Listen to the full episode here.
- Live Forever – Is sleep the new preventive medicine. One of the targets I have in 2024 is to improve my sleep ‘performance’. The more and more I read about it, the more I understand and internalize the importance of a good night’s rest. Here are some others that recognize this trend:
- The Manchester United Football Club built a two-hundred million euro facility with eight sleeping rooms for the team to use before every home game. They are serious about controlling the total sleep experience, not just the duration.
- The Seattle Seahawks how have assigned sleep coaches and are using sleep tracking devices to monitor and adjust each player’s sleep routine.
- A Gallup study found 40 percent of Americans are clinically sleep-deprived, while 70 percent admit they aren’t getting enough sleep.
- A UK study found that sleep-deprived people are seven times more likely to feel helplessness and five times more likely to feel lonely.
- Lack of sleep has been linked to seven of the top fifteen leading causes of death in the United States – our lack of sleep is literally killing us
These examples, shared by Mark Miller in his book “Uncommon Greatness,” underscore the significance of sleep as a foundational pillar of our well-being. Looking back, I realize that prioritizing a consistent sleep routine is something I wish I had acted upon earlier in life. Rest assured, I will be discussing this topic extensively throughout the year. If you have any valuable resources on sleep quality to share, I would greatly appreciate it.
Quality #12 – Passion
Take This Life and Love It
In Chapter 12, Maxwell outlined the subject of Passion. He started with a great illustration of passion describing John Schattner’s (Founder of Papa John’s Pizza) passion for everything Pizza. But, to me, it’s not just about what we do, but it’s about finding something that burns so deep inside of us that we are bound and determined to do something about it. It may be about your career (hopefully you are passionate about your career choice!), or it may be about some cause that drives you to action. It is something that gets you out of bed each day because it is too important not to do something.
One of the most captivating stories shared by John in this chapter revolves around an encounter between Socrates, the revered Greek philosopher, and a young man seeking knowledge. The dispassionate youth approached Socrates, expressing his desire for wisdom. In response, Socrates led the young man to the sea, immersing him underwater for brief intervals. Each time he emerged gasping for air, Socrates asked him to reiterate his desire for knowledge. It was only when the young man, desperate for breath, exclaimed his need for air that Socrates imparted a profound lesson. He declared that when the young man craved knowledge as intensely as he yearned for air, he would attain it.
Passion is fuel for the will. It is nearly impossible to truly lead something that you don’t care passionately about. You can’t start a fire in the organization unless one is first burning inside of you.
If you don’t have the passion you want, there may be an opportunity to do some reflection and take the current temperature of your fire. Then, make a decision that you can make a difference in your life and get that fire back. Need some help finding that passion? Hang out with people who have passion. It may feel a bit awkward but get around some people who have a fire lit and see if you can light your candle off of theirs. Passion is contagious.
Next week: Positive Attitude
Quote of the week: “The person you will be in five years depends largely on the information you feed your mind today. Be picky about the books you read, the people you spend time with and the conversations you engage in.” – Ruben Chavez, Think Grow Prosper
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: So, my question to you is this: What intentional steps are you taking to build and nurture relationships? How are you fostering meaningful connections in your personal and professional spheres? Let’s commit to embracing the power of genuine human interaction, to reaching out, to listening attentively, and to being present for others.
It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”. Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.
Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!
P.S. – Are you a podcast fan? Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you. Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast? Do you have a story to tell? Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!
