This is the ‘Win with Stories’ newsletter. It’s focused on helping founders and executives navigate leadership, sales, PR and fund-raising. Every week I send an email with a career or communication message wrapped in a short story. I also share one or a few actionable tips to help you achieve your career and business goals.
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How to make progress everyday
I’d always feel guilty about how less I got done everyday.
And this was the case for many years.
Wanting to achieve ten major things on my to-do list, I’d barely manage to get 1 or 2 done.
The day would evaporate in a series of meetings, emails and the rabbit-hole that is the internet.
But all this changed about three years ago.
As a solopreneur, I now market and run The Story Co’s coaching and training programs.
I serve as the president of my Business Networking International chapter in Mysore.
At the Story Stay(my family’s long-stay service apartment), I am the chief errand boy who can be summoned for odd-jobs anytime.
Despite that, I have a feeling of progress and satisfaction everyday.
It was the book ‘Deep Work’ by Cal Newport that changed things for me.
Over the years, I’ve developed my own system inspired by the book and here is what it looks like:
- My golden everyday triangle:
These are things that keep me on track. I’ve noticed over the years that if I do all these things any given day, there is no way I won’t feel good throughout and by the end of the day.
Journaling and day planning(45mins) + Exercise(90 mins) + Learning(40-45 mins of reading a newspaper or book or listening to a podcast.
- Timeboxing and scheduling my days:
Almost all of my days follow a schedule. While it is not water tight, the deviation is only about 15-20%
First half of my days:
…are for deep work that help me make significant progress.
Monday: Linkedin posts + newsletter first draft – later in the day Reel shoots
Tuesday: BNI networking meetings
Wednesday: Newsletter final edit +new proposal or module designs
Thursday: Learning or analysis – these days I am analysing Rajiv Bajaj’s ace leadership narrative skills
Friday: Coming up with marketing and content ideas for Story Stay + Writing for Story Stay
Rest of the time during the days are for calls with potential training and coaching clients, coaching projects and anyone that I get connected through Linkedin or BNI.
2-3 hours every week are for admin and accounting tasks. I have a freelance consultant and a CS firm that help me with video editing and finance respectively.
- Reflection:
This reflection happens through journaling. I reflect on stories, incidents or what I’ve read that day and what it has taught me.
I also express gratitude and remind myself of my priorities.
There are days that I feel anxious or overwhelmed. But whenever I express gratitude for things that got done or opportunities I got, I feel content again.
Would you be interested in understanding and possibly using some part of my system? If yes, then DM me. I have a template that explains my journal.
What’s the system that keeps your happiness and productivity on track? Reply to this email and let me know
One communication tip for today:
For a change, I don not have a communication tip in today’s newsletter. I had shared the text above as a Linkedin post on Monday. While it was not one of my top performing posts, but quite a few people messaged me asking for my daily journal template.
That made me think that it might be of value to share it with you as well.
If the journaling template sounds interesting, then reply to this mail and I will share the template with you on email.
Hope this helps.
A quick reminder on how I can help you:
- If you are a business leader or a founder of a mature startup wanting to sharpen your story, storytelling and leadership skills or even a speech or presentation, then I can help. My coaching programs like ‘Story-flection’, ‘Ace Linkedin with Stories’ and ‘Inspiring Leader’ have helped CXOs and senior executives power their growth. The first 30-minute call is on me, write to me if you’d like to book my time
- If you are a corporate, MSME or late-stage startup looking to enhance leadership, communication, marketing and sales skills in your organisation, then I can help. My signature programs like ‘Lead with Stories’, ‘Movie-like Data Presentations’ and ‘Story punch for marketing and sales’ have helped many corporates and agencies multiply their success
- I am also available for keynotes, webinars and team-building sessions that incorporate storytelling.
That’s it from me today. Hope you found this newsletter useful 🙂
Tell me one thing that will make you share this newsletter with friends and colleagues 🙂
If it’s already share-worthy, then please forward this to your network right away. Let’s all win with stories.
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