Making Room for Personal Development in a Full Calendar

The number one reason top sales reps burn out isn't quota pressure. It's because they work incredibly hard at their job but completely neglect working hard on themselves. Here's what I discovered managing a $195M sales organization: The reps who lasted and thrived weren't the ones grinding 12-hour days in their CRM. They were the ones who built systematic approaches to their entire life. Sales is a game of habits, not just hustle. When you only focus on quota, you're building a house on sand. When you work on yourself systematically, everything improves. The top performers I mentored used what I call the four-part productivity system: #1 The PACER Calendar Method. They color-coded their calendars into five buckets: Personal (purple), Admin/Action (red), Creation (deep work), Enrichment (learning), and Recovery (yellow). This prevented them from being reactive to whatever hit their inbox. #2 12-Week Planning. Instead of annual goals, they broke everything into 12-week sprints with clear micro-steps. They knew exactly what to focus on each week to hit their biggest goals. #3 Daily Win System. Every night, they spent 5 minutes journaling three wins, decisions made, and lessons learned. This prevented the "what did I even accomplish?" spiral that kills motivation. #4 Weekly Reset Protocol. Every Friday, they did a 30-60 minute review of energy vs. time, cleared their workspace, and planned the next week intentionally. When they did these, they showed up with more energy, clearer thinking, and better resilience. Your prospects can feel the difference between someone operating from burnout versus someone operating from a place of systematic strength. Stop treating personal development like it's separate from sales performance. When you become a better version of yourself systematically, everyone benefits. Your family, your team, your prospects, your bank account. — Want to build an ELITE routine and mindset? Watch this: https://lnkd.in/gbpFye_t

Too many sellers plan their year backwards. They start with quota, then squeeze life into whatever's left. I did it differently in 2019—my biggest earning year ever. Started with what mattered to me as a human: • 2,000 miles on the bike • 7+ hours of sleep every night • Family trips across the country Then let work fill the gaps. Result? $1.22M in commissions. The paradox: When you prioritize being human first, you perform better professionally. Your creativity flows. Your battery stays full. Your deals progress smoother. Most sellers are "time blind"—they let the year happen to them instead of designing it. Purposeful Performers do something radically different: They build their personal calendar FIRST. Fill it with memory-making moments. Then use the remaining blocks for only high-value work. It's a natural filter against low-value busy work and time-wasters. Inside this lesson, I show you: → The exact 3-step system to design your best year ever → Why physical calendars beat digital (and which one I use) → The "Misogi" concept that defines breakthrough years → How to create 6 mini-adventures that transform your life → The color-coding system that keeps boundaries sacred This isn't about work-life balance. It's about designing a life where peak performance happens naturally. Ready to plan your best year by putting yourself first? The full blueprint is inside: https://lnkd.in/eeTxgBUp 🐝 P.S. My wife and I paid off our house that same year. Not in spite of prioritizing life first—because of it. When your human battery is full, everything else falls into place.

Regrets can be powerful teachers. I've learned to model my days based on where I come up short, from not getting enough time with my wife or time to play with my kids, to a more disciplined workday. Unsatisfactory outcomes guide us toward better discipline and more meaningful priorities: focusing on more mission-critical personal enrichment and career work rather than meetings that don’t move the needle. Trust me, there will always be some meeting you could attend, but a lot of life milestones - including your family's - will not happen again. Sometimes, we need to be a bit more selfish with our schedule to prioritize the people and projects that truly matter. If you don't, nobody is going to do it for you. People will absolutely take the open time you have that you make available to them. Here are some actions you can take today to better model your days: 📅 Plan Your Day: Block out time in advance for what matters most, both personally and professionally. 📖 Family Time: Dedicate specific times for reading to your kids or playing with them. Make it non-negotiable. 🚫 Decline Non-Essential Meetings: Evaluate the necessity of each meeting. If it doesn’t move the needle, it’s okay to say no. ⏳ Set Boundaries: Clearly define your work hours and stick to them. Protect your personal time. 🎯 Focus on Mission-Critical Tasks: Identify and prioritize tasks that directly contribute to your goals. 🧘♂️ Self-Care: Don’t forget to take care of yourself. A healthy you is more effective and present for others. 💬 Communicate Priorities: Make sure your team and family understand your schedule and priorities. Reflecting on these regrets and adjusting accordingly has made a significant difference for me. What are the regrets you have at the end of the day that you can learn from to make tomorrow better? #Productivity #WorkLifeBalance #FamilyFirst #EffectiveLeadership #TimeManagement #PersonalGrowth #FocusOnWhatMatters #SelfDiscipline #PrioritizePeople

I used to say yes to everything - here’s how focusing on less boosted my work and life. Balancing career growth with personal life is one of the biggest challenges many of us face. It often feels like we have to choose between professional success and quality time with family. But here’s the thing: You don’t have to choose. You can excel at both. Over the years, I’ve found ways to enhance my career without missing out on precious moments with my loved ones. Here’s a core truth I’ve discovered: It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing what matters more. It all comes down to being intentional with how you spend your time and energy. Here’s how I’ve done it: Step 1: Master Time Management - Set clear work hours and stick to them - Use technology to automate and streamline tasks - Delegate or outsource non-essential duties ✅ The Payoff: More time for family and the things that matter most. For me, this meant realizing that saying “no” to certain things meant saying “yes” to the moments that matter with my family. It was a tough shift, but the results were worth it. Step 2: Focus on High-Impact Activities - Prioritize tasks that bring the greatest value - Say no to distractions and low-priority requests - Build strategic planning into your routine for long-term success ✅ The Payoff: Greater productivity and more fulfillment in both work and life. I used to say yes to everything, thinking that more meant better. But when I learned to laser-focus on what truly drives results, my life changed - both at work and at home. Step 3: Invest in Personal Growth - Commit to ongoing learning through books, courses, and podcasts - Seek mentorship and surround yourself with people who challenge you - Attend workshops and seminars to stay ahead in your field ✅ The Payoff: Personal growth that drives professional success. One of my biggest breakthroughs came when I viewed personal growth not as “extra” but as essential to my success. It wasn’t just about growing my career; it was about growing as a person. Balancing career and personal life isn’t just possible - it’s powerful. What strategies do you use to grow professionally without sacrificing personal time?