Inside Strategic Coach with Dan Sullivan - "Leaving 30% of Your Schedule Free for Magic"

Key Ideas

• Leave 30% of schedule free for "magic": Allows time for reflection, creativity, and taking advantage of unexpected opportunities.
• Entrepreneurs as outliers: They take 100% responsibility for their financial security by directly selling products/services/experiences.
• Addictions & Workaholism: Entrepreneurs often fill schedules to avoid feelings of loneliness and insecurity. Workaholism is the most admired yet detrimental addiction.

Impact of Covid-19

• Reduction in traveling: Entrepreneurs found they got 30% of their time back due to reduced travel during the pandemic.
• Utilize this time wisely: Filling it with more work is seen as counterproductive. Free time should be used for creativity and reflection.

Practical Application

• Scheduling tips: Always keep a half-hour between meetings to reflect and generate new ideas.
• Criteria for scheduling: Activities must be creative and productive, adding new value and/or getting paid.
• Comfort being alone: Increases standards for what and who deserves your time.

Benefits

• Higher productivity and creativity: Leaving time 'free' increases inspiration and the potential for breakthroughs.
• Better personal and professional boundaries: Not working evenings or continuously helps maintain efficiency and work-life balance.
• Improved decision-making: Careful selection of activities and interactions leads to more impactful and worthwhile engagements.

Recommendations

• Stop overcommitting: Have a mindset that there is enough time for everything important.
• Value self-reflection: Comfortable alone time is crucial for setting higher standards for company and work engagements.
• Make technology work for you: Choose how and when to engage, especially with digital communication tools.

Key Quotes

• "Magic happens when there is slack in your systems." - Dan Sullivan
• "No is a complete sentence." - Shannon Waller
• "The ability to be comfortable with yourself and your own thinking is critical." - Dan Sullivan

Final Thoughts

• Leave 30% of your schedule free to encourage creativity, productivity, and transformative ideas.
• Higher standards for activities and interactions make for more meaningful work and personal life.