The Overworked, Underthought Executive
Do you actually have time to think? 🤔
Or are you just bouncing from Zoom to Zoom, Slacking mid-meeting, and holding your pee until 6pm?
That used to be me—in the “before” era. When my calendar looked like a losing game of Tetris and my brain was more reactive than reflective.
I was busy. Important, even. But not clear.
There was zero space—or patience—for creativity. No time to let ideas marinate; they (and I) barely had time for a quick rinse. I was in survival mode: racing through back-to-back meetings, white-knuckling my way through Slack, collapsing into bed wondering if I’d accomplished anything that actually mattered.
Despite logging long hours, I doubted I was doing my best work.
The Shift: From Schedule-Filled to Strategically Clear
Now? As I build up my advisory practice, I’ve learned that deep thought and flow state are critical to producing breakthrough work.
Even though I technically “work” fewer hours—20 to 30 a week—the quality of my output has skyrocketed.
Strategic clarity? Higher.
Creative breakthroughs? Frequent.
Inbox? Thoughtfully answered (and not during a 1:1).
Some of my best positioning ideas don’t come from slides—they come from down dogs. I solved a tough messaging challenge last week while upside down in yoga. (Try it—it’s like shaking the mental Etch A Sketch.)
Mental Whitespace = Better Work (and Better Prompts)
Focus is now my most valuable asset. And it only shows up when I stop filling every available minute with noise.
Today, I have the mental whitespace to explore multiple angles, absorb thought leadership, and—yes—even craft far better AI prompts, which in turn lead to exponentially better outcomes.
This isn’t just about rest. It’s about making space to think like a strategist.
What the Thought Leaders Have Been Telling Us All Along
📘 Tim Ferriss taught us that more time ≠ more results in The 4-Hour Workweek.
📘 Cal Newport reminded us that deep work creates enduring value.
📘 Greg McKeown made the case for doing less—but better—in Essentialism.
They weren’t romanticizing minimalism. They were laying the groundwork for sustainable, high-leverage thinking.
Turns out, they were right.
Reclaim Your Time to Think
If you’re still stuck in the 9–5 (or let’s be honest, the 8–8) grind, ask yourself:
🌀 Can you carve out 30 minutes a day to walk—no phone, no calls?
🌀 Can you skip more meetings and just trust the AI-generated recap?
🌀 Can you start your morning with five quiet minutes and your bare feet on the ground?
Because it’s not about doing more.
It’s about making space to do the right things—better.
