How to Fire Your Inner Workaholic #071

Welcome to Evolve Leadership Podcast, where we dive deep into the intriguing world of time and its impact on our lives.We explore the delicate balance between the demanding nature of the grind and the positive momentum it brings. Join us as we unravel the truths and misconceptions surrounding the grind and its sustainability in the long run. We'll share personal experiences and insights that have shaped leaders, including ourselves, and examine the challenges faced when progress becomes synonymous with burnout. Discover how to break free from the leash of constant demands and find strategic thinking, fostering meaningful relationships, and long-term planning amidst the pressures of day-to-day firefighting. Unravel the secrets of untangling the sacrifices made in the wrong areas of life and the lies we tell ourselves about compensating for lost time. We'll debunk the myth of working harder for success and explore the paradox of "less effort" leading to greater achievements in various aspects of life. Let's redefine success and prioritize high-impact activities to transform our leadership approach for meaningful progress. [2:40] Have you ever had conversations about time?  I have personally experienced both the demanding nature of the grind and the positive momentum gained from it. However, I must admit that the grind can be extremely draining and depleting. Let me put it this way: while the grind may offer short-term advantages, it is not a sustainable approach in the long run. Eventually, everything starts to fall apart around you. That's why I'm particularly excited about this conversation, as I believe that many of the experiences that have brought leaders, including ourselves, to where we are today have involved a certain degree of grinding. However, as we continue to progress and strive to reach new heights, we realize that the sustainability aspect fades away, leading us to become stuck or face challenges such as deteriorating health, strained relationships, and frustrated team members who question our decisions. It's disconcerting, and we often find ourselves wondering what went wrong. Therefore, I believe that taking a step back, as you mentioned, and thoroughly examining the underlying issues is crucial.  [5:12] How can someone take a step back and not burn out?   It's as if there's a constant sinking feeling that you're not meeting the demands, and even when you attempt to rest, a sense of guilt creeps in, making you feel lazy. You know you should keep pushing forward, continuously striving. However, instead of effectively managing your business, it feels like your business is controlling you. It's akin to being a dog on a leash, constantly pulled in various directions, rather than being in a leadership position. Strategic thinking, long-term planning, and fostering meaningful relationships with team members all seem distant when you're solely focused on completing tasks and dealing with urgent issues. It becomes challenging to navigate and gain perspective when you're deeply immersed in the day-to-day challenges and pressures of firefighting.  [9:50] What are some of the ways of getting some of these things entangled?  Often, we make sacrifices in the wrong areas of our lives. You may have heard me mention this before, but it's about the confusion between what brings us pleasure and what causes us pain. We mix up the two, thinking that if we engage in certain activities, we'll experience pleasure afterward. However, when we discipline our time, set boundaries, or establish calendar blocks, we fear that we'll miss out on other enjoyable things, leading to perceived pain. What we fail to understand is that the actions we perceive as painful actually create opportunities for numerous other things, which we'll discuss in more detail later. The problem lies in the...