The 5-Minute Discipline That Will Transform Your Leadership

A wave of dread washed over me as I finally pulled into my driveway. It was nearly 1 a.m. on a Tuesday night after a grueling road trip. All I craved was sleep. Yet, a commitment weighed on me, especially after a night like this. Our high school team had just suffered a crushing 32-point defeat at the hands of our Nashville rivals. On nights like these, sleep felt like the ultimate solace, yet as elusive as the water to King Tantalus, forever just out of reach, a punishment from the Greek Gods for his transgressions.

And yet, laying in bed, restless, being tormented by my frustrations from the game, our struggling offense, and our luckless defense— it still seemed more desirable than sitting down with a journal. Yet I had hired a coach that off-season, a coach’s coach, and he had me commit to daily journaling— what went well. Fifteen things that went well, before I wrote down one thing to improve upon. I didn’t want to try to train my positive mindset—it felt more comfortable to torment myself with ruminations of my team’s poor performance and worst start to a season in ten years of coaching.

And yet, I still sat down and wrote. Fifteen positives, followed by two areas for growth and two key learnings. I maintained this practice for most days that season. The impact went beyond simply fostering a more positive outlook. It compelled me to intentionally reflect, leading to greater self-awareness and enabling me to make crucial adjustments in my leadership throughout the season. It became an anchor, helping me navigate what proved to be one of my most challenging years as a coach.

Since 2016, this daily discipline of journaling has become an integral part of my life, something I continually develop and refine. I've witnessed its profound impact not only in my own journey but also in the lives of many leaders I've coached. Dr. Michael Gervais, a leading performance coach, argued on The Coaching Culture Podcast Episode 369 that journaling is one of only three pathways to deeper self-awareness, alongside mindfulness and conversations with people of wisdom.

For the last seven years, the James Clear Clear Habit Journal has served me well. This year, I felt compelled to create my own, tailored to my specific needs. I envisioned a journal that could withstand a full year of daily use. I wanted key journal prompts readily available at the beginning for those days when inspiration felt elusive. I also desired dedicated space to record my leadership manifesto, a document I revisit and refine each year, transferring it to my new journal. Furthermore, it needed sections for annual goals, aspirations, and overarching commitments. In the back, I incorporated James Clear's habit tracking system and the  "one line a day" practice – a space to capture my day's highlight, though others might use it for gratitude. 

After designing it, I ordered enough for myself, my clients, and a few others as gifts. I also ordered an additional 30 to offer for sale at $30 per journal, including shipping within the USA. If you're interested in ordering one, you can do so here. However, please note that we only have 30 available, so it's on a first-come, first-served basis for those who complete the details and payment. Everyone else will be placed on a waitlist for our next production run.

If you already have a beloved journal but would like to benefit from my favorite prompts and journaling tips, you can download the TOC Journaling System PDF, which I originally created in 2021 and have recently updated.

Downloadable PDF

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