Michael Hyatt

But one of the first things Daniel said to me as he listened to my story and was doing that intake in our first coaching session, he said, you know, if I can be frank, He said, it seems to me like you don't have any boundaries around work. Well, that was a brand new concept to me. I'm like, what are you talking about? Boundaries?

But one of the first things Daniel said to me as he listened to my story and was doing that intake in our first coaching session, he said, you know, if I can be frank, He said, it seems to me like you don't have any boundaries around work. Well, that was a brand new concept to me. I'm like, what are you talking about? Boundaries?

He said, tell me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that you get to the office early, you work all day, and you finally get out of there at about six o'clock, you go home, you have a quick dinner with the family, and then you're right back on your laptop. And I said, man, guilty as charged. That's exactly what my day looks like.

He said, tell me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that you get to the office early, you work all day, and you finally get out of there at about six o'clock, you go home, you have a quick dinner with the family, and then you're right back on your laptop. And I said, man, guilty as charged. That's exactly what my day looks like.

And they said, my guess is you probably work a fair amount on the weekends too. And I said, yep, because I learned that early in my career. All the executives at Word Publishing, where I was at initially, their cars were always there on Saturday morning and oftentimes on Sunday afternoon and evening. So I just thought that was the table stakes.

And they said, my guess is you probably work a fair amount on the weekends too. And I said, yep, because I learned that early in my career. All the executives at Word Publishing, where I was at initially, their cars were always there on Saturday morning and oftentimes on Sunday afternoon and evening. So I just thought that was the table stakes.

Yeah, what you have to do to play at that level. And so I said, yes. And he said, and my guess is that on your vacations, you get up early, you crank through a lot of email, but you're kind of late to the party and the family goes to the beach or they do whatever they're going to do and you join them later. I said, man, it's like you're reading my mind. That's exactly what it looks like.

Yeah, what you have to do to play at that level. And so I said, yes. And he said, and my guess is that on your vacations, you get up early, you crank through a lot of email, but you're kind of late to the party and the family goes to the beach or they do whatever they're going to do and you join them later. I said, man, it's like you're reading my mind. That's exactly what it looks like.

And he said, would you be willing? And he said, it's going to be counterintuitive, but would you be willing to put hard boundaries around your workday, around your weekends and around your time off? And I said, what does that mean? And he said, it means you're not going to do any work. It means you're not gonna think about work, you're not gonna read about work, you're not gonna talk about work.

And he said, would you be willing? And he said, it's going to be counterintuitive, but would you be willing to put hard boundaries around your workday, around your weekends and around your time off? And I said, what does that mean? And he said, it means you're not going to do any work. It means you're not gonna think about work, you're not gonna read about work, you're not gonna talk about work.

You're gonna be all in on the other elements of life. And I'm literally secretly thinking to myself, There are other elements of life. I knew there was my family, but there's stuff beyond that. That's how deprived I was. I was so just focused on work. It was crazy. And so I said, yes, I'm willing to do that because I knew something had to change.

You're gonna be all in on the other elements of life. And I'm literally secretly thinking to myself, There are other elements of life. I knew there was my family, but there's stuff beyond that. That's how deprived I was. I was so just focused on work. It was crazy. And so I said, yes, I'm willing to do that because I knew something had to change.

And he said, well, first of all, you're going to become more productive and more focused because instead of goofing off in the afternoon and getting distracted, you realize you have a hard stop at six o'clock and that's it till the next morning. And so it was like that day before you go on a vacation where you're like uber productive. Yeah, exactly. I just was a machine.

And he said, well, first of all, you're going to become more productive and more focused because instead of goofing off in the afternoon and getting distracted, you realize you have a hard stop at six o'clock and that's it till the next morning. And so it was like that day before you go on a vacation where you're like uber productive. Yeah, exactly. I just was a machine.

But I said, yeah, I'm willing to do that. I'm willing to observe those hard boundaries. And I swallowed hard and tried to count the cost. And he said, well, then I'm sure you won't mind if periodically I check in with Gail to see how you're doing. And he called her several times. That's scary. I wasn't part of those conversations. But that created the kind of accountability that forced the change.

But I said, yeah, I'm willing to do that. I'm willing to observe those hard boundaries. And I swallowed hard and tried to count the cost. And he said, well, then I'm sure you won't mind if periodically I check in with Gail to see how you're doing. And he called her several times. That's scary. I wasn't part of those conversations. But that created the kind of accountability that forced the change.

And everything began to turn around. Now, I'd be lying to you if I told you that that was the last time it was a one and done thing and it got fixed. And I'm just like anybody else. I deceive myself into thinking that whatever big project I'm in is temporary. And, you know, I tell myself, well, just as soon as I get this product launch or as soon as we get this company launched or whatever.

And everything began to turn around. Now, I'd be lying to you if I told you that that was the last time it was a one and done thing and it got fixed. And I'm just like anybody else. I deceive myself into thinking that whatever big project I'm in is temporary. And, you know, I tell myself, well, just as soon as I get this product launch or as soon as we get this company launched or whatever.

But unfortunately, those temporary periods can become a season, which can become a way of life if you're not careful. So you've got to really look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. And that was the beginning of sobriety for me.

But unfortunately, those temporary periods can become a season, which can become a way of life if you're not careful. So you've got to really look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. And that was the beginning of sobriety for me.