Christopher Shurley on LinkedIn: 4 out of 5 dishonest people say Self-Honesty is overrated. (But hey… (2024)

Master chefs know the secret to culinary excellence. We can apply the same wisdom to self-leadership:↦ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 ↦ 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹?Ever wonder how top chefs create culinary masterpieces? Their approach can teach us a lot about self-leadership:↳𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Invest in yourself. Nourish your mind, body, and spirit with positivity, knowledge, and self-care.↳𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 Build a strong foundation of self-awareness and core values before tackling complex personal challenges.↳𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 Don't fear failure. Try new approaches to personal growth and learn from every experience.↳𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 Find harmony between work, play, relationships, and personal time. A well-balanced life is a flavorful one.↳𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 Recognize when to push yourself and when to let things simmer. Personal growth has its own rhythm.↳𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗚𝗼 Address issues and negative thoughts promptly. Don't let mental clutter accumulate.↳𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 How you carry yourself affects how others perceive you and how you feel. Present your best self to the world.↳𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Your personal growth can inspire others. Don't be afraid to share your journey and insights.Like a great meal, a fulfilling life is crafted with patience, creativity, and love for the process.What's your signature recipe for self-leadership?

I spent 10,950 nights destroying my health. Here's how I turned it around.For 30+ years, I battled with sleep, not realizing the profound impact it had on my life and health.The cycle was vicious:• Insomnia fear led to alcohol dependence• Alcohol provided "sleep" but left me feeling terrible• Depression set in, fueling more drinkingThe game-changer? Realizing I needed to fix my sleep to address my drinking.Here's what worked for me:• Changed sleeping position, left side to right side (surprisingly effective!)• Focused on getting 7+ hours of sleep (doctor's orders)• Explored medication options (trazodone, as mentioned in Peter Attia's "Outlive")Result: Best rest of my life, recharged mornings, and a bonus - no more drinking.Key takeaway: Don't underestimate the power of quality sleep in transforming your life and health.Have you struggled with sleep issues? What strategies worked for you?

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Them: "Just have one drink, it's a special occasion!" Me: sips Waterloo All-day Rosé with the intensity of a wine connoisseur.

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Picture this: You're trying to scale a mountain, but you're wearing flip-flops and carrying a beach umbrella. Sounds absurd, right?Yet in our careers and personal lives, we often do something similar. We set ambitious goals, but our daily habits don't align with those ambitions.Here's the truth I've learned: Your systems are the invisible force shaping your results.Think about it:•Want to be a writer? Your system is how often you sit down to write.•Aiming for a promotion? Your system is how you approach each day's tasks.•Dreaming of starting a business? Your system is how you allocate your time and resources.I used to believe success was all about willpower and motivation. But those are fleeting. Systems, on the other hand, are enduring.Here's how I overhauled my approach:1. Audited my daily habits2. Identified which ones were moving me forward (or holding me back)3. Designed new routines aligned with my goals4. Focused on consistency, not perfectionThe result? Steady progress without the constant battle against procrastination and self-doubt.As James Clear wisely notes, "You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."But remember, changing systems isn't easy or quick. It's about small, consistent improvements over time. What's one small system change you could make today to better serve your ambitions?

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Some of the best advice I've ever been given was behind closed doors:Advice from:- CEOs who prioritize family time- Successful entrepreneurs with side passions- Productivity coaches- Mental health professionalsThese 3 strategies helped me reframe my approach to work-life balance, increase overall satisfaction, and achieve more without burning out:𝗧𝗵𝗲 2-𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Dedicate 2 hours each week to planning. It sounds counterintuitive to "waste" time planning, but this investment reduces stress and improves focus dramatically.𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁: Regularly assess which activities energize vs. drain you. It's not just about time management, but energy management. You might be surprised what you discover.𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝘅: Set clear, non-negotiable boundaries for work, personal time, and self-care. The challenge? Sticking to them when things get hectic.These strategies taught me that balance isn't about perfect equality between work and life, but about making intentional choices that work for you.

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It's been two years since I lost my mom, and it's her birthday.Mom was a force of nature - bright, loving, and fiercely supportive. She and Dad shared a passion for cherry pie, a simple pleasure that became a symbol of their love and our family bonds.So here I am, fork in hand, savoring each bittersweet bite. It's more than dessert; it's a slice of nostalgia, a taste of childhood, a tribute to the woman who shaped me.Recently, I responded to a tweet asking, "What's 1 lesson one of your parents taught you as a kid that you never forgot?" My answer was instant: "Let your kids be themselves."That was Mom's gift to me - the freedom to grow into my authentic self. She nurtured my quirks, encouraged my dreams, and stood back when I needed to stumble and learn. Her trust in me became my strength.Today, as I indulge in this cherry pie, I'm not just remembering Mom. I'm celebrating the person she allowed me to become. Her lesson echoes in every choice I make, in the way I lead, in how I approach life's challenges.To those fortunate enough to still have their parents: cherish them. Ask about their lives, their dreams, the lessons they hope to pass on. What's one lesson you'll never forget?

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Sometimes the most amazing things happen right before your eyes.This stunning rainbow greeted us on our drive back from vacation, turning a routine return trip into a magical moment.It's a beautiful reminder that even as we transition from leisure back to our daily lives, there's wonder to be found along the way. The journey matters just as much as the destination.How do you carry the rejuvenation of vacation into your work life? What unexpected beauty have you encountered on your own transitions?

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