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Welcome to the Tuesday Trailblazer, my weekly newsletter delivering actionable advice from my personal experiences as a people and business leader.

Today’s Email:

Today, we’re peeling back the layers on what truly separates the busy leaders from the great.

What we’ll cover off:

1. The 10 things (secrets) successful leaders know, that the busy don’t.

2. Why mastering these secrets matters more than you think.

3. Where most leaders stumble and how to avoid those pitfalls.

4. Fast track action plan to implement these secrets for immediate results.

I love this recent tweet from US Investor Codie Sanchez.
Particularly;

“Your joy will offend the miserable”.

Busy leaders feel challenged by the sight of successful leaders finding joy in their work because it mirrors back a different reality—one where being in command of one’s priorities and time is possible. It unsettles the belief that busy is an unavoidable badge of honor, suggesting instead that it's a choice.

And this idea… it offends others.

But, this isn’t just speculation—I’ve been there.
Absolutely buried in the hustle, blind to any other way.
I threw so much energy into things I couldn’t control and became negative in my leadership.

But what I’ve learned, and what I'm here to share each week with you, is that true fulfillment comes from impact, not just activity.

And our impact is driven by 2 key things…

• Our positive/supportive ATTITUDE

• Our meaningful ACTIONS

As leaders, we're often tempted to do it all, thinking that's what it takes to be successful. Yet, embracing the grind with intention, focusing on what really counts, can lead us to not just create impact but enjoy the journey.

It’s about leading with intention, not just clocking up the hours.

No one wants to be remembered as the leader who was always busy and stressed. When we do this, we throw our attitudes and any type of meaningful action out the window.

Leading with joy and purpose isn't just good for you—it sets a powerful example for everyone around you.

I’ve distilled these insights into 10 secrets that'll guide you towards beyond busy (successful) leadership.

Let’s blaze it up!

Before we dive into these secrets, I’d love to hear about your experiences.
So, here’s a quick question for you:

10 secrets successful leaders know…
That busy leaders don’t.

→ Busy Leader: Puts their wellbeing last.
→ Successful Leader: Prioritises their wellbeing.

Secret #1 - Prioritise YOU.
Schedule a daily non-negotiable slot for self-care. Could be as simple as a 20-minute walk, meditation, or your hobby. Treat it like a critical business meeting.

→ Busy Leader: Measures how many hours
→ Successful Leader: Values impact of hours.

Secret #2 - Value Impact, Not Hours.
Start your day by identifying the one task that will have the most significant impact. Focus on completing this before anything else.

→ Busy Leader: Focuses on doing “more”
→ Successful Leader: Focuses on “meaningful”

Secret #3 - Nail The Meaningful Things
Each week, pick 3 outcomes that align with your core values and mission. Let these guide your focus.

→ Busy Leader: Has an “open door” policy.
→ Successful Leader: Prioritises adding value to others.

Secret #4 - Be Valuable, Not Available.
Allocate specific times for team check-ins and make it clear when you’re available for discussions. Outside these times, guard your focus for strategic work.

→ Busy Leader: Can’t say no.
→ Successful Leader: Empowers their needs

Secret #5 - Master The Art Of “No”.
Practice saying, “Let me check my priorities and I’ll get back to you,” to buy yourself time to consider if you really can or should take on a new task.

→ Busy Leader: Reacts to problems as they come.
→ Successful Leader: Proactively prevents problems.

Secret #6 - Proactively Prevent Problems
Spend time each week reviewing processes and feedback to identify potential issues before they arise. Implement preventive measures.

→ Busy Leader: Keeps all the tasks to themselves.
→ Successful Leader: Delegates to empower their team.

Secret #7 - Delegate
Identify tasks that can be handled by someone else on your team and delegate them, along with clear instructions and expectations.

→ Busy Leader: Ignores valuable feedback.
→ Successful Leader: Actively seeks and uses feedback to grow.

Secret #8 - Actively Seek Feedback
Create a weekly/bi weekly (direct reports), or perhaps a monthly (for non direct reports) feedback session with your team where you ask for honest insights on your leadership and projects.

→ Busy Leader: See’s rest as a reward for hard work.
→ Successful Leader: Integrates rest as a crucial part of their routine.

Secret #9 - You Need To Rest. 
Plan regular short breaks throughout your day and longer periods of rest in your calendar in advance, treating them as essential for your productivity.

→ Busy Leader: Is scared of failing.
→ Successful Leader: Lives like everyday is a lesson to learn.

Secret #10 - Failure is progress.
Reflect on and journal about what didn’t work at the end of each day or week, focusing on what you learned and how you can improve.

So what now?
How can you utilise these secrets to develop your leadership?

You could align with the above secrets one at a time and utilise the action below each
OR
You could utilise the 3 step action plan below and move your leadership forward today…

3 Steps to ditching busy & prioritising impact

• Identify a Busy Habit: Pick one thing you're doing that feels more busy than productive.

• Make the Swap: Choose a corresponding successful leader habit from our 10 secrets to replace it.

• Reflect and Share: At the end of the week, take a moment to reflect on how this change affected your leadership and team dynamics. Share your experiences and encourage your team to make their own swaps.

In Conclusion:

Trailblazers, leadership isn’t about filling every second with tasks. It’s about making those seconds count with smart, impactful actions. Let’s move from busy to brilliant together!

Here’s to leading in a way that’s worth talking about!

Stay bold, stay brilliant, and let’s turn those leadership tables.

Cheers,
Howard

Whenever you’re ready, here are 2 ways I can help you:

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