My cousin texted me a message titled "Six Luxuries in Life" that someone had sent him. This gave me great food for thought. What came up was that these are amazing tips for successful leadership. As an executive coach, I realize that these six luxuries can be powerful GPS for Leaders leading themselves and a model for successfully leading others in their spheres of influence.
Time
Health
A quiet mind
Slow mornings
Ability to travel
A house full of love
1. Time
There is a saying that time is the one commodity that can’t be retrieved once spent. This simple concept illustrates the preciousness and value of time. I was asked to speak to a class at USC Business School about work-life balance. A significant part of the discussion focused on using time to achieve that balance in work and personal interests. It was fascinating to hear some of the ideas that were tossed around about what this balance could look like. The discussion was rich.
Time has different significance at different stages of life. As a child, important occasions seemed to take forever to arrive, while with age, time seems to zip by. I value time completely differently as an adult and even more so as a seasoned adult.
We are all leaders of ourselves. As a leader, what comes up for you on how you use time personally and then professionally? How do you take this precious luxury and maximize its impact on everything you do?
Examples:
Time Blocking: One of my clients successfully implemented 'time blocking'—a method of dedicating specific blocks of time to particular tasks or groups of tasks. By doing so, she found she was able to decrease distractions and increase her productivity.
Delegation: Another client embraced the power of delegation. She realized that by trusting her team with responsibilities, she could free up significant time to focus on strategic planning and innovation.
Personal Rituals: One executive I worked with established morning and evening rituals that helped her start and end her day with focus and calm. This not only improved her work efficiency but also had a positive impact on her mental well-being.
What freedom do you experience in deciding how to use your time best?
What are you learning about yourself with your choices and those you don’t make?
2. Health
Our health and well-being are essential. My granddaughter, who is 9 years old, reads the labels on everything she eats. At her age, I didn’t realize that was necessary. She encourages her parents to walk with her or ask them to ride bikes to her school instead of driving. She is already taking control of her health and modeling healthy options for others, including me.
How do you view your health as a luxury? How proactive are you in following early detection guidelines recommended by health organizations like the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and others? What fitness programs have you designed for yourself to exercise both your body and your mind?
Like Gucci, Hermes, and other designers, you can be your luxury line by designing the best health outcomes for your body and mind. This is a supreme luxury, and you have the opportunity to achieve it.
Examples:
Wellness Programs: I recall a program where there were 10-minute blocks of fitness in the office in the morning and in the afternoon. Members of the staff were encouraged to lead something they enjoyed doing and could share with others. This not only supported wellness options at work but also increased morale as staff were able to share what they enjoyed and lend their voice.
Personal Health Plans: Another client scheduled regular appointments with a nutritionist and a personal trainer. She treated her health with the same importance as business meetings.
3. A Quiet Mind
This is truly special because, through our quiet moments, we can hear our thoughts. We can erase excessive chatter and declutter the pipeline, allowing for self-fulfillment, peace of mind, clarity, creativity, innovation, and progress in whatever we are working on.
Examples:
Mindfulness Practices: An executive I coach integrates mindfulness practices like meditation and deep-breathing exercises into her daily routine to maintain a quiet mind amidst a hectic schedule.
Digital Detox: What if you disconnected from all electronic devices for 30 minutes daily to focus on mental clarity and rejuvenation?
4. Slow Mornings
Have you ever thought about having a slow morning and orchestrating such a morning for yourself?
There is an expression: “You have to slow down to speed up.”
Imagine the luxury of having a slow morning.
What could this produce for you?
Spaciousness, with all the space available, ideas can flow, generosity can be exercised, and you have the gift of appreciating everyone and everything around you, including yourself.
Examples:
Morning Rituals: Design a morning just for you—journaling, sitting in your yard, communing with nature, having a leisurely breakfast, sitting and enjoying each bite, and reading something that does not have to do with work. This practice can boost your creativity and productivity throughout the day.
Scheduling Meetings: Is it important to start each day with meetings? Consider a slow morning a very important meeting because it lets you clear your head for high-level productivity. It certainly has proven helpful for many successful leaders I have worked with.
5. Ability to Travel
I love traveling and experiencing different cultures, clients, and rhythms. When I return, I feel uplifted and have a new appreciation and understanding of differences. I also gain a deeper appreciation for what I see daily but may not fully notice.
What opens up for you with the ability to travel?
6. A House Full of Love
Love is the most luxurious gift we can give ourselves and others. With a house full of love, spirits soar, joy flourishes, vision becomes clearer, everything touched feels better, and true abundance prevails. Love eradicates stress, fear, lack, despair, loneliness, and doubt.
When the house is filled with love, everyone can receive it, and surely, goodness and mercy will follow.
Examples:
Family Time: Try prioritizing family time and weekend gatherings. This practice strengthens familial bonds and provides a strong support system.
Gratitude Practices: The more you practice gratitude, the more you have to be grateful for. Having love in your life is truly something to be grateful for. Incorporating a gratitude practice at home and encouraging your family to share things they are grateful for regularly fills the home with love.
Conclusion: Luxuries in Modern Leadership
There was a hit television show in the 1980s, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” showcasing luxury homes, yachts, private jets, toys, and parties. It would be interesting to have a show now highlighting these six luxuries—time, Health, A Quiet Mind, Slow Mornings, the Ability to Travel, and A House Full of Love—and how they are experienced in daily life.
Thank you to my cousin for sharing these six luxuries with me and to whoever shared it with him.
Let me know how else these can be luxurious to you.