Let me tell you about one of my best-kept secrets as a leader, a parent, and someone who often feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day: CEO Days.
Now before you check out because you’re not a CEO—hang with me. This isn’t just for business owners. If you’re leading a team, juggling client demands, or constantly living in meeting-land, this applies to you, too.
Here’s the deal: most of us are wired to chase the low-hanging fruit. The quick win. The email fire. The “urgent” calendar invite that pops up five minutes before lunch. But here’s the problem—none of that moves the needle. The real growth, the strategy, the things that actually matter? They rarely happen if you don’t intentionally give them focus.
That’s where CEO Days come in.
· You block them on your calendar in advance.
· You make yourself unavailable (yes, even to your team).
· You shut down the social media apps.
· And you tell your family they can only interrupt if someone’s bleeding or broken. (My rule. Works like a charm.)
Now, if you’re working inside a company and thinking, “Yeah right, I can’t just disappear from meetings all day,” I get it. The point isn’t about control—it’s about intention. You may not be able to block a full day, but you can:
· Carve out two hours in the morning before meetings pile up.
· Block a recurring 90-minute “strategy session” on your calendar that looks like any other meeting (no one needs to know it’s with you).
· Or even take a walk during lunch with one big question in mind—what would actually move the needle if I gave it my focus this week?
It’s less about the size of the block, and more about creating intentional space where you step out of reaction mode and into strategy.
I’ll be honest – full CEO days feel like a lot of pressure for me. So my coach and I hacked it: half-day CEO sessions. Every two weeks. And truthfully? I get more meaningful work done in those half days than I do in the rest of the week combined. Strategy gets attention. Priorities get set. My brain gets to breathe.
My setup is simple:
· I’ll listen to some music while sitting in a café, and order a matcha latte (almond milk, lightly sweet—non-negotiable). It sounds small, but this ritual is critical to my focus. It’s part of what I’ve learned from the Influencers concept (not the Instagram kind—the success formula I teach my clients). Curious? Remind me to walk you through it sometime.
· I sometimes use the Focus Friend app (ridiculous name, surprisingly effective).
· And I stick to my rule: no distractions.
Whether you’re running your own business or sitting inside a big organization, this works. And you don’t need to overhaul your life to start. Try these three things:
1. Block it now. Don’t wait for the “perfect time.” Pick a morning or an afternoon and lock it down.
2. Protect it. Treat it like you would a meeting with your boss—or your kid’s recital. Non-negotiable.
3. Pick your big rocks. What 1–2 things, if you actually did them, would move the needle the most? Work on those.
That’s it. No magic. Just discipline, boundaries, and a little bit of fun.
And here’s the kicker: once you experience the impact of a CEO Day, you’ll never go back. Trust me on this one.