What Do We Carry in Our Schedules?
While working with one of my coaching clients, we started talking about his calendar. He recently got promoted to an executive level and found himself often running late, frustrated that his job is meetings all the time, and struggling with executive communication.
We sat down to look at his calendar and I asked to go through the past two weeks and look at every meeting. It didn’t take but a minute to gather that he was attending EVERY meeting – his, his team member’s meetings, his bosses meetings. All of them. My client unknowingly communicates a lack of trust in his team. His over attendance dilutes the responsibilities of others by always being there to answer the question or assert himself. He’s unknowingly eroding faith in his leadership.
It got me thinking. What do we carry in our schedule? What is hidden to us there? What does our schedule communicate to others? Whether we know it or not, our schedules reveal something about our priorities and how we see the world. I’ve been looking at where I put effort, what I prioritize, and what that communicates to others.
Recently, I was asked to tell the story of how Ed and I got together for a storytellers series this month. I was hesitant as I’m under deadline for my next show and I’m focused on painting, but this feels aligned with my priorities for this year. I have four art shows booked in 2025 – three solo shows and one with another artist. If I’m going to reach my painting obligations for the year, I must create a schedule that supports where I am going – not just keep me where I’ve been.
I achieved a lot last year; but I pushed it. I took on too much myself even though I have a great team of people around me, but we were all new and learning how best to work together. It was a big building year and I’m thrilled with how it turned out.
This year, I’m working to elevate my art. This means balancing my coaching services with painting, but there is so much more I need to consider. I have studio days scheduled, but I need to protect that time and actually paint. If I don’t take my art seriously, no one else will either. How do I signal that to others? Here’s what I’m asking myself:
Where am I creating impossible situations that will cause me to abandon what I hold most dear?
What tasks can I outsource or eliminate altogether?
Where am I letting someone else dictate what’s important to me?
Can I use my process to create mini deadlines and incentives to keep everything progressing?
Do my obligations match my core values?
Have I blocked time for rest?
For my family and spouse?
How can I simplify my life to make what I truly want more possible?
I’m moving into greater alignment with everything I want by looking at what I carry in my schedule, for myself and for others. How do you do it?
