A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit. —Erasmus

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One of my goals for 2022 was to experiment with fasting.

I started with a five-day partial fast in January, but it’s on my mind again since I recently completed a 36-hour total fast.

In the first day, I quickly re-learned a lesson that I learned last January.

Eating is about much more than hunger.

Most of the time I had the desire to eat, it was triggered by something other than a rumbling in my stomach.

I eat because:

- it’s time to eat

- someone else is eating

- I’m avoiding something difficult

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Oh yes, I also learned that I forget things quickly.

I discovered the same truth about eating last January, but I forgot it.

Of course I still had the knowledge, but the experience had faded.

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I led a workshop at Uber last week to empower the business development team to accelerate their results.

As we wrapped up, I asked each of them what they would do differently as a result of the training.

I asked this to close the gap between what you know and what you do.

As I learned a second time while fasting, there are many reasons to keep doing what you’ve always done, such as:

- your schedule dictates it

- it’s what others are doing

- to avoid what’s uncomfortable

Recognize that list?

Our motivations — for eating or leadership — are often driven by the wrong reasons.

While you may know that, it may not be easy to change.

You have to be deliberate.

In the case of eating, fasting is one way to change things up.

In the case of leadership, take control of your calendar.

You don’t do what your calendar says. You tell your calendar what you are doing.

Take a moment right now and identify one action you can take this week to be an even stronger leader.

Now schedule it on your calendar.

Don’t let the wrong reasons drive your leadership.

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To wintertime progress,

P.S. In case you missed last week’s email, The #1 Enemy of Progress, you can find it here.

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