Daniel Marzullo
Published: Monday, September 25, 2023 - 11:02 If you could experience the perfect workday, what would you be doing? Have you ever taken the time to think about it? Whether you’re an entrepreneur climbing the corporate ladder or you’re selling donuts out of the back of your car, it’s essential to pause and reflect periodically on the work you’re doing. We can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day, checking off items on our to-do list, that one day we look up and wonder where we are. Our work evolves over the weeks, months, and years as we grow our businesses, get promoted, or change roles. If we forget to notice how we feel about our work as we evolve and grow as professionals, we might end up feeling empty or unfulfilled. The more your workdays reflect your current needs and desires, the more satisfied you’ll be. And the only way we can make sure we do this at every stage of our journey is to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. How? With the Perfect Workday Exercise. Grab a blank sheet of paper. Draw a line down the middle, creating two columns. At the top, label the left side “My Typical Workday,” and the right side, “My Perfect Workday.” On the left, list all the activities that make up a typical workday chronologically. On the right, visualize what a perfect day would look like and add the activities that would make for an ideal day. To visualize your perfect workday, ask yourself: Once you have a visual of your typical workday and your perfect workday, where are the discrepancies? How different are the two days? Does your typical day allow you to utilize your strengths and live out your values? What does your perfect workday tell you about what’s important to you? What strengths are you using in your ideal day more than your typical day? And finally: What small steps can you take to get closer to making your perfect workday a reality? Complete this exercise regularly to ensure you’re leading with intention and doing fulfilling and meaningful work. Regardless of your career direction, this exercise will help you stay on course, using your strengths and living your values. How was it to complete this exercise? What insights have you gained? Let me know in the comments. Published Sept. 7, 2023, on danmarzullo.com. Interested readers can sign up for a course with Marzullo or click here to work with him or get feedback. Dan Marzullo is an advisor for early-stage entrepreneurs. He also runs an agency, writes, and speaks about entrepreneurship. You can find more of Dan’s work here.
Lean What Does the Perfect Day at Work Look Like to You?
Think and plan more deeply with this exercise
Why are we doing what we’re doing? How’d we get here?
Step 1: Build your list
• What would you accomplish on this day?
• Where are you, and who are you with?
• How would you structure this day?
• How would you like to feel by the end of this day?
• What words would best summarize this day?Step 2: Reflect
The more your workdays reflect your current needs and desires, the more satisfied you’ll be.My challenge to you
Set a recurring calendar reminder to complete this exercise once every three to six months
About The Author
Daniel Marzullo
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