Leading by Example: How I Doubled My Productivity This Month

Well, there you have it—the first month of this program is in the books. I went into this committed to a few specific lanes of self-improvement, primarily ensuring that I never stop educating myself. My current focus is a bit of a balancing act: I’m chasing several certifications while simultaneously pushing forward on my professional journey.

It isn’t always easy to fit the pieces together, but it’s possible if you’re smart about managing your time and focusing your "precious energy" on what actually moves the needle. Focus on the high-impact goals; the rest is just noise.

Crushing the Timeline

My roadmap for the end of March was straightforward:

1. Research law school funding.
2. Outline my book on the "self."
3. Start posting progress updates here.

For April, I planned to tackle the PMI exam (using new AI tools to study) and start prep for an IT certification essential for both my military and civilian careers. Let's be honest: in this day and age, information security is everyone’s business.

Here’s the catch: I’m not sure if I’m a chronic overachiever or if I just set the bar too low, but I finished my March AND April goals before March even ended. I’m already well on my way to surpassing my May targets.

Because I’m rolling so far ahead of schedule, it’s time to revisit the plan and come up with a more aggressive "Plan of Attack." But before I do that, I want to break down how I actually made this happen and the lessons I learned along the way.

The Strategy: Work Smarter, Not Harder

1. Don't Reinvent the Wheel

For the book, my win was using what I already had. I didn't start from scratch; I pulled from previous journals, blogs, articles, and random thoughts I’d captured in OneNote. I then used AI to help me frame the narrative so the story flowed exactly how I envisioned it.

2. The Power of the "Light Lift"

I treated my law school research as a "long-range target." I did the bare minimum to get the ball rolling and see if funding was a possibility. By acknowledging it was a "light lift," I kept it from draining the energy I needed for more immediate tasks.

3. Strict Calendar Management

Accountability is everything. I live and die by Google Calendar. Whether you use a physical planner, Apple, or Google, the key is consistency. I set reminders and—most importantly—blocked time for myself to work on these goals. If it isn't on the calendar, it doesn't exist.

“The Decisive Edge:
I didn’t wait until April to start April’s goals. Decisive leadership is about recognizing momentum when you have it and doubling down. Don’t wait for the calendar to tell you when to move.””

— Matthew Arthurs

The "NotebookLM" Game Changer

This is where it gets interesting. To get ahead of my studying, I took the PDFs from my training courses and my Google Docs notes and uploaded them to NotebookLM.

The app generated audio "podcasts" for each section, which allowed me to study while I was on the treadmill or working out. This is habit stacking at its finest:

• The Win: I capitalized on the morning—my best time for both studying and fitness—and did them simultaneously.
• The Balance: I’m not saying you should stop listening to music or being alone with your thoughts entirely, but for this sprint, it was a perfect win-win.

Interestingly, I also found that my best ideas came during "active daydreaming"—those moments while driving or walking when I wasn't plugged into a study guide. I’ve started capturing those flashes of brilliance in OneNote immediately to improve other areas of my life.

Where Do I Go From Here?

Well, as any decisive leader knows, once you hit your targets, you don’t just stand still—you raise the floor. I’m currently back at the drawing board, revisiting my roadmap to build a "Plan of Attack" that’s even more aggressive.

Success isn't just about working hard; it's about making the decision to prioritize high-impact moves over busy work. If you’re struggling to find that same momentum in your own journey, take a look at my other resources here at BeADecisiveLeader.com, where I break down the mindset needed to take command of your goals.

Want to talk strategy? Take a look at some other material and reach out!

Maximizing the morning: Combining physical fitness with IT certification prep using AI audio tools.