In a world where every minute counts, I believe that true mastery isn’t about squeezing work into every gap—it’s about weaving together the many parts of our lives into a purposeful tapestry. In a recent episode of the Exceptional Companies Podcast with my good friend Joseph Thompson, we explored how personal and professional growth go hand in hand, sharing insights drawn directly from our real-life experiences.
The Eight Parts of Life
I was particularly struck by Joseph’s approach to organizing life into distinct sectors—physical, mental, financial, social, family, leisure, spiritual, and work. For him, each area isn’t isolated; rather, each serves the other:
- Interconnection is Key: As Joseph put it, “Your physical life serves your mental life. It serves your family life. It serves your spiritual life.” This idea reinforces that a healthy body supports a clear mind and enriches relationships.
- Stacking Activities: Instead of merely multitasking, Joseph “stacks” similar activities. Whether blending a family dinner with meaningful conversation or combining a walk with a strategic meeting, every action is designed to add value across multiple areas of life.
Lessons in Repetition and Action
We both stressed that mastery comes with time and repetition:
- The 10,000 Hour Concept: Neither of us believes that skills are perfected in a hundred hours. Every attempt, even if imperfect, builds the muscle of experience.
- Bias to Action: I shared with Joseph that “more shots on goal is better than a single perfect shot.” It’s not about one flawless action, but about taking many well-intentioned steps that refine our instincts and overall abilities.
One vivid analogy we discussed was from an art class:
- The Art Class Analogy: Imagine half the class is asked to make the perfect pot through extensive study, while the other half is graded by the number of pots they produce. Even the tenth pot produced with sheer volume can be better than one perfect attempt—illustrating that consistent effort is the true pathway to excellence.
My Second Brain: Offloading Mental Clutter
I’ve always been fascinated by Joseph’s concept of a “second brain,” a system for offloading the mental clutter that fills our finite RAM. Using tools like Notion, he organizes:
- Databases for Life’s Details: From tasks and events to personal connections, every piece of information is captured in an easily searchable format.
- Tagging Relationships and Events: He even extends this system into a personal CRM, tagging interactions by areas such as physical, mental, or spiritual, ensuring that nothing—and no one—is lost in the shuffle.
This approach is a game-changer for me. Instead of trying to remember every detail, I can pull up information about past interactions effortlessly, making my engagements both personally meaningful and professionally effective.
Integration and Stewardship
A recurring theme in our conversation was stewardship—caring for our resources, relationships, and time as a sacred trust:
- Holistic Integration: I’ve always believed that life isn’t split between “work” and “life.” With Joseph, we see these as intertwined parts of a greater whole, each designed to serve and enrich the other.
- Stewardship of Time and Relationships: By building systems that capture both tangible tasks and intangible connections, we can serve others—and ourselves—more effectively. This isn’t about creating extra work; it’s about making every moment count.
Final Thoughts
Reflecting on our discussion, here are the key takeaways that I carry with me:
- Offload Your Mental RAM: Use a system to capture ideas, tasks, and interactions, so you can remain present.
- Embrace Imperfection Through Volume: Understand that taking many imperfect actions is the true pathway to mastery.
- Design Your Life Holistically: View your life as a series of interconnected parts, each meant to serve the other, and intentionally design your time to reflect that balance.
Joseph and I hope our conversation serves as a blueprint for living exceptionally—where the pursuit of excellence in business is intertwined with personal growth and meaningful relationships. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the grand design of a well-lived life.
Listen to the full episode on the Exceptional Companies Podcast to hear more about these ideas and discover how you can start designing your own exceptional life.
AND MORE TOPICS COVERED IN THE FULL INTERVIEW!!! You can check that out and subscribe to Youtube.
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