Read Time: 4 min

What’s in this week’s newsletter:

• 🌄 The Challenge: Why mornings matter for leaders.

• 🧠 Mind, Body, Soul: A framework for intentional mornings.

• 🎯 Five practical steps to own your day before it starts.

The Idea: The Leader's Playbook for a Great Day

If you’ve spent any time online recently, you’ve probably been bombarded with advice about how to “win the morning.”

The formula often sounds like this: wake up at 4 a.m., climb a mountain, fight a lion, take a cold plunge, journal for two hours, and then begin your day.

Let’s be real: mornings don’t have to be that complicated. But they do matter.

Mornings set the tone for your day. Most people approach them accidentally, letting the morning happen to them. The best leaders, however, approach mornings intentionally.

The 3 Pillars of an Intentional Morning

At BETTER, we help leaders think about their mornings with purpose by addressing three key areas:

1. Mind: Prime your focus and mental clarity.

   Example: Spend 5 minutes reviewing your top priorities for the day.

2. Body: Energize and prepare your physical self.

   Example: Take a 10-minute walk or stretch to wake up your body.

3. Soul: Connect with your purpose or calm your spirit.

   Example: Quiet reflection, meditation, or gratitude journaling.

While we don’t think you have to accomplish all of these things in the morning, we do think there are simple things you can do each day to add intention to your self-leadership, which then impacts the leadership of your team.

Anecdote: A Morning That Shaped a Legacy

Kobe Bryant was famous for his morning routine. He’d often wake up at 4 a.m. to train before others were awake. There is story after story of a fellow teammate or trainee trying to beat Kobe to the gym in the morning only to realize Kobe had already completed multiple workouts by the time they arrived.

Now, we aren’t advocating for a 4 A.M. wake-up. Remember, we are the “the best gift you can give your team is a healthy, inspired you” guys. 😄 

This is why we made the internet joke above. If you do too much, your morning can drain your rest and energy rather than fuel it.

While much has been made of Kobe's intensity of workouts, the purpose and intentionality were just as essential. Kobe didn’t just roll out of bed and hope for a productive day—he had a plan to address his mind, body, and soul.

His routine was as much about mental preparation as it was about physical training. By being intentional every morning, he laid the groundwork for a legendary career and proved that how you start your day matters.

Research Insight: The Power of Morning Routines

A study published in the British Journal of Psychology (2021) found that participants who followed a consistent morning routine experienced lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone) throughout the day.

The research highlighted three key activities that had the most significant impact:

• Mindfulness practices (e.g., journaling or meditation) reduced anxiety and improved focus.

• Physical movement (e.g., a short walk or light workout) boosted energy and mood.

• Self-affirmation (e.g., gratitude journaling or positive self-talk) enhanced emotional resilience and optimism.

Leaders who started their day with these intentional activities reported better decision-making, improved team interactions, and an increased sense of control over their day.

Practical Takeaways: Building Your Intentional Morning

Your challenge this week is to create a morning plan that nourishes your mind, body, and soul. Here are five simple steps:

1. Start Small: Keep your routine simple and achievable. A 20-minute routine might include a 10-minute walk, 5 minutes of journaling, and 5 minutes of gratitude.

2. Choose Your "Mind" Activity: Feed your mind with something positive. Options include reading a book, listening to a podcast, or writing affirmations.

3. Move Your Body: Physical activity doesn’t have to be intense. A short walk, a quick stretch, or light exercise can invigorate you for the day ahead.

4. Feed Your Soul: Take a moment to connect with what grounds you. This could mean prayer, meditation, deep breathing, or gratitude journaling.

5. Make It Repeatable: The key is consistency. Choose activities that fit seamlessly into your life, and commit to doing them daily.

Why It Matters:

Being intentional with your mornings sets the tone for your entire day. It’s an investment in yourself that pays dividends in your leadership. When you begin your day with clarity, focus, and energy, you’re better equipped to engage with your work and lead your people.

So, what will your morning routine look like this week? Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be intentional.

This edition of the newsletter is brought to you by Nike!

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BETTER’s Solution to Coach Development

As a part of our work, we lead cohorts of leaders. It’s just one meeting a month with a topic, some homework, and sharing about how it’s going. But it’s powerful. Many of the coaches and leaders in our cohort express the following sentiment:

“I wish every coach got to experience this on some level.”

So, we thought, why can’t they?

As a part of what’s next for BETTER.

We are launching a community around the Culture Playbook.

Until now, the Culture Playbook has been something you buy and then get. We wanted it to be so good and affordable that every coach in the country could access it.

From now on, leaders will receive the Culture Playbook as part of a guided community led by Kevin and Seth.

If you’ve enjoyed our newsletter, imagine a community where we will take you and others through a deeper level of how to install the systems for yourself, athletes, or other coaches. You can ask us questions directly. We can guide and share discussions, share ideas, and get feedback.

We will host monthly calls, and every coach will have direct access to us. We will lead guided discussions and encourage coaches and ADs to share best practices. We want it to become the absolute best resource for all things Culture Development, both at the program and department levels. Over time, we will continue to add content, resources, and offerings. You’ll get discounts on future products that the public won’t get. And no, the price is not changing.

We’re targeting a public launch in early January, offering newsletter readers early access and a 25% discount. Fill out the form using the link below, and we’ll send you a link to get started.