I recently finished reading A Day Makes the Year (Makes the Life) by Doug Fleener. This book was profound in its simplicity and inspiration. Borne of his recovery from drugs and alcohol 37 years ago, Fleener outlines daily productivity hacks across six key themes:
- The day
- Responsibility
- Intentionality
- Practicing relentless simplicity
- Giving to get
- Daily improvement
Whether it’s in my running, coaching, football or professional work, I’ve always been drawn to discipline and performance. Yet I’ve never quite managed to embed high-performance behaviours over the long term. I’m 80% of the way there, but often find myself stuck in static routines rather than a cycle of continuous improvement.
This book offered clues for breaking through that ceiling. Starting a consultancy has demanded immense self-control, and Fleener’s reflections provide a practical guide to the discipline required to build a business. Here are some thoughts that resonated with me:
Frame It as the Day
Framing your life through the prism of the day is a powerful shift. When you’re no longer working in structured employment, blocks of unstructured time can be daunting. Stacking unproductive days together without intention or measurable results can negatively impact confidence.
Now, I start each morning by setting up my day in a journal—writing down the type of person I want to be as a consultant, father, and partner. I layer in the other principles: intentionality, responsibility, simplicity, and kindness. This daily frame has been a game changer.
Taking Responsibility
I’ve always taken responsibility for my actions—but resentment and victimhood have at times held me back. A particular experience in my public sector career dimmed my flame and blocked my career aspirations. While I pivoted my skillset successfully, I struggled to forgive and forget.
My progress as a consultant now depends on anchoring myself in the present—where those past people and events are irrelevant. True responsibility includes letting go of what no longer serves you.
Intentional Actions
Building a consultancy requires purposeful activity: content creation, marketing, learning, writing. At the same time, relationships with those I love require intentional care.
In the past, I might record “visit Mum” in my diary. I’d do it, but without connecting it to a broader sense of who I want to be. Now, I frame that visit as time to be a better son. This shift helps me show up more fully and meaningfully.
Practice Relentless Simplicity
Much of my career in the NSW public sector was clouded by unnecessary complexity—not true complexity, but the kind that’s mistaken for sophistication.
Manufactured complexity is a drag on high performance. Practicing simplicity means asking:
- What are we really trying to achieve?
- What’s the point of this meeting?
- How can I explain this clearly and simply?
Relentless simplicity is deeply human—and powerful. It reflects real intelligence, and people appreciate it.
Improve Things Daily
There’s a strong link between change management and continuous improvement. The Japanese industrial miracle (1950–1970) was built on this principle—change at the site, by the worker. That means you and me are best placed to drive our own improvement.
Fleener talks about “streaks”—small daily wins that build momentum. I’ve been tracking my running over the past few months, logging times and heart rate. I’ve now run two courses a combined 105 times—about five to six times per week. Seeing this record in my journal is a huge motivator.
I’m also experimenting with time management by chunking work into focused 50-minute blocks. Another streak in the making.
Giving to Get
I devote five to ten hours each week to volunteer as a football coach. There’s no financial reward, but it brings immense personal and professional returns. I’m known in my community as a builder of people, mentor, and coach.
This work has sharpened my professional identity, shaped my elevator pitch, and even informed my service offerings. It’s also made everyday acts of giving—coffee for my partner, support for colleagues, time with friends—more natural and fulfilling.
The Journal as a Tool for Growth
Fleener emphasizes journaling—morning and night. In the morning, you frame your intentions for the day. In the evening, you reflect:
- Did I act on my intentions?
- Am I better today than yesterday?
- How can I improve tomorrow?
This simple ritual has a powerful compound effect. Over time, the journal becomes both a mirror and a map.
How I Can Help
As a coach, consultant, and change practitioner, I work with people and organisations to embed high-performance behaviours, simplify complexity, and reframe change as opportunity. Whether you’re leading a team or leading yourself, I’d love to support your journey.
Let’s have a conversation.
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