Setting yourself up for success before big changes

Remember that feeling of the first day of school?

• Butterflies in your stomach

• Excitement in the air

• And hoping you don’t trip on your way in! 🥲

Well, that’s me today!

I’m officially starting my MBA program!

The more I dive into the program details, the more excited I get.

But let me tell you, the full-time schedule is no joke!

It's definitely going to put my energy and time management skills to the test! 😅

I’m certain this experience will shape the lessons and stories I share with you in this newsletter.

And today, I’m kicking off with one of those lessons:

Starting something new is never easy.
Especially, without preparation.

• So, how did I gear up for this major transition?

• What systems did I put in place?

• What’s my S.E.C.R.E.T?

Keep reading to get the answers.

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Before we begin: Here’s what you might have missed last week…

Big idea #1: Questions to ask yourself before starting something new

“Omg, how will I manage it all? 😫” is the default question that creeps up when you are about to begin something new.

And then it spirals:

• “This is too much”

• “I am already exhausted”

• “I guess I have to choose one: success, health, or relationships?”

Sounds familiar?

This happens because…

The quality of your questions dictates the quality of your thoughts.

That’s why I recommend starting with better questions.

• Prompt higher-quality thinking

• Strategize your success without burnout

• Get ahead, because only high performers do this

Start with the right questions.👇

1. What’s my WHY that will carry me up the mountain?

My “why” is simple. Most of my decisions are backed by one or all of these:

• To grow.

• To serve.

• To enjoy.

If I were to expand on my decision to join this program without getting into too much detail, I’d say:

“I want to grow into the best CEO and leader I can be. I want to coach Founders to become the best CEOs and leaders at their firms. I want to achieve a level of success where, years from now, I’m helping people realize dreams I can’t even imagine today.“

(Yes, that’s me not going into too much detail 🥲)

I recommend you dig deeper to uncover the big strategic vision driving these changes in your life.

Because the struggle is guaranteed, but you can summon your best when you remind yourself of your mission.

2. What do I need to drop/stop doing?

Time and attention are limited resources.

Adding (+) something new to your plate means (-) something else has to come off.

For me, this means:

• Graduating most of my clients last month.

• Pivoting my business strategy to part-time.

• “Have you seen the last season of __?” No.

• And putting more optimized systems in place…

Which brings me to the next question.👇

3. What systems do I need to put in place?

I looooove systems.

So, taking them next-level this season is a fun task.

For me, there are two main areas to consider:

1. Business systems

2. Life maintenance systems

In business:

→ If I were able to spend only 4 hours a week on my business, what systems would I need to put in place?

• Streamlining my content creation process.

• Outsourcing what can be outsourced.

• Setting up automations.

If I find myself failing or burning out, it doesn’t mean I suck. It means my systems need improvement. This mindset is key.

Life maintenance:

→ What are all life maintenance activities I handle daily/weekly, and how can I build better systems around them?

It’s all about batching the decisions that I have to make every day.

Want to hear my S.E.C.R.E.T. to streamlined life maintenance?

Keep reading!

4. Where will I need to set stronger boundaries?

This one’s key.

For me:

• Limiting time on social media to stay focused on what truly matters.

• Making “no” my default response to random social events and only attending if I truly have the desire, time, and energy.

• Revisiting this question every week to stay aligned with my constantly changing environment.

5. How can I replenish my energy and release negativity in the moment?

One thing is certain:

The struggle is inevitable.

• It may be a challenge to adapt to a new schedule.

• It may be frustrating to deal with competing priorities.

• It may be difficult to rely on others to succeed (e.g., during group assignments).

But it’s also clear:

The unexpected is to be expected.

So how will I bounce back?

I’ll apply every single tip I’ve shared here:

Big idea #2: My life maintenance S.E.C.R.E.T.

Decision-making fatigue will drive me to burnout if I don’t proactively put systems in place to avoid it.

How?

By batching the decisions I am making every day.

• What should I eat?

• What should I wear?

• What workout should I do?

What if I could just make these decisions once a week and not every day?

That’s how my S.E.C.R.E.T. was built.

I break it down into 6 key areas to address each on Sunday for the weak ahead:

S - Sleep optimization

• Setting an alarm for when to wake up is nothing new.

• But I also need to set an alarm for when to go to bed. And make the timing as consistent as possible.

• Checking if I have social events that will delay my regular bedtime & mentally preparing for it. (I am obsessed with my sleep 👵)

E - Exercise

• When will I have time for longer training sessions?

• The rest of the days → 20-minute workout.

• Next, what exactly will I do during them?

C - Connections

• Relationship management becomes key during busy season.

• Not to lose touch with my friends, I need to make sure I schedule those dates into my calendar.

• Also, I need to coordinate the time to call my parents.

R - Ready routine & Wardrobe

• This one is something I have optimized before by buying 20 black t-shirts (thank you, Steve Jobs) and rotating through them.

• This time around, I’ll have to be more prepared and choose my outfits for the entire week ahead. And it has to be something other than a black t-shirt. It has to be something my European mother would approve of. 🥲 

• And also keep in mind if I have any presentations or events coming up.

E - Eating well

• Meal prep is key for me because I prioritize nutrition and instantly feel the negative impact of random takeout food on my energy. Such energy tradeoff for convenience I can’t afford during a busy season.

• First, I had to put together a directory of recipes to then pick and choose from.

• Now, every weekend, I’ll select the recipes, order groceries, and dedicate a few hours for meal prepping all of those meals for the week ahead.

T - Tidying & Chores

• This is something that could be outsourced.

• But even then, don’t make decisions around it when you need it, make them in advance anticipating the need. (Maybe even once a month for the month ahead)

• If you are dividing them between family members, also be clear on the responsibilities, deadlines and definition of what “tidy” and “clean” looks like.

Make all of these decisions once during the weekend and leave full mental capacity for important things during the week.

Big idea #3: Make time for your non-negotiables

Non-negotiables are the habits that are formed on the basis of your life philosophy and life principles.

(We were just talking about this stuff at my mastermind. I am a fan.)

These are the things that you believe will help you summon your best on as many days as possible. Which is required especially during the busy season.

So, here’s the biggest one for me:

I am in charge of my energy.
It’s not something I ‘have’.
I am the one to generate it.

Sure, I may not be in control if I get sick one day.

But if I am sick for days and weeks, it means I’m not doing the work.

Specifically, it means I am forgetting something from my non-negotiable list below:

• Quality sleep (7 hours on most days)

• Nutrition (3 nutrient-dense meals per day)

• Hydration (I take my water bottle everywhere)

• Movement (20-minute workout every day at a minimum)

• Quiet time/introspection (20 min daily at minimum)

• Relationships (because it’s my energy amplifier):

  • Breakfast with my spouse daily is a non-negotiable

  • At least one dinner per week where we reconnect

  • At least one phone call per week with my parents

These are built into my daily schedule. (except hydration)

What are your non-negotiables?

And when will you make time for them every day?

The Productivist Challenge: Batch your daily life maintenance decisions

Did you like my S.E.C.R.E.T. model?

You don’t have to start with the whole thing.

However, here’s a powerful tip:

Take one (hopefully the most time-consuming) daily decision, and batch it. Make all seven decisions for the week in one go.

For example, if you're working out:

• Pre-plan all your workouts for the week ahead

• Decide what exercises you'll do (sets & reps)

• Even plan out what you’ll wear

Feel the difference when you just execute, without the mental drain of figuring out your plan each day.

It's like giving your future self a gift of time and focus.

The Productivist Question:

Even if you are not starting anything new soon, we are onto the last 4 months of the year.

There’s still enough time to make it the best year ever. 

That’s why I’d love it if you reflect on these questions & implement the choices you make into your life.

1. What’s my WHY that will carry me up the mountain?

2. What do I need to drop/stop doing?

3. What systems do I need to put in place?

4. Where will I need to set stronger boundaries?

5. How can I replenish my energy and release negativity in the moment?

6. What are your non-negotiables? And when will you make time for them every day?

I absolutely loved writing about this topic for you, so I hope you found it valuable as well.

Wish you a beautiful week ahead,

Valeriya

PS: Are you going through a big life change as well? Let me know by hitting reply or DMing me on LinkedIn!

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