Seven-Day Snippets: #0001

Thoughts from the last week on money, food, productivity, finance, entertainment, and more.

It’s raining and dark outside and I have been under the weather so it is the perfect Sunday morning to share a few thoughts.

On Productivity….

For me, my most productive days start the night before. It only takes a few minutes before heading to bed to set myself up for success. Here are a few things to consider:

Pick Your Fit: Laying out clothes for the next day eases my morning routine. When my outfit is pre-selected, waking up and getting started is much smoother.

Plan to Eat: Having a meal plan for breakfast and lunch saves both time and money. Deciding on meals the night before, whether it’s packing lunch or choosing from a few dining options, streamlines my day.

Choose One Thing: I focus on selecting one achievable task that, once completed, will mark my day as successful. This task can be simple but meaningful, like paying a bill, sending an overdue email, or tidying up. Completing this one task provides a sense of accomplishment.

Line Up To-Dos: While it’s easy to get overwhelmed by a long to-do list, I aim to identify the next three to five tasks after my "one thing." This approach helps me start the day with focus without falling into the trap of over-planning.

Doing these the night before tends to prepare me for a productive day ahead.

On Reading….

One of my colleagues recommended Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. The book is a memoir that explores the importance of hospitality in the restaurant industry. Guidara's story includes his journey from a small town to co-founding one of the world's top restaurants, Eleven Madison Park in New York City. The book shares insights about leadership, teamwork, and quality service. It’s an easy read and gives some fascinating insights into the restaurant industry that can (and should) be applied to almost any business. A key quote for me was "Service is black and white; hospitality is color". Basically, service is doing your job efficiently and competently. Hospitality is making people feel great about the service you're providing.

On Money….

I've been using Rocket Money for over a year now. While the app is free, accessing its full benefits requires a monthly subscription on a pay-what-you-think-is-fair basis, starting at a minimum of $3. It offers valuable insights into spending habits, recurring expenses, and account alerts. Syncing your financial accounts is part of the setup, which might seem daunting, but I've found the app incredibly useful. It has effectively paid for itself by identifying unnoticed recurring expenses. For instance, we discovered we were double paying for Amazon Prime. After negotiating with Amazon support, we secured a $150 refund and now only pay for one plan, thanks to being linked on a family plan.

On Gratitude….

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I hope your week is filled with challenges that you can face head on. Do good things.