💡 Don't Tell Me Your Priorities...Show me your calendar!

I once had a client, a senior executive, who was feeling completely burned out. “My family is my number one priority,” he told me with conviction, “but I feel like I never see them. Work just consumes everything.”

We talked about his values, his goals, and the future he wanted to build. He spoke about being more present for his kids and reconnecting with his wife. The intention was crystal clear and deeply felt. 

But then I asked him to pull up his calendar. We saw a different story. It was a wall of back-to-back meetings, late-night calls, and work-related travel. His stated priority was family, but his schedule screamed “work.”

There’s a powerful saying that goes, “Don't tell me your priorities, show me your calendar.” It’s a bit blunt, but it holds a profound truth, in my view. We can have the best intentions in the world, but how we actually spend our time (and our money, btw! Look at your credit card bill!) reveals what we actually value.

This was a lightbulb moment for my client. Seeing the stark disconnect between his calendar and his proclaimed number one priority wasn't a moment of shame. It was a moment of (painful) aha. His calendar became a diagnostic tool. It was showing him the truth of his current system, giving him the power to consciously redesign it. He started blocking out non-negotiable family dinners, scheduling weekend activities first, and delegating meetings he didn't truly need to attend. He realigned his calendar to match his values.

So, if a complete stranger looked at your calendar from the last few weeks, with no other information about you, what would they conclude your priorities are?

Wish you well!