How Morning Journaling Shapes Entrepreneurial Clarity and Vision

Morning reflections often serve as my compass, a mechanism to recalibrate my day. Yet, as I sit with my steaming mug of coffee, I realize that my journal has been untouched for days. Life has a notorious way of mimicking an unpredictable whirlwind—even for someone like me, who thrives in the organized chaos of entrepreneurship. A cancelled entry here, a postponed one there, and suddenly days have passed. Perhaps the recent buzz from relocating my apartment and onboarding new team members has unraveled my routine, or maybe it’s the fervor of launching our community. Regardless of the reasons, I am reminded: even brief moments spent in introspection could have lent clarity to this chaos.

There’s a sacredness to my morning ritual of journaling—a minimum viable commitment to myself. By simply recording my thoughts consistently, I am grounding myself amidst daily tumult. Herein lies a lesson perennial to every entrepreneur: avoid the allure of busyness by prioritizing what is truly important—our mindset. It seems simple in theory, but in our rapidly accelerating world, this becomes an elusive predator, stalking the unprepared.

Two crucial elements underpin this mindset. The first—the fitness of the mind. At the gym, we exert ourselves physically, but seldom do we afford the same diligence to the internal landscape of our minds. Just as muscles require rest, so too does the psyche demand focus, intention, and above all, vision. Vision—it’s the difference between wandering aimlessly and purposeful wandering. It steers us towards our destination while rest fuels the journey.

In 2018, at the Global Leadership Academy—a congregation of entrepreneurial minds—I was presented this wisdom firsthand. Warren Rustand, alongside Malik Mohammed and George Gan, orchestrated a symphony of discovery over five days with 50 Founders from across the globe. Warren imparted three immutable tenets: clarity of vision, certainty in intention, and the steadfast power of values. These guideposts, he assured, will navigate us true. Neglect them, and the path diverges into the unknown.

I also embraced a simple yet transformative practice: the 10-10-10 routine. This routine has variants, yet its essence resonates—10 minutes of gratitude, 10 minutes of journaling, and 10 minutes of consuming positivity. It’s an anthem I strive to play each morning. On the days I adhere, the world feels pliable; on others, chaos demands attention. Journaling my top three priorities and outlining my day fortifies me against the storm of urgency—an urgency we feel, yet doesn’t often serve us.

Warren, who served 7 USA Presidents, shared with us that Gerald Ford’s time was meticulously divided into 15-minute windows. Though not presidents ourselves, the lesson applies universally—time is our most valuable currency. Recognizing its worth compels us to optimize every available moment.

Which brings me to another facet of modern mindset—the AI-first approach. In marrying a clear vision, a structured plan, and our core values, identifying where artificial intelligence can supplement our journey becomes paramount. If saving a minute within each task propels us closer to our ambitions, the collaboration is invaluable. Thanks, Raj Goodman, for opening my eyes to this potential.

Today, I reaffirm my commitment to journaling—not just for its cathartic release but as the foundation upon which my aspirations are built. This document—well, these thoughts—are bricks being laid for something larger, a blueprint that may one day culminate in a book sharing these lessons.

Until tomorrow.