When I was in college, my campus pastor, now my mentor of over 40 years, shared with me the “power of those big 30 minutes.” The concept is simple - we have lots of times in our days, weeks, lives where there is a break in the action. It’s time between meetings or driving to/from work or waiting for dinner to come out of the oven. You know where your 30 minute gaps are in your world. And if instead of just scrolling on our phone, we were intentional about what we did with those thirty minutes, it could have significant impact in our lives and that of others as well. So, what about taking the 30 minutes to pray, call a friend, exercise, journal, power nap or read an article or the next chapter in the book you are reading.
If you are a regular reader of Church Leader Insider, you know that I am a junky for all things around leadership development, managing time, creating efficiency, etc. In a recent Google search for some insights on “habits,” I came across an article about the “5-hour Rule.” I figured if the big 30 minutes principle could have an impact, that a 5-hour rule had to be even better. You can read the full article here and/or take a look at some of the ideas below.
The foundational principle is that “many leaders try and set aside at least an hour a day for things they deliberately practice or learning - what the article’s author, Michael Simmons calls the “5-hour rule.” Simmons spent the better part of a year studying the personal habits of high profile leaders like Elon Musk, Bill Gates and others. over and over again, he discovered that these leaders, despite being extremely busy, set aside at least an hour a day (or five hours a week) for activities considered deliberate practice or learning.
So what did these leaders do with those 5 hours? Simmons research found that the activities fell into three buckets - reading, reflecting, experimenting.
Reading
Warren Buffett spends 5-6 hours a day reading five newspapers and 500 pages of corporate reports. Bill Gates reads 50 books a year. Elon Musk grew up reading two books a day. I confess I am also a reading junky. Most weeks I order at least one book from Amazon and I always have 3-4 books in process. Morning begins with coffee on the patio and at least an hour of reading Scripture, devotional materials and then on to a wide variety of literature including business, leadership and a recent favorite - brain science.
What about you? What is your reading habit? Any favorite books that you are reading now or come back to year after year?
Reflecting
This bucket carries a large variety of options. Some of the leaders referenced devoted 3-5 hours a week just wandering. Others have scheduled think time on their calendar, where they do nothing besides, well think. They think about the past, the present and the future. They think about work, family, community. Other put thinking into motion putting pen to paper or stylus to screen to journal. I have to admit this is the hardest one for me. I have a hard time turning off “my doer, maximizer, achiever” long enough to really reflect deeply. Seeing as how we are close to the end of 2024 and headed into a new year, perhaps this will be my new years resolution … again.
What about you? Have you discovered rhythms of reflection that stimulate your mind, refresh your soul?
Experiencing/Experimenting
If you study the great inventors of our world, you would discover that much of their success was a result of great experiences/experimentation. Simmons noted that Ben Franklin set aside time throughout his life for experimentation and master-minding with other leaders. I loved the discovery that Franklin’s experimentation was often done in community. That’s where my best learning comes as well - in relationship with others that are on the same or similar journey. In fact that is what I have given much of my life to in ministry. Creating environments, designing experiences where leaders gather to learn together in community.
If you are intrigued by the option of experiencing leadership and experimenting in community, I would encourage you to consider applying for one of our LeadWell Cohorts.
The wisdom of well seasoned mentors and expert resources from multiple disciplines empower participants to tackle some of the most pressing issues and opportunities of our time. This collaborative community helps leaders bust through their leadership lids and create plans for accelerated results.
The groups are full for the fall, and the spring groups are filling fast. For more information on one of the following cohorts check out the overviews located here. If you sign up and pay by January 16, you will receive a $500 discount.
Leadwell Senior Pastors Finishing Well
Leadwell Senior Pastors - Next Gen
Note: Cohorts are by application only. If you're interested, contact me at greg@ligongroup.com or schedule a call here.
Last week, I wrapped up work with a great church in Chicago and also signed a new contract. Our 2025 calendars are beginning to fill.
I’m excited to partner with Dave to bring the Pastor Smart Succession process to support you and your church as you enter the succession zone. We’ll walk with you each step of the way, helping you shape a “framed fit” for your future.
If you’re beginning to consider what’s next, I’d love to connect, learn more about your needs, and share how we can assist. You can shoot me an email at greg@ligongroup.com or you can schedule a call here.