I’ve been thinking about the concept of ‘Covert leadership.’ I don't believe it's very well understood. My goal is to influence my team in a way that encourages them to take initiative without them realizing I am leading. Instead of explicitly instructing employees on what to do, I focus on creating situations where they naturally align with my objectives. Here’s an extremely brief explanation of what I mean. I might provide further explanation tomorrow because tonight I’m exhausted. (Depends on if people are interested) For instance, rather than telling my employees to foster relationships with one another, I take the following approach: 1. I invest time in understanding each employee's interests. 2. By identifying common interests among team members, I can create opportunities for interaction. 3. I create “coincidental scenarios” where I intentionally bring together individuals with shared interests to facilitate meaningful conversations. Often, this occurs organically. For example, if I notice that two employees, Matt and Austin, are not engaging in conversation, I might initiate a discussion about Formula 1, knowing that both are passionate about the sport. Similarly, if I observe Lindsay and Carly both pack their own lunches, I might ask about their meal preparations—whether they prep their meals the night before or in the morning and how much money they save by making their own lunches. This dialogue often leads to broader conversations that deepen their connection. As a result, I can confidently anticipate that the next time Lindsay and Carly share a lunchroom, they will engage in conversation. I’ve just realized how long this is, so I’ll stop here. If anyone would like examples of how I create these scenarios inorganically just let me know. (I’ve got much more complex examples)

Work-life balance is relative to individual circumstances. For some, "balance" may mean dedicating 95% of their waking hours to achieving their goals. They might push themselves to the point of burnout after 10 days, take a day or two off, and then jump right back into their work. If this describes you, understand that you're part of a rare group, but this example highlights that balance looks different for everyone. Take, for example, a 23-year-old research student who spends nearly all his time in the lab. For him, this intense focus might be fulfilling, and he genuinely enjoys it. However, for most people, there are social needs that come with being human. Personally, I used to view these needs as a weakness, but I've come to realize they are an essential part of our nature. Once I accepted that, I found that while I worked fewer hours, my output improved because I was able to optimize my abilities. In the long term, I believe this is the best recipe for success, but it requires significant introspection. You need to consistently assess how passionate you are about what you're doing. You might love your work, but after several months of long hours, your productivity can begin to decline. Consciously, you may believe you're still passionate about your job, but unconsciously, you may start to resent it simply because of the repetitive focus. To clarify with an example: you may truly love your spouse, but would you want to spend 14 hours a day with them for six months straight? You can substitute "spouse" with anything—whether it’s sports, fashion, or technology. Too much of anything can lead to diminishing returns, even if it's something you love. BUT THAT’S DEPENDENT ON WHO YOU ARE. Also, once you assess what your passions are in life, you can start to balance them, e.g., work, family, friends, hobbies

To be One Man with the Presence of an Army.