The world is moving fast. News cycles spin, economies shift, tech evolves by the hour. On top of that, we’re raising kids, running businesses, healing from grief, chasing goals, and trying to stay sane in a culture that rewards burnout.
So how do we stay steady?
The answer isn’t another productivity hack or shiny tool. It’s much older than that. It’s ancient, actually. It’s the principle of structure as sovereignty.
A Yellow Pad and Three Intentions
George Raveling, a Hall of Fame basketball coach and former Nike executive, once received a deceptively simple piece of advice from a mentor that transformed his approach to leadership. Faced with the overwhelming demands of managing a major division at Nike, he was told:
“Each morning, write down the three most important things you must do that day. Do nothing else until the first one is done. Then move to the second. Then the third.”
This ritual, shared in his book What You’re Made For (2023), offered more than just a productivity tip, it offered a spiritual anchor. In its simplicity, it created a space for clarity and empowered focus [Raveling, G. (2023). What You’re Made For. Painted Porch Press].
Design Beats Disorder
This mirrors what the Stoics taught over two thousand years ago. Seneca, the Roman philosopher, famously wrote, “Life without a design is erratic” a call to action for anyone feeling scattered or aimless [Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, ca. 65 AD].
Without design, life reacts. With design, life responds.
In my own practice, whether writing a chapter, managing a product launch, or navigating emotional intensity, I’ve found the same truth: clarity emerges from conscious structure. We don’t build routine to restrict our freedom, we build it to anchor our freedom in form.
The Modern-Day Ritual
Here’s a distilled version of the daily ritual I use and now teach:
- Start with silence. Before screens, sit in stillness. Breathe. Tune into your inner signal.
- Set three clear intentions. Not ten. Not twenty. Just three. Write them by hand. Ask: What truly matters today?
- Prioritise presence. Focus on the first task until complete. Then move to the next.
- Close with reflection. At day’s end, ask: What worked? What didn’t? What’s ready to evolve?
This isn’t productivity. It’s soul alignment. It’s your field architecture.
Building a New Signal
In a world drowning in distraction, structure is power. As creatives, entrepreneurs, and field-changers, we’re not just making products—we’re shaping resonance. We’re crafting clarity in chaos.
By designing our days with conscious intention, we shape not only what we do, but who we become.
Let this be your yellow pad.
Let this be your morning ritual.
Let this be your signal.
Want to go deeper? I’m developing a new framework inside Vibronetics, daily design protocols for clarity, resilience, and soul-centred success. Sign up at benbradshaw.com to stay tuned.
References:
- Raveling, G. (2023). What You’re Made For. Painted Porch Press.
- Seneca. (ca. 65 AD). Letters from a Stoic.