I Got (Daily) Rhythm

Although just 38 when he died, he’s hailed as America’s greatest composer.

He’s famous for classics like “Rhapsody in Blue” and “An American in Paris.”

But the George Gershwin song that inspires me today is “I Got Rhythm,” the smash hit penned back in 1930. The catchy lyrics pose the question, “Who can ask for anything more?” Indeed. Finding that essential rhythm in our lives is still good advice, especially for those of us who are creating a legacy each day.

It’s fitting that Gershwin loved jazz, because I learned an enormously valuable lesson on the importance of rhythm from — you guessed it — a jazz band.

An Unexpected Lesson

Back in the early 90s, I met Verne Harnish, founder of the Gazelles organization and author of The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time and Scaling Up. For over 25 years, our relationship has had a profound impact on my life. Launching the Detroit Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), and co-founding The CEO Advantage reflect my lifelong commitment to learn from Verne.

While I was preparing to sell my furniture dealership in 1998, Verne asked me, “What are you going to do next?” He then proposed that we work together, and I become the first coach in his program that has since evolved into the Gazelles International coaching organization with over 140 coaches worldwide.

It was in his book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits, that Verne solidified the concept of “meeting rhythms.” This is his game plan to ensure companies take time to develop strategies and execute plans.

It was around then that I attended an educational event at Disney World with EO. The keynote speaker, Judson Green, CEO of Disney Attractions Worldwide, clarified the power of rhythm with a live demonstration I’ll never forget. Green floored the audience by actually playing live with his jazz ensemble. He demonstrated how rhythm and an underlying beat work together to make music, regardless if you’re in a jazz ensemble or an executive team.

The Power of Rhythms

The key to a band (or leadership team) being successful is twofold: First, you must encourage fresh thinking and risk-taking by allowing for improvisation. Second, you need the discipline and structure to come back into harmony together after spending time apart jamming on your own instrument (or corporate initiative) in a predefined meeting rhythm. Finding this rhythm, this groove, allows players and decision makers to align and get back into sync and harmony.

Verne’s innovative teaching (and Green’s toe-tapping demo) inspired me to mentor my clients about the power of the right meeting rhythms. It was well received. Then it dawned on me — applying the same cadence of music or meeting rhythms would be equally valuable when applied to my own life! This rhythmic experiment has since evolved into what I call Daily Alignment.

My Morning Rhythm

Here’s how it works: I set aside 90 minutes each workday morning (I take weekends and holidays off). When I wake up, typically without an alarm, I follow this rhythm…

• Prayer

• Exercise (first set)

• Daily inspiration (I read from two books every morning)

• Write or journal

• Exercise (second set)

• Read Bible

• Write or journal

• Exercise (third set)

• Read AA literature (or similar)

• Read business book

• Write or journal

• Write a thank-you note to client, family, or friend

• Spend 20 minutes writing or editing a blog post

• Meditate (optional, some mornings)

This rhythm happens daily before placing or responding to any emails, phone calls, or texts. The only reason I check my phone when I wake up is to make sure no last-minute change has occurred with a client. Otherwise, all media content is ignored until after the morning rhythm. I do this without exception unless I take what Dan Sullivan refers to as a “free day” (when I’m not conducting work).

The benefit of this rhythm is multifold. Above all, I’m starting off the day on the right foot. As Stephen Covey famously said in The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, the first habit of success is “doing first things first.” This rhythm reinforces my life priorities: first is God, second is health, third are relationships, and fourth is my career (or what I identity as my vocation — my “calling”).

I’m a morning person, so I dedicate my best hours to the top priorities in my life as documented in my Legacy Map. Whether you’re playing a quick tune or a full-length symphony, getting the first notes correct is essential to a great performance. This morning rhythm sets up the first crucial notes in the song of my day. I’m far more likely to make good music (and not noise) if I play these simple but crucial opening notes right. I will feel in alignment. In harmony. I will feel prepared and focused. These are the same things I teach clients about corporate meeting rhythms.

My Evening Rhythm

I also have an evening ritual. I take about 15 minutes to reflect on that day and send out my Daily Update to a small circle of friends. Each email includes:

• My top three lifetime priorities (what I accomplished that day to move me closer to my goal)

• Three things I am grateful for today (any three accomplishments, learnings, insights that I want to acknowledge publicly)

• My top three priorities for tomorrow (the three things I will judge success by)

Then, after my wife and I get in bed, I recite my Exponential Future out loud. This detailed vision predicts and informs what our lives will be like on a specific date (in my case July 1, 2026) and keeps us on track to get there.

Basically, I am bookending my day. It’s an opening and a closing, an overture and a finale. The first riff and the last cymbal. In between, there’s plenty of room for experimenting. As Gershwin said, “Jazz is like life. It’s best when you improvise.”

That’s what rhythm is all about.