Minute With Mallon: The 60-Second Question That Changes Your Entire Workday!
Welcome to Minute with Mallon!
Something I Taught:
While working with one of my clients last week, he told me that every morning when he sits down at his desk he asks himself "Why am I here today?" And he has a short conversation with himself. Am I here just because the doors are open, or am I here for a purpose? And what is that purpose today?
We both kind of laughed, but then I realized what a wise question that was for him to ask.
That question helps him create intentionality instead of just going into autopilot mode.
Most leaders show up to work and immediately react to:
Emails
Fires
Meetings
Other people’s priorities
This question forces them to pause and ask:
“What actually matters today?”
👉 It shifts them from reactive to intentional leadership.
So for the next five days, before you open email or take your first call, pause and ask yourself, “Why am I here today?” Then write down the one thing that would make today meaningful — and protect time for it.
And actually, do that first! This could truly become one of the most important leadership habits you ever build.
Something to Ponder:
“If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success.”
James Cameron
Something I Learned:
Sweet and Sour Summers
Chris Sacca, the venture capitalist and early investor in companies like Uber, once shared a story he calls “Sweet and Sour Summers.”
Growing up, his parents wanted him to experience very different kinds of work. One summer, they split his time in half. For the first part, he worked with a cousin who was a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.—sitting in meetings, pitching congressmen, taking notes, and learning how to tell a compelling story. He loved it.
For the second half of the summer, he worked for a friend of his dad who owned a construction company. He was the lowest guy on the totem pole, doing the dirtiest jobs—including cleaning out sewage trucks. It was hard, uncomfortable work.
Those two experiences taught him something powerful: hard work matters—but so does clarity about the kind of work you want to pursue.
If you’re a parent, there’s wisdom here. All three of my sons worked tough jobs as teenagers, and I’m convinced those experiences shaped their work ethic and their direction. Don’t protect your kids from hard work. It may be one of the greatest gifts you give them.
Something I Saw:
Thanks Luke!
Help a friend—send them this link: RobertMallon.com/Newsletter
Hope you have an incredible week!
Robert
