What do Barack Obama, Batman, and my Thursday afternoon calendar have in common?
They all make sure they shape how the week begins before it begins. Batman Begins.
Obama, during his presidency, always scheduled preview meetings on Fridays. He wanted to walk into Monday with a clear sense of the week ahead, not spend half of Monday figuring it out. That one shift made his admittedly high pressure role slightly more manageable. He did wear a tan suit that one time.
Batman does not wait for Gotham to catch fire. He is in the cave ahead of time, prepping intel, choosing tools, lining up the plan. He shows up Monday night ready, not reactive.
And me? If I skip my close out ritual, Monday morning hits like a freight train. But when I take 30 minutes to reflect, finish strong, and preload next week’s top priorities, I start with clarity instead of chaos.
To be clear, I used to do this on Sunday night, but I hated it. It made me feel like my whole weekend was just waiting for next week. By moving it to the end of the work week, Thursday for me, I can stroll into the weekend like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The sequel we always wanted and never got. The opposite of The Fast and Furious in space.
Because the truth is:
Mondays only feel overwhelming when you have not done the work to take control of them.
Let’s fix that in three parts.
Part One: Close the Loop
Before you log off for the week, do this:
Review your calendar. What did not get done? Why?
Scan your task list. What is still hanging? Can it wait, or does it need to be rescheduled now?
Ask, “What did I learn this week?” Even if it was just that you scheduled eight back to back Zoom calls again and should not do it. We have all done it. Sometimes I still do it.
You are not just wrapping up the week. You are clearing runway for next week to take off.
Part Two: Preload Your Week
Once you have closed out the week, take 10 extra minutes to look forward:
What are your top three priorities for next week?
When will you do each one? Put it on the calendar or it will not happen. Pro tip: have your EA schedule it for you.
Where are your blocks for being a CEO, doing your workout, being present for family dinner, and taking five minutes for your sanity?
Do not leave Monday up to the Monday version of you. That person is groggy and already has 87 notifications, 100 emails, and 27 Facebook messages. All spam, but they exist.
Set Monday you up for success.
Part Three: Attack the Week, Not Just Monday
Look, Monday is just a name on the calendar. In many countries, the weekend is Friday and Saturday.
Your week could start Sunday, Tuesday, or on the flight back from your cousin’s wedding.
The point is not the day. The point is the intention. I call it Monday. You choose what it is.
Treat that time like it is sacred. No calls. No random emails. Just you working your plan and a team supporting you along the way.
Start with clarity and momentum, not someone else’s emergency.
The Fix: Give CEO You the Keys
Mondays get better when you:
Close the week with intention
Preload your priorities
Attack the week on your own terms
If you want help structuring your CEO calendar, I have our ideal month worksheet and a podcast episode that walks you through the whole process. It has already helped hundreds of law firm owners like you go from reacting to other people’s emergencies to intentionally designing the life they want.
Because you did not start your own business to hate Mondays.
You started it to own your time.
Next week we are sharing our best newsletters of the year.
Until then, take 30 minutes today to close out your week with intention and preload Monday like a boss.