Will Guidara made his name in the hospitality industry as the co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, transforming it from a "good" New York restaurant to a 3 Michelin star establishment that was ranked number one on "The World's 50 Best Restaurants" list in 2017.

In his new book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, Will shares his personal memoir and manifesto, outlining his business management philosophy on the art of service.

Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Will discusses how to be intentional in the pursuit of relationships with both the people you work with and those you serve, and the impact of digging deeper to explore new creative approaches that turn ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences.
***
About the BCG Henderson Institute
The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Unreasonable Hospitality with Will Guidara

Will Guidara—an elite New York restauranteur and author—talks about his storied career as a leader in modern luxury dining, delivering service that transforms a meal into a magical experience.

Will Guidara

💡 My Most Important Productivity Tool | Monday Morning Pep Talk # 257 ✈️

Welcome to Monday Morning Pep Talk, Episode 257! Today, I’m diving into one of my most essential productivity tools: the daily planner. In an era dominated by technology—AI, calendar apps, and cloud-based CRMs—I fully embrace these digital advancements. Yet, it’s my analog approach to a daily “dress rehearsal” with my planner that brings all these tools together. This simple practice grounds me and aligns my actions with my broader goals in a way that digital tools alone can’t replicate. In this episode, I’ll share why my daily planner remains my most important productivity tool.

Before I jump in, let me remind you of my purpose: to help you, the full-service, full-fee advisor, optimize your productivity and grow into the best version of yourself. Why? Because “Happy Advisors Sell More Real Estate.” I do this by helping you navigate the daily challenges and opportunities you face in your business. So as we go through this, imagine we’re in a one-on-one coaching session—focused on elevating your approach.

Let’s get into the reasons why my daily planner is still a game-changer for my productivity:

1. Central Point of Focus: My daily planner serves as the focal point of my day. It’s where I structure and prioritize my tasks. When I’m in deep work mode, you’ll find my planner open right in front of me.

2. Creates a Sense of Satisfaction: Checking off tasks releases dopamine in the brain, leading to a sense of accomplishment. I get more satisfaction from crossing off a task on paper than clicking a box in an app. It’s my daily dopamine drip.

3. A Memorization Tool: Writing down my schedule acts as a mental “dress rehearsal.” Physically writing meetings and tasks helps me remember them, making me more consistent and punctual.

4. Declutters My Mind: Just like clearing a physical space, writing in my planner clears mental clutter. It organizes my thoughts and creates a mindful practice that enhances clarity and productivity.

5. Reduces Stress: Having everything laid out in my planner keeps me calm and in control throughout the day. By following each step, I know I’m on track, and there’s a sense of satisfaction at day’s end when I cross off the last item.

6. A Constant Reminder of My Vision: My planner includes my three-year vision and quarterly goals. Reviewing these commitments daily keeps me aligned with the promises I’ve made to myself.

7. Portability and Ease: My planner is always with me—no login needed, no charging required. It’s simple, cost-effective, and reliable.

You might be curious: Which planner do I use? After testing many options, I landed on the TUL planner. I love its customizable disc-binding system, clean layout, and high-quality paper. It includes monthly and weekly layouts, task lists, goal-setting sections, and ample space for notes.

Question for you: Should I create a Take Flight version of a daily planner? It’s been on my mind for years, and the universe keeps nudging me in that direction.

As we approach 2025, it’s time to level up your daily routines. If you haven’t yet seen my Daily Time Management Form, I’ll link it in my weekly email, or you can download it from askjimmiller.com. This tool complements my daily planner and can help you establish a consistent rhythm.

Have an incredible week ahead! To receive weekly resources, just email me at jim@askjimmiller.com to subscribe. And if at any point the content no longer resonates, you can easily adjust your preferences using the unsubscribe link in each email.

💡 My Most Important Productivity Tool | Monday Morning Pep Talk # 257 ✈️

Monday Morning Pep Talk - First Impressions

Why do we procrastinate?  Find out why in this PODCAST.   I discuss how procrastination is really an argument has with itself.

Monday Morning Pep Talk, JUST DO IT!

In this PODCAST, I cover the 7 characteristics of a True Champion and how that relates to business.

Monday Morning Pep Talk- The Mind of a True Champion

In this podcast, I discuss the one of the most important questions you are going to ask yourself as you drive towards your goals.  Are you Committed or Are You Interested?

Monday Morning Pep Talk - Are You Committed or Are You Interested?

So to correlate that to self development, meeting our goals or higher levels of success is our “computing issue”.  So today,  I have 5 simple, easy to execute, low cost and high impact SUCCESS HACKS that you can implement this week.

Monday Morning Pep Talk - 5 Success Hacks

Jim Miller is a success mentor and life coach who guides top real estate brokers from around the country while managing 2.3B+ in sales production as Designated Managing Broker with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty in Chicago, Illinois.  He is also recognized as a top real estate coach to top Sotheby's International Realty brokers in 35 luxury markets.

💡 My Most Important Productivity Tool | Monday Morning Pep Talk # 257 ✈️

Ask Jim Miller

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