ONE SIMPLE RULE
Issue #210 The One Rule That Changed My Mornings
Every morning after my workout, I had a routine.
Protein shake in hand, I would sit in the backyard, scroll through social media, browse the news, and slowly ease into the day. An hour gone. Then I would shower, have breakfast, and head to the office, usually around noon.
But recently, flipping through my journals, I saw it clearly: I was burning the most productive part of my day doing things that didn’t actually do anything.
So I made one rule:
No eating before shower.
The Domino Effect
Four weeks in, the impact has been unreal:
I delayed my first meal by almost an hour. That helped me stay calorie deficit.
I started showing up at the office one hour earlier.
That extra hour I now spend it on the shop floor, directly with the team. Earlier I had no time to go to the shop floor.
The difference is palpable. I know more people by name. I spot things I never noticed before. The team feels more connected.
Productivity is up.
Our 5S implementation has levelled up.
There’s more ownership and alertness on the floor.
All from a rule so small it felt silly at first. In fact nothing to do with my work
The Alcoa Lesson
This reminded me of a legendary story in business leadership.
In 1987, Paul O’Neill became the new CEO of Alcoa, one of the biggest aluminium companies in the world. Everyone expected bold strategies, big visions, and new market plays.
Instead, his first public statement as CEO was this:
“If you want to understand how Alcoa is doing, you need to look at our workplace safety figures. I intend to make Alcoa the safest company in America.”
Investors were confused. Analysts were skeptical.But O’Neill didn’t flinch.
He focused the company around one simple rule:
Safety first.
Here’s what happened:
Injury rates dropped dramatically.
Communication between departments improved.
Workers became more engaged and proactive.
Operational efficiency increased.
And over 13 years, Alcoa’s market value grew by $27 billion.
O’Neill didn’t chase profits.
He created a keystone habit — and let it do the heavy lifting.
Want Change? Start with One Rule.
If there’s a habit you want to build, or a change you want to make — don’t overcomplicate it.
Start with one rule.
Keep it simple.
Make it non-negotiable.
Follow it religiously.
Because small hinges swing big doors.
What’s your one rule going to be?
Reply to this post. I’d love to hear it.
Thanks for reading.
If this helped you reframe your own routine or leadership approach, consider sharing it with a friend or team member. It might spark their next big shift.
⏮ Missed Last Week? Here’s What Hit Home
It Takes What It Takes
A few days ago, I was thinking about how so much of life comes down to simple cause and effect.
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100% sir, make it simple, follow it religiously and no compromise is the thing to make even small positive change in life 🫡