The Level #110

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Welcome back to The Level —  a quieter moment in the year where pressure eases and perspective sharpens.

This week’s Level Set: This time of year we sit in the tension between obligations and intention.

The calendar may say “normal,” but founders know better. Instead of forcing momentum, this is a rare opportunity to recalibrate without consequence.

Expert Insight of the Week

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you."
- Anne Lamott

For founders, unplugging isn’t about rest for rest’s sake. It’s about restoring signal.

When external noise drops, patterns become visible.
And pattern recognition is one of the most valuable CEO-level skills you can build.

This Week’s Shift: Intentional Slowdown

This is not the week for acceleration.
It is the week for discernment.

Strong founders don’t measure progress by activity during low-signal weeks. They measure it by clarity gained and bad decisions avoided.

Here’s how to use this time of year intentionally:

1. Spot what only exists because of urgency
   Review your current to-do list. What fades the moment no one is watching or waiting? That isn’t a priority. It’s a reaction. Here's an newsletter edition on how to defer, delegate, or delete.

2. Notice where effort feels heavier than it should
   If something requires constant force to maintain, it’s pointing to a structural issue. Sustainable systems don’t rely on willpower. Off board some of that stress by creating SOPs that carry to mental load. 

3. Separate clarity work from execution work
   Execution rewards speed. Clarity rewards stillness. This week favors the latter. Here's how to prioritize the tasks you should be focused on.

Slowing down here isn’t disengagement. It’s precision.

→ Your Next Move

Take ten quiet minutes. Pen and paper.

1. Write down the three things currently consuming the most mental energy.

2. For each, ask:

   • Is this a real problem or a seasonal one?

   • Does this require action now or a better decision later?

3. Circle the one item that would feel lighter if the system were better designed.

4. Stop there. Don’t fix it yet.

Naming is enough for this week.

To honoring the season without losing your edge

 - Amanda

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