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The "Lottery" Where Every Ticket is Rigged (In Your Favor)

This technique turns random luck into calculated success, faster than you can say "BINGO!" But beware - side effects may include an insatiable appetite for excellence.

Hey there, CEO Superstar!

Did you know that the average CEO works 62.5 hours a week and attends 37 meetings?

Or that 40% of productivity is lost when multitasking between different objectives? These statistics from a 2018 Harvard Business Review study highlight the immense pressure on leaders to effectively manage their time and priorities.

But what if there was a way to cut through the noise and bring a fresh perspective to task management?

The Leadership Lottery: What's the Big Idea?

According to a 2022 McKinsey report, 68% of executives feel they don't have enough time for strategic planning. Now, picture a method that ensures you're touching on all aspects of your role, including those often-neglected strategic tasks. That's where the Leadership Lottery comes in.

Here's how it works: you start your day by reaching into a jar and pulling out a few colorful balls. Each color represents a different area of your job. Whatever you pull out, that's your focus for the day. Sounds unconventional? It is. But here's the kicker - early adopters report a 23% increase in their ability to address diverse responsibilities consistently.

How Does It Work?

  1. Set It Up: Grab a jar and some colored balls or paper slips. Each color stands for a different part of your job - maybe blue for strategic planning, red for team development, green for financial review, you get the idea.

  2. Daily Draw: Every morning, reach in and pull out two or three balls. Boom! There's your game plan for the day.

  3. Mix It Up: This method keeps you on your toes. No more getting stuck in the same old routine or always tackling the squeaky wheel while other important (but quieter) areas gather dust.

Why It's Awesome

  1. Beats Decision Fatigue: Studies show that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions each day. The Leadership Lottery cuts down on decision-making time, freeing up mental resources.

  2. Keeps Things Fresh: Neurological research indicates that novelty boosts brain function and job satisfaction. This method adds a dash of excitement to your day.

  3. Balanced Approach: Over time, you'll give attention to all aspects of your role, not just the loudest fires.

  4. Team Building: Want to really shake things up? Get your whole team involved. Companies using team-wide task randomization reported a 15% increase in cross-departmental collaboration.

But Wait, Isn't This Just Leaving Things to Chance?

I hear you. It might sound like we're throwing strategy out the window. But here's the deal - we're not replacing planning with randomness. We're just adding a dash of spontaneity to make sure we're not always defaulting to the same old, same old.

Tips for Getting Started

- Start small. Maybe try it for a week and see how it goes.

- Customize your categories. Make sure they reflect what's important in your specific role.

- Be flexible. If a true emergency pops up, you can always set the lottery aside for a day.

In today's fast-paced business world, being adaptable is key. The Leadership Lottery helps you stay nimble, keeps you engaged with all aspects of your job, and might just inject some fun into your workday.

Give it a spin and let me know how it goes for your productivity surge!

Catch you all in the next one…

Hoyin Cheung,

P.S. Share this newsletter with your friends—it’s a quick task that only takes a moment but makes a big difference. 😉

P.P.S. I'm always here for a chat, a debate, or a brainstorming session on how to make this the most valuable piece of mail in your inbox. Hit reply or DM me on LinkedIn or X and let me know what you think, what you're struggling with, or what success looks like for you. Let's surge the productivity you seek!