Boosting Daily Creativity

It’s simple math 🧐 I use to think that motivation was the key to monumental success. Long story short, it’s not. It’s about the little things you do every day that will take you from reasonable to slightly unreasonable to completely unreasonable progress. Your future is not defined by how motivated you are, but by your daily routines and systems. I believe in this so much that we named our company Butterfly 3ffect to reflect the value of incremental gains. we believe that that’s how the best people and brands grow. Here’s how you grow the small way: 1. Start by setting achievable goals, like reading one chapter of a book each day or going for a short walk 2. Practice gratitude by writing down three things you're thankful for every night before bed 3. Engage in daily self-reflection, even if it's just for a few minutes, to assess your thoughts and actions 4. Incorporate small acts of kindness into your daily routine, like holding the door for someone or offering a genuine compliment 5. Learn something new every day, whether it's a fun fact, a new word, or a new skill 6. Prioritise self-care by getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and taking breaks when needed 7. Surround yourself with positive influences, whether it's uplifting books, supportive friends, or inspiring podcasts 8. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone to growth 9. Stay consistent and patient, knowing that small progress over time adds up to significant improvement 10. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, to stay motivated and encouraged along the way.

My mentee was the first one in the office and the last to leave. Weekends? He was there. Holidays? Available on Slack. Family dinner? Cut short for "urgent" emails that could have waited until Monday. His manager praised him as "dedicated." HR highlighted him as "committed." Yet when promotion time came, he was passed over for someone who left at 5 PM every day but consistently delivered innovative solutions that moved the business forward. "I don't understand," he told me. "I've sacrificed everything for this company." That was the problem. He'd confused sacrifice with value. Through our coaching, we uncovered the toxic loyalty test that plagues so many organizations: 1.Presence gets mistaken for productivity 2.Availability becomes confused with accountability 3.Working harder gets valued over working smarter 4.Saying "yes" to everything is seen as more loyal than saying "no" to protect quality 5. Burnout gets celebrated as dedication instead of recognized as unsustainable Real loyalty isn't about martyrdom. It's about: ▪️ Delivering exceptional results within reasonable timeframes ▪️ Speaking truth to power when the organization is heading in the wrong direction ▪️ Building systems that work without your constant intervention ▪️ Developing others so the team succeeds beyond your individual contribution ▪️ Protecting the company's long-term interests, even when it means challenging short-term demands After six months of redefining his approach, my mentee transformed his relationship with work. He started declining non-essential weekend requests. He began delegating effectively. He focused on outcomes over optics. The result? His productivity soared. His team's morale improved. And when the next promotion opportunity arose, his track record of smart, sustainable results spoke louder than anyone's overtime hours. The most loyal thing you can do for an organization is preserve your ability to serve it excellently for years to come, not burn yourself out proving your devotion. Have you ever confused overwork with loyalty? What made you realize that sustainable excellence beats unsustainable sacrifice? #WorkLifeBalance #ProfessionalBoundaries #Leadership #CareerDevelopment

Microsoft just confirmed what we already knew: The modern workday is broken. • Half of our meetings are unplanned • Interruptions every 2 minutes • Late-night emails in bed • Start times before 6am • Peak hours stolen And leaders keep pushing harder. (While wondering why results don't improve.) Here's what your team isn't telling you: "I can't think deeply anymore." ↳ Context-switching kills creative problem-solving. "Important work gets lost in the noise." ↳ Strategic priorities lose to urgent distractions. "I'm always feel behind. Because I am." ↳ Reactive mode replaced proactive execution. "My best hours go to meetings." ↳ Performance peaks are now schedule valleys. "There's no time to ever prepare properly." ↳ Last-minute chaos is the new normal. The hard truth: Your "high-performance culture" might actually be: • Normalized chaos • Disguised burnout • Approaching failure Take a look at the statistics in the carousel below. But we can fix this. Start here: Protect focus blocks ↳ Coordinate 2-3 team-wide deep work sessions weekly. Kill half your meetings ↳ Do half as many, twice as well. Guard peak hours ↳ 9-11 AM & 1-3 PM are for creation, not coordination. Set real boundaries ↳ Role model not sending after-hours messages. Choose quality over activity ↳ Have the courage to cut (20% of work creates 80% of value). Remember: Activity ≠ Achievement Motion ≠ Momentum Busy ≠ Productive Your team needs you to redesign work, Not just optimize broken processes. ♻️ Share to help others see what we're up against 🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more leadership insights

Attention residue is a major saboteur of quality Data & Analytical work The "leave that task A, pls work on task B asap!" seems like a minor distraction, but in reality it really messes up BOTH tasks at once 📝 Based on 18+ years studying the brain, Dr Sophie Leroy found that when people switch from one task to another without fully mentally disengaging, their performance on the new task suffers significantly because the brain continues processing the previous task, leading to reduced cognitive capacity for the current one In simpler terms, the more unfinished a task feels, the stronger the attention residue, making it harder to concentrate on the next task 🖊️ 2 examples -- A data analyst prepares a challenging analysis but is interrupted by an "urgent-do-asap!!!" ad-hoc request Even after shifting focus to the ad-hoc request, his mind subconsciously keeps processing unfinished aspects of the analysis affecting speed & efficiency of the new deliverable -- Another data engineer optimises a super expensive SQL query but is suddenly asked to fix a complex ETL pipeline that exploded. Her mind still thinks about optimizing joins and CTEs, making it harder to resolve the new bug 5 ways to minimise (because eliminating it, is impossible in the real-world) attention residue: 🔶 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 Deep-dive analyses, complex ETLs and meetings cannot be combined. Small dashboards, email replies and weekly reports can 🔶 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩-𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 Block 4-hour-blocks (or even 1 full day) to work uninterrupted on mentally demanding tasks 🔶 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐬 Having 30 mins between several meetings or shouting Data people unexpectedly to give their opinion is a solid way to neither get their full attention nor get their job done 🔶 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 -Treating Asana like a chat-room, isn't asynchronous -Slack that requires immediate response, isn't asynchronous -Teams notification, followed by a phone call, isn't asynchronous -email followed by "kind reminder" after 20 mins, isn't asynchronous -Requesting a PR in Github and then patting your Senior to review it, isn't asynchronous 🔶 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 "𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬" 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 WFH days, respecting the "headphones on + fixed stare at the screens" silent signal, avoid non-urgent meetings at random hours, implement "no meeting days", embrace the "that meeting could be an email" mentality, etc etc you get the idea 💡 Long story short, our brain finds it hard to let go of the unfinished past and instead keeps replaying it in the back of our mind, even when we are trying to focus on new things. Always seek closure  #data #analytics #ad_hocs #just_a_quick_question

I stopped writing on LinkedIn for two months. Not because I didn’t have ideas—I had plenty—but because I thought my posts weren’t good enough. Every time I sat down to write, the same questions haunted me: “Will this resonate with anyone?” “What if it sounds repetitive?” “Am I even creative anymore?” And so, I’d close the draft, convincing myself I needed more time to “perfect” it. The irony? That time only made it harder to start again. Overthinking doesn’t just waste time—it creates fear where none existed. And fear loves to linger, keeping us stuck in a cycle of inaction. It took me two months to gather the courage to hit “post” again. When I did, the response was nothing short of encouraging. That’s when it hit me: overthinking had stolen time I could’ve spent learning, improving, and connecting. Here’s what I’ve learned to fight the overthinking trap: ✨ Done is better than perfect. Share your thoughts. You’ll always have room to grow, but growth needs action. ✴️ Create, even when it’s messy. Some of the best ideas emerge in imperfection. *️⃣ Focus on impact, not approval. Write for the one person who might need to hear what you have to say. If you’ve been holding back—whether it’s a LinkedIn post, a project, or even a conversation—remember: the courage to start is far more valuable than the fear of not being good enough. Have you ever struggled with overthinking? How did you overcome it? Let’s learn from each other! LinkedIn LinkedIn News India LinkedIn Guide to Creating #Overthinking #CreativityUnlocked #ProgressOverPerfection

I don’t get my best ideas in forced ideation meetings. I get them during my 45-minute disconnect sessions. Most people think innovation comes from working non-stop. But real breakthroughs don't come from grinding harder - they come when you step away from: - Work - Screens - Constant hustle Research from UC Berkeley shows a striking finding: taking regular breaks from technology boosts creativity by 60%. Bill Gates does this through an annual think week - where he lives in an off-grid cabin in the woods just to disconnect and think. But that’s not an option for you and me, so here are my easier alternatives that consistently lead to breakthrough ideas: 1. Tech-free nature walks ↳ Nature walks without my phone force me to notice things I'd usually miss. The fresh air clears mental clutter, and new environments spark unexpected connections. ↳ Moving outdoors boosts my energy, making me feel more refreshed and open to new ideas. 2. Doodling and mind mapping ↳ It allows me to visually explore ideas and connect dots I'd normally overlook. ↳ The freeform process helps me think without constraints while giving my brain a productive break. 3. Zero-pressure brainstorming ↳ I ask “What if?” questions when there’s no need to do so, and welcome every idea without any judgment. ↳ It leads to bold, unexpected solutions because no idea is off-limits. ↳ By exploring all possibilities, I find more innovative answers. Following this routine fuels the kind of creativity that sets you apart. This intentional disconnection creates space for breakthrough ideas that others miss while stuck in their daily grind. What's your favorite way to disconnect? Has it ever led to an unexpected breakthrough? #breaksessions #productivityhack #personalgrowth

I've fallen into this trap too many times to count. Raised by two high-achieving Stanford grads, "constant hustle" was practically our family motto—a badge of honor worn with pride. But what if I told you that constant hustle could actually be stifling your creativity and innovation? It's time we stop glorifying being hustle and start celebrating the power of pause. Here's why: Creativity Thrives in Quiet Moments: Breakthrough ideas rarely emerge amidst chaos. When you're racing from task to task, your mind has no room to wander or explore new possibilities. Carving out quiet moments allows your creativity to flourish, bringing fresh insights and innovative solutions. Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor: Constant activity without rest isn't sustainable—it’s a direct path to burnout. Giving yourself permission to recharge is essential, not just for your health, but to sustain enthusiasm and productivity over the long term. Reflection Drives Innovation: Innovation doesn't emerge spontaneously from relentless hustle; it grows from thoughtful reflection. Stepping back to evaluate what's working and what's not gives you clarity and inspires forward-thinking ideas. Growth Requires Breathing Room: Personal and professional growth don't happen in perpetual motion. They require time for learning, exploration, and experimentation. Allowing yourself moments to slow down and reflect ensures you're continually developing and evolving. Work hard yes! But shift away from the glorification of constant hustle. Embrace moments of stillness, give your creativity space, and watch how your life and work transform for the better. Your future self—and your mental health—will thank you.

✈️Why Travel is an Entrepreneur’s Greatest Investment? 💫💫 And it’s not just for Instagram. Period. As entrepreneurs, we often chase growth, creativity, and clarity. I’ve found that travel—whether for work or leisure—is one of the most underrated tools for unlocking all three. Here's why: 📍Perspective Shift: Stepping out of your home market forces you to unlearn and relearn. Every city, country, or culture you experience adds a new lens to your problem-solving toolkit.🌍 📍 Inspiration from the Unexpected: A street vendor in Bangkok once inspired our F&B packaging redesign. A Michelin kitchen tour in Barcelona gave me insight into flow and efficiency we later applied to our event kitchens. 📍 Client Discovery & Networking: Business travel opens doors. Some of our largest accounts started with a coffee catch-up on the sidelines of a conference or a chance meeting at an airport lounge. Pre COVID I got a chance to actually work out of Jafza n Dubai which was a dream. 📍 Leisure Travel = Business Breakthroughs: On a solo hike in Kasol, away from phone signals and pings, I cracked the pricing structure we now use across our business verticals. 📍 Team & Culture Benchmarking: Visiting international setups allows you to benchmark systems, team energy, and leadership approaches—it’s the fastest way to learn what world-class really looks like. The next time you book a trip, ask yourself: What could this teach me? Because travel isn’t an escape—it’s an evolution. 🌍🌍🙌

The Surprising Science Behind Why Conversations Spark Our Best Ideas Have you ever noticed how a great conversation can leave you buzzing with new ideas and confidence? I certainly have. As a professional, I've often found myself wondering why discussing challenges with others seems to yield better solutions than pondering alone. Time and again, I've experienced the power of dialogue: - 9 out of 10 times, stimulating conversations have led me to more innovative ideas - I've felt emboldened to make bolder decisions after talking things through - Even interactions with AI chatbots made me curious about the mechanics of productive exchanges Intrigued by these patterns, I dug deeper and discovered a fascinating article by Judith E. Glaser, Nicklas Balboa, and Richard D. Glaser in Psychology Today. Their research sheds light on the neuroscience behind effective conversations: 1. Trust-building dialogues trigger oxytocin release, promoting collaboration 2. Positive interactions activate our prefrontal cortex, enhancing judgment and foresight 3. When we truly connect, our brain patterns actually synchronize, enabling deeper understanding This "neural dance" explains why meaningful conversations often outperform solitary thinking. They create a biological environment that amplifies our cognitive abilities. So, next time you're stuck on a problem, remember: A good conversation might be your best tool for unlocking innovative solutions. What's your experience with the power of conversations in your professional life? Have you noticed similar effects? Share your thoughts below! Source: "The Neuroscience of Conversations" by J.E. Glaser, N. Balboa, & R.D. Glaser, Psychology Today (2019)

I used to think I was a slower thinker than everyone else. In meetings, I’d watch people fire off answers and ideas so quickly while I sat there, quietly processing. I wondered, “𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘰?” It wasn’t until later that I realized: my strength wasn’t in being quick to speak—it was in being thoughtful. As an introvert, I naturally take time to think through problems, analyze situations, and offer perspectives that others might overlook. That’s a 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, not a weakness. And when I understood this, everything changed. I started leaning into what worked best for me, like: ✅ Preparing my thoughts in advance of a meeting. ✅ Following up with well-written emails or Slack messages after discussions. ✅ Finding one-on-one conversations where I could share ideas without the pressure of a crowd. Introverts can be strong communicators and impactful at work. Sometimes, it just takes finding the right medium or channel to share your voice. If you’re an introvert, here’s my advice: 👉 Know your strengths. 👉 Use them to your advantage. 👉 Don’t compare your way of working to others—it’s the results that matter. It took me a while to embrace how I worked best, but once I did, I found my confidence. What gives you confidence as an introvert?