What Losing Weight Taught Me About Leadership

This past week, my scale showed me something it hadn't shown in years: a number under 200.

It doesn't sound like much on paper. But I've lived north of 200 pounds for a long time — as high as 218 at points. I never quite thought of myself as "overweight," but I felt it, especially around the middle. So, seeing that number this morning felt like a genuine milestone.

Here's what I want to tell you about how I got there, because I think it matters far beyond the scale.

health, habitsNaphtali HoffAugust 31, 2026Impactful Coaching & ConsultingLeadership, productivity, goal setting, process vs. outcome, executive coaching, school leadership, personal growth, habitsComment

Plan the night before. Win the day after.

Most people start their day by opening email. They spend the next eight hours reacting — putting out fires, answering questions, attending meetings that could have been messages. By 5pm, the to-do list is longer than when they started. Sound familiar?

The fix isn't a better morning routine. It isn't waking up at 5 am or drinking a green smoothie. It's something you do the night before — or at the end of your workweek. It takes fifteen minutes. And it changes everything.

productivityNaphtali HoffMay 4, 2026Impactful Coaching & Consultingproductivity, time management, planning, deep work, habits, morning routine, focus, goal setting, work smarter, intentional livingComment

The Power of Intentional Action

Does this sound familiar?

You wake up feeling behind before the day even begins. There’s a long list of tasks, but no clear direction. So, you wing it. You handle whatever seems most urgent. You stay busy.

Yet, at the end of the day, progress feels minimal. Your motivation dips. And the consistency you need to create real momentum? It’s missing.

time management, productivityNaphtali HoffMarch 31, 2025Impactful Coaching & Consultingplanning, planner, daily planner, daily habits, habits, prioritization, prioritiesComment

How to Make You New Year's Resolutions Stick This Time

It’s that time of year again.

When we look at ourselves in the mirror and start berating ourselves.

“Why can’t you ever keep a resolution even for a single week?”

If you’re one of those, the good news - if you can call it that - is that you’re not alone.

How long do most people’s New Year's resolutions last?

achievement, change, decision making, goal setting, growth mindset, leadership, motivation, personal growthNaphtali HoffJanuary 9, 2023Impactful Coaching & Consultingbehavior change, habits, self identity, change, change management, actionComment

Your behavior won't change until the way you see yourself does

In his book Atomic Habits, author James Clear explains why habits are so difficult to break.

It's because we tend to focus on surface-level actions.

Most people start by focusing on outcome-based goals like...

“I want to lose 20 pounds.”
“I want to write a best-selling book.”

But these are surface level changes.

achievement, change, decision making, goal setting, growth mindset, leadership, motivation, personal growthNaphtali HoffOctober 19, 2022Impactful Coaching & Consultingbehavior change, habits, self identity, change, change management, actionComment

To conquer your day, wake up early

When I was growing up, there was one advertisement that would consistently grab your attention. In it, U.S. Army personnel were up super early, engaged in all sorts of high-energy training and action tasks. The tagline was, “we do more by 9 AM than most people do all day.”

While I never joined the Armed Forces, intuitively my little brain knew that they were on to something.

That’s because if you want to get more done, you need to start your day early.

achievement, business, leadership, motivation, planning, productivityNaphtali HoffOctober 4, 2021Impactful Coaching & Consultingproductivity, production, rise, early, wake up, habits, energy, health, diet, breakfastComment

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