CEO Coaching: Stuck in Chaos? Try This!

One of the many (many) jobs of a CEO is to bring order to chaos and provide clarity where turmoil reigns. The catch? True certainty rarely exists, and pretending otherwise is a fool’s errand.

I don’t know about you, but my clients and I are getting downright exhausted by the chaos gleefully dumped upon us lately. Tariffs—no, wait! No tariffs. Oh, wait, only on some products. Fire them all! No, wait, hire some back. You get the picture. As I’ve said before, change is necessary, but deliberately creating a shitstorm while alienating your friends is a deeply dysfunctional way to go about it.

So, let’s hit pause on all that nonsense. I want to share something that might actually help you reclaim a sliver of sanity.

The Boise Airport Epiphany

A few years ago, I found myself stranded in the Boise airport for an entire afternoon. Flights back to Denver are infrequent, and my brain had already checked out, so I had five hours to kill—sans rental car, sans motivation, and sans enthusiasm for the book I’d brought.

I had work to do, sure. But after a couple of days of meetings, I was not in the mood. So, as I sipped a beer, I let my mind wander to an upcoming vacation. Then I thought about all the amazing places I’ve been lucky enough to visit—some many times.

And then it hit me.

“I’ll start a list,” I announced to my beer, “of my favorite vacations!” (Yes, I still have it on my iPad, and yes, it has been revised multiple times.)

At some point, my list evolved into my favorite places on earth. (I’m not sure why I needed “on earth” since I’ve yet to leave it, but here we are.)

Some of the places were big—like the entire state of Montana. Others were more specific: a little restaurant in Santa Fe my wife and I visit annually. (Not naming it. It’s already too hard to get a reservation.) Some were tiny—like a particular chair on my back deck where I love to read.

And just like that, five hours were gone, and I was boarding my flight home.

Why This Works (And Why You Should Try It)

I’ve recommended this exercise to many people, and they’ve found it to be a fantastic way to reset their minds. It’s like meditation, minus the awkward sitting still. Or like a gratitude journal, minus the pressure to be profound.

Time is our most valuable resource, but sometimes, the best thing you can do is step away from the headlines and recalibrate. So go ahead—daydream your way to your favorite places (earthly or otherwise) and jot them down. It won’t solve your supply chain problems, but it will put a smile on your face.