"I went from scattered to national speaker thanks to Mark’s clarity coaching." — Kristie Ondracek
How to Set Expectations So People Stop Driving You Crazy
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Hey, Reader! Unspoken expectations are the #1 silent killer of peace. People will always fill the vacuum with their own assumptions (usually “answer me right now”) unless you clearly tell them otherwise. Here’s the simple, repeatable system that protects your time and your relationships: Decide your real windows Email: 24–72 hours Pick numbers you can actually live with 99 % of the time. Say it out loud – early and often New clients/friends/colleagues: set it on the very first call or in the welcome email. Put it in your email signature, Slack status, and WhatsApp bio. Stick to the window like your peace depends on it (because it does) Replying in 5 minutes resets their expectation to 5 minutes forever. Use auto-tools so you don’t have to police yourself Email auto-responder: “I answer emails once per day, within 48 hours.” Clear boundaries aren’t rude – they’re loving. They free you to serve people well instead of resenting the ping-ping-ping. Scripture says it best: “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” When people know exactly what to expect from you, trust grows and stress melts away. Pick one channel today (email, Slack, DMs) and set your expectation right now. Then hit reply and tell me which list you just made. I read every single one. Mark |
Quick Check: How Productive Are You REALLY?
"I went from scattered to national speaker thanks to Mark’s clarity coaching." — Kristie Ondracek
Hey, Reader! If scrolling feels more like a chore than a connection these days, I get it. For years I tried to crack every platform—TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Threads. Coaches, courses, trends, hashtags. Engagement? Mostly zero. I was exhausted from performing for an audience that wasn’t really there. Then I made a simple decision: stop chasing. Post what God puts on my heart, serve the people who need it, and let the right ones find me. In that freedom, I discovered something...
Hey, Reader! It’s February 13, and if your mornings still feel like a battle—or if you’re wondering why your days start reactive instead of intentional—let’s talk about something I fought for years: the 5 a.m. club. I was a committed night owl. Bed at 11 or midnight, up at 7 or 8, coffee in hand by 9. That was my rhythm. When I first read Robin Sharma’s The 5AM. Club, I thought, “No way. Not for me.” I read it four times over the years, loved the stories and lessons, but every time I closed...
Hey, Reader! It’s February 6, and if we’re being real, the New Year glow has probably dimmed for a lot of us. Goals that felt exciting on January 1 now feel heavy. Energy’s low, motivation’s spotty, and the couch is winning more battles than it should. I’ve been there. But here’s the truth I’ve learned the hard way: You can have the best mindset, the clearest Why, the perfect plan—but if your body is running on empty, none of it sticks. Productivity isn’t just about your calendar or your...