Indra Nooyi is the former CEO of PepsiCo, philanthropist, and mom. She is notable for her accomplishments, community involvement, and the sense of preternatural calm she conveys. As a guest on Adam Grant’s podcast, I enjoyed hearing her speak about managing her calendar. The most common refrain I hear from current and past clients is that they Don't have enough time. In reality, we all have the same 168 hours per week. Therefore none of us lack time. We lack focus.
Ms. Nooyi comments, with her classic humor, that as CEO, she realized quickly that, more than ever before, her calendar was not her own. What she spoke about was the fact that there are a base-level of obligations that are required weekly. Added to that are her additional responsibilities for her family, and the result is that having intention about every meeting yielded the outcome of tackling issues in the least amount of time required. This focus, intention, and discipline allowed her to be methodical, purposeful, and calm in the face of any storm.