A big thank you to Brian Talty, Pastor at First Christian Church, for spending time with our CEO students and sharing some incredibly practical lessons on leadership, productivity, and getting things done.
Brian started with an important reminder: the hardest person we will ever lead is ourselves.
Using principles from David Allen’s Getting Things Done, he challenged our students to think about how we create systems that set us up for success. Being productive isn’t just about doing more—it’s about planning and organizing well enough that we have room to think, create, and focus on what matters.
One line that really stuck with us:
“Your mind is a great place for having ideas, but it’s a terrible place for keeping them.”
Brian walked the students through a simple process:
Capture → Clarify → Organize → Review → Do
He also worked with them on their own goals and what to do when they feel stuck. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by everything that needs to happen, ask:
“What is the very next action I need to take?”
And make it something that gets you moving—start with a verb.
Good planning helps keep us from becoming overwhelmed. As Brian shared, “Those who sweat the most during times of peace bleed the least during times of war.” Preparation matters.
The secret sauce is learning to balance seeing the big stuff AND getting it done.
Brian also has a special connection to our program as both an alumni parent and the parent of a current CEO student. We are so grateful for the many ways he continues to support and invest in our program and our students.
Thank you, Brian, for sharing your time, experience, and encouragement and for giving our students tools they can put into practice immediately—not just in CEO, but in school, business, leadership, and life. 🧡
