Rob Shallenberger Talks About Pre-Week Planning and Leading a Life by Design

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Aug 6, 2025

Rob Shallenberger, CEO of Becoming Your Best Global Leadership and a former F-16 pilot, shares insights on intentional living and productivity. He discusses the transformative power of pre-week planning, highlighting a four-step system that enhances clarity and reduces stress. Rob explains the importance of scheduling priorities over mere task lists and introduces the productivity quotient for achieving a balanced life. Listeners also learn how AI can aid planning while emphasizing human intuition, all aimed at leading a life by design.

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ANECDOTE

Near-Death Task Saturation Experience

Rob shares a near-death experience from task saturation while flying F-16s.
Miscommunication led to a near collision due to misprioritizing the number one priority: situational awareness.

ADVICE

Follow Four-Step Pre-Week Planning

Follow Rob's four-step pre-week planning system each week, spending just 20-30 minutes.
Review vision and goals, list roles, brainstorm actions, then time-block them to improve balance and peace.

ADVICE

Mindset Is Key to Habit Building

Develop a mindset and skillset to succeed with time management.
Prioritize building a habit of pre-week planning, allowing grace for occasional misses without guilt.

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In the latest episode, I sit down with Rob Shallenberger—CEO of Becoming Your Best Global Leadership and one of the world’s foremost authorities on productivity and time management. Rob’s background is as dynamic as it is inspiring: from flying F-16s and serving as an Advance Agent for Air Force One to training Fortune 500 companies and governments alike.

We focus on the updated second edition of his bestselling book Do What Matters Most, diving deep into the transformative power of pre-week planning, the productivity quotient, and why it’s crucial to schedule your priorities rather than just prioritize your schedule. Rob’s mission is clear—help people lead lives by design, not by default.

Six Discussion Points

How task saturation leads to misprioritization—and how to combat it
Rob’s four-step pre-week planning system and how it creates peace and balance
The productivity quotient: why aiming for 70–80% is the sweet spot
Real-life stories that show how planning changes lives—including generational impact
How Rob's military background shaped his approach to time and leadership
The role of AI in planning—why it’s a tool, not a replacement for human intuition

Three Connection Points

This conversation with Rob left me both inspired and affirmed in my belief that quality productivity stems from intentional design. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or stuck in reactive mode, Rob’s framework provides both structure and flexibility. I encourage you to test out his pre-week planning approach—just four weeks can make a meaningful difference.

Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive Potential

If you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.