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Sleep Is Your Superpower

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Why getting 10 more minutes could be your smartest leadership move. Feeling a little foggy right now? You’re not alone.

Over 50% of American adults are chronically sleep-deprived. One in five has serious sleep issues. Between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m., the average corporate executive is sleep impaired.

Can you relate?

Dr. James Maas of Cornell University found that most Americans effectively pull an all-nighter every week. Think about that: the average professional walks into work every Monday in a state of sleep debt. That’s a leadership liability.

Still, many high achievers wear sleep deprivation like a badge of honor. “I don’t need much sleep,” they say with pride. But here’s the truth: chronic fatigue isn’t a strength—it’s a silent performance killer.

What really happens when you’re underslept?

You lose focus. You become more reactive and less strategic. You may even drift into “microsleeps”—a few seconds of unconsciousness you won’t remember until your head jerks back up in front of your laptop (or worse, on the drive home).

As former President Ronald Reagan joked: “No matter what time it is, wake me—even if it’s in the middle of a Cabinet meeting.”
Funny? Maybe. Helpful for leadership presence? Not so much.

If you want to sharpen your edge, inspire your team, and make better decisions under pressure, start by putting on your own oxygen mask.

Tonight, give yourself an extra 10 minutes of rest. Just 10. It’s a simple act of self-leadership—with compound interest.
Great leaders know that a rested mind is powerful.

Experiencing a Solar Eclipse in Minneapolis

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It was June 1954 when our family climbed out of bed in the dark. We drove to an open field filled with many spectators to view the Total Solar Eclipse in Minneapolis.

At that time seventy years ago, photographs used film to take pictures.

When the film was developed, there was always a strip of black, unexposed photo space. Those dark film strips were ideal for viewing the eclipse safely.

There was no Daylight Savings Time in 1954, so the sun rose around 5:45 AM, and the total eclipse was at 6:08 AM. The sun was about 15 degrees above the horizon, so it seemed larger than it was during the day. The sky was clear.

The top photograph shows what I remember seeing during the total eclipse. For that minute, it could be viewed with the naked eye.

Seventy years later, the pictures in my mind are clear and enjoyable. It was only later that I realized what a special experience it was.

Total Solar Eclipse 1954 map of Minneapolis St. Paul
Total Solar Eclipse 1954

Flatten the Curve

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Our daughter, Kate, is a terrific nurse in Los Angeles. She is finishing her Masters of Nursing to become a nurse practitioner. She inspires us with her commitment, courage plus compassion.

She told us the healthcare workers really feel supported with all the appreciation being expressed. She said what healthcare workers appreciate even more is:

Social distancing and being careful so we can flatten the curve.

Executive presence tip – Carol Keers

Super Power

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Obstacles are really a guide to uncover where we need to grow. We grow and change in response to challenges. New results come from seeing the problem differently and making adjustments. The bigger the challenge, the more significant the adjustments we need to make.

One of our superpowers is to adjust and take new directions. Losing my job allowed me to finally go into business for myself. With one relationship breakdown, we are often able to find a new one that seems even better.

Today, we have a worldwide obstacle called a pandemic. With all the difficulties – and there are many – people are adjusting in amazing ways. Global environmental pollution is showing ways it can be reduced. Major firms in New York City are declaring that the majority of their employees will likely not return to the giant skyscrapers that define NYC. Remote education can change the dynamics and costs of schools. Business people are learning they can effectively do videoconference rather than spend two days in an airplane for a one-hour meeting.

Community

Human beings need a community. Being deprived of contact has helped us see the value of gatherings, hugs, handshakes and just being together. Being able to clap, scream, and cheer together in a sports stadium or a Broadway play are beloved memories we look forward to seeing again.

We have the superpower of connecting with others. We have the ability to choose to be kind and forgive. We have the power to empathize with the health workers and those struggling to feed their children.

New Approach

The pandemic of a century ago did not have antibiotics or an understanding of viruses. We are more prepared today than 101 years ago. We now have a new mindset about pandemics that will allow us to be more prepared for the next pandemic. We will have PPE and testing ready. We will figure out how to effectively manage contact tracing. We will be better able to cope.

Appreciation

When we can safely move about our communities and the world, we will have a new appreciation for connection to other people and places. We have the opportunity to think differently about how we define community. We are a global community that is interconnected and share a similar destiny for our viruses and our environment. If we have a new mindset, we can create new results. That is our human SUPERPOWER.