Getting Organized: Anyone can move. Few can arrive.

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Hey my friend,

Hope your weekend was good! ☕️

Now that the move is behind me, the next big thing is getting organized.

Priorities, rituals, routines.

Because moving is logistics.
But arriving is leadership.

In Stephen Covey speak, I need to put in place my “rocks” before the sand buries me.

I need to be organized.

For this post, we’re joined by a guest who understood rocks better than most: Gustavo Fring from Breaking Bad. (Not that kind of rocks)

Gus wasn’t terrifying because he was violent. He was terrifying because he was organized.

On the surface, a courteous fried-chicken chain owner. Beneath it, a multi-million-dollar drug empire run with the discipline of a Fortune 500 CEO. Every detail deliberate. Every decision a rock, never sand.

So how are Covey and Gus helping me get organized?

Grab your coffee. Let’s chat. ☕️

Why Being Organized Matters

First impressions are already being formed, at home, at work, in my new city.

If I let sand dictate my days, I’ll look scattered.
If I hold to the rocks, I’ll project stability.
I’ll be more organized.

That’s the difference between moving and arriving.

Stephen Covey’s concept of Rocks

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey uses a simple jar metaphor:

• Rocks = your biggest priorities (family, health, key projects).

• Pebbles = useful but not critical.

• Sand = the noise (emails, admin, distractions).

If you start with sand, there’s no space left for rocks.
If you start with rocks, the sand still fits around them.

The lesson?

Don’t prioritize your schedule. Schedule your priorities.

Defining My Rocks

I realised I can’t just “settle in” and hope things fall into place.
The sand will eat me alive, with all the stuff that has changed.

So I sat down and asked: what are the big rocks I need to anchor, both at home and at work?

Home Rocks

• Functionality: make the house run smoothly.

• Rhythm: establish family and personal routines that work here.

• Health: reset gym, walks, and nutrition.

Work Rocks

• Relationships: learn the culture and connect early.

• Credibility: deliver quick wins that show impact.

• Direction: set a strategy for my area.

Everything else like emails, errands, admin has to fit around these.

Rituals and Routines Beat Chaos

The move showed me how quickly the urgent takes over. Boxes, requests, endless noise. Sand fills the jar unless you guard your rocks.

So I’m building rituals around them:

• Calendar blocks for deep work and catch-ups.

• Daily reset: With me being 100% in office, the daily commute is offering a great way to reset and reflect.

• Weekly review: I use the blog-post-writing as time to reflect on which rocks moved, what sand wasted my time, what’s next? Some of this finds it’s way into these posts.

Key Takeaway

The move was act one.
Getting organized is act two.

For me, arrival isn’t about boxes or a new address. It’s about rituals, routines, and rocks. Without them, I’m just another guy who moved. With them, I’m building something that lasts.

Anyone can move. Few can arrive.
And only the organized ever lead. 

PS: Look out for more advice from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective people in upcoming posts.

Till next week, friend ☕️ 

Vaugan

Chess Puzzle

White to play and force mate in 3.

Move the pieces and try to solve here.

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