6*NSIGHTSONMAKINGIDEASHAPPEN

)OW#ARACK0BAMA(ETS5HINGS%ONE

bySeanBlanda

FortyfourAmericanpresidentshavemanagedtonavigatethecomplicatedrolesandresponsibilitiesoftheExecutiveBranch,eachwithhisownstyle.

But21stcenturypresidentslikeBarackObamafaceanespeciallydauntingtask.Howcananyonegetthingsdonewith300millionbosses,a24hournewscycleofcritics,andatodolistthatisoftenlifeordeath?Oh,andallinacitywhosenameissynonymouswithbureaucracy?

ThankstothefantasticjournalismofMichaelLewisofVanityFair,RyanLizzaofTheNewYorker,andothers,wewereabletoassembleadetailedportraitofhowamoderndaypresidentlikeBarackObamaworks.

erearesomeparticularlyusefulproductivitytipsfromourcurrentcommanderinchief.

1.Getaheadstartonyourdaythenightbefore.

OfficialWhiteHousePhotobyPeteSouza

)Inafunnyway,writesMichaelLewis,thepresidentsdayactuallystartsthenightbefore.Whenheawakensatseven,healreadyhasajumponthings.

Afterhisfamilyretirestobed,Obamaoftenstaysupworkingonoddsandendsleftoverfromtheday.Chiefamonghisnightlyresponsibilitiesisleafingthroughthebinderofdocumentsthathisstaffhasaskedhimtoreview.

Forexample,afterhewontheNobelPeacePrize,hisstaffsubmittedseveralacceptancespeechesthatObamadeemedunusable.Insteadofcrammingthespeechwritingprocessintotinywindowsthroughoutthenextday,thepresidentutilizedhisnighttogetaheadstart.First,hecopiedthestaffwrittenspeechbyhandtoorganizehisthoughtsandthenheusedtheexercisetowritehisownspeech,anapproachwouldhavebeenimpossibleduringhistraditionalday.

*DONTWANTTOMAKEDECISIONSABOUTWHAT*MEATINGORWEARINGBECAUSE

*HAVETOOMANYOTHERDECISIONSTOMAKE

2.Limitdecisionfatigue.

WhiteHouseoperationsgrowincreasinglycomplexwitheveryadministration.HarryTrumanhad12assistantstothepresident.Nowtherearemorethan100peoplewhohaveasimilartitle.Asaresult,PresidentObamatriestolimithisinformationintake,includingwhenhegetsdressedinthemorning.

IdontwanttomakedecisionsaboutwhatImeatingorwearing,hetoldMichaelLewis.BecauseIhavetoomanyotherdecisionstomake.

Thepracticedoesntonlyapplytohiswardrobe.Inearly2012,TheNewYorkersRyanLizzaobtainedhundredsofpagesofWhiteHousememosthatofferedanintimatelookintotheinnerworkingsofObamasteam.Amongthestorysnuggets:thepresidentpreferstohavedecisionmemosdeliveredtohimwiththreecheckboxesatthebottomthatread:agree,disagree,orletsdiscuss.

3.Shutoutyourcritics.

RichardNixonfamouslykeptalistofenemies,butapresidentintodayspolarized24hournewscycledoesnthavethatluxury.ProfilesofthepresidentrepeatedlymentionhispreferenceforESPNovercablenews.

Onecardinalruleoftheroadis,wedontwatchCNN,thenewsorMSNBC.Wedontwatchanytalkingheadsoranypolitics.WewatchSportsCenterandargueaboutthat,ObamatoldTheNewYorkTimes.

Obamasayshelikestofilterthenewsasmuchaspossible,butrecognizesthatnoonecanliveinabubble.OneofthethingsyourealizefairlyquicklyinthisjobisthatthereisacharacterpeopleseeouttherecalledBarackObama,hetoldMichaelLewis.Thatsnotyou.

5HERESTOFMYTIMEWILLBEMOREPRODUCTIVEIFYOUGIVEMEMYWORKOUT

TIME

4.Exercise.

PresidentObamastartseverydaywith45minutesofweightsorcardioinhispersonalgym.Hislogicwasalways,Therestofmytimewillbemoreproductiveifyougivememyworkouttime,ObamasformercampaignmanagertoldWebMD.

Occasionally,healsoholdsaregularbasketballgamewithahandfulofWashingtonfriends,eachwithseriousbasketballexperience.(ObamaplaysinredwhiteandblueUnderArmorhightopswiththenumber44onthem.)

Youhavetoexerciseoratsomepointyoulljustbreakdown,ObamatoldMichaelLewis.

5.Yourpersonaltimeissacred.

Thepresidenthasthreemomentsinhisschedulethatareunquestionablyhis:themorningworkout,hisdinnerwithhisdaughters,andthenighttimeafterhisfamilyfallsasleep.EachblockoftimeservesadifferentroleforObama:thegymkeepshisbodyingoodhealth,thelatenighthelpshimcatchuponwork,andthedinnerisespeciallysacredtime,withtheaddedbenefitofgivingthepresidentabitofperspectiveoutsidehishecticworkday.

[Hischildrenare]notreallythatinterestedinhisday,becausetheyrekids,SeniorAdvisorValeriaJarretttoldVanityFair.Theywanthimtofocusontheirday.

Moreinsightson:DecisionMaking,Leadership,TimeManagement

4&"/#-"/%"

moreposts

SeanistheManagingEditorandProducerof99UandisacofounderofTechnicallyPhillyandPhillyTechWeek.Emailhim:blanda@adobe.comorfindhimonTwitter:@SeanBlanda.

$OMMENTS

Commentsforthisthreadarenowclosed.

29Comments 99U Login

SortbyNewest Share

HermanGMorganIII 9monthsagoIhadtocomereadthisoriginalarticleafterseeingitspunandskewedbyOpinionpiecesintheWSJandelsewhere.Seemsprettyinnocuoustome?

1

ManhattanDatingproject 9monthsagoInterestinginsightofadayinBarackObama'slife.Itisgoodtoseeapresidentbeinghealthy.Iwonder,whatVladimirPutin'sdayislike.

3

EcoPolitics&Animals ayearagoHelpfultipsfromamanwhohasmasteredtheartofbeingoneofthebusiestpeopleintheworld.Thanksforpostingthisfascinatinginsight

9

AnneFlash 2yearsagoIfoundthisfascinating,especiallyinthelightofhisbeingnewlyreelected.Ihaveoftenwonderedhowthismanwhohassomanythingsgoingon,somanymillionsofmovingparts,stayssocenteredandpresentseeming.

6

MikeB 2yearsagoGreatarticle!Whilethiswon'tpersonallyhelpmebemoreproductive,Ifoundittobeaveryinterestinginsightononeofthebusiestpeopleintheworld.

MarkIrving 2yearsagoVeryinterestingpostalthoughI'dliketoreadmorethere'sgottobeapart2articlecomingsoon??

2

SeanBlanda 2yearsagoMod >MarkIrvingThere'snopart2plannedasofnow.

1

poppa 2yearsagoGreatarticleandinsightintothisuniquepresident'slife.Notmanypointers,(hehasn'thadmuchlifeexperiencetodrawon),butsomeweIltaken.Ialsopreferthequietof1pmtoassemblemythoughts(researchtheprosandconsofupcomingprocedures),andfinalizepreparationsforafull

Favorite

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

thoughts(researchtheprosandconsofupcomingprocedures),andfinalizepreparationsforafulldaywithcomplexpatients.Unfortunately,Ihavetogetbackupat6.Lovetheexerciseandsportcomments,andwilltryforasecond5min.roundofchinupsmidday(sincenotmuchtimetospare).Iwouldexpectmorehardworkfromapresident,knowingthatheisonlyinitfor4or8years,especiallycomparedtomostdoctors,whohavetheintenselifedeathdecisionmakingburdenforoften40+years.

re:Europe:wasinPolandteaching,recently,andtheythinkUSisfoolishforlettingObamatakeusinthedirectiontheyaresohappytohaveextractedthemselvesfrom!

4

lebecka 2yearsago>poppaPlease,spareme.IlivedinPolandfor5yearsandtheyhadaveryhighopinionofObamathere.

9

Anushka 2yearsagoLovethearticle.Itsbrillianttoseehowsuchamanfunctions!(thestarsthing...ihavenocluehowthatworks!)

DaxBercasio 2yearsagoThanksforthispost!

4

Anushka 2yearsagoIamsupergladyouputthisup.Ithelpssomeofusunderstandwhatkindofalifehelikestoleadeveninhisbusyschedule.Givesyouinsightonhowinsightfulheisaboutwork,family,andbusinessmatters.Amanlikethatwiththesekindsofmethods(thoughonlyafewwerementioned)isonapaththatnopresidentwouldhavefoundeasy.Iadmirehimforvariousreasons...Thankyouagain!

6

Tom 2yearsagoWhatIlearnedaboutthePresident:

1.Heprefersnottowakeuptooearly.2.Heavoidshavingtomaketoomanydecisions.3.Helikesplayingbasketball.4.Heenjoyspersonaltime.Coolstorybro.

11

bluechimera 2yearsago>Tom1.Wakingupat7am*is*earlywhenyouworkuntil1am(aswasmentionedinthearticle).2.Minimizingthenumberofunimportantdecisionsyouhavetomake(whenyou'relikelymakinghundredsofimportantdecisionsperweek)isagreattip.3.Exercisinghasbeenshowntoincreasementalclarity.Youshouldtryit.4.Forbusypeople,maintainingsomepersonaltimeiscriticaltoavoidingburnout.Ifyoueverbecomeabusyperson,youshouldkeepthatinmind...

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Whetheryou'reanObamafanornot,therewasnothingsillyinthisarticle.24

MichaelChan 2yearsago>TomHowdidyougatherthat?Thereisnomentionofthetimehewakesupinthemorning.Hecouldwakeupat4AMtogoworkoutforallweknow.I'dassumeitscloserto6AMthough.

4

Anna 2yearsago>MichaelChanYes,thestorydoesmentionit:"Whenheawakensatseven,healreadyhasajumponthings."

6

Anna 2yearsagoWhatreallyhithomeformewasthatthisscheduleisn'tsuperhumanreallytheonlythingdifferentfromlotsof95ersisthathegoesbacktoworkafterdinner(andlotsofpeopledothatonatleastsomedaysoftheweek).Asagradstudent(withpresumablyfewerpeopletobombthenthepresident),itisgoodtoknowthatIdon'thavetowakeupatsomeungodlyhour,orgiveuponpersonalcaretodowell.Iwascuriousaboutsleepandwhenhewenttobed.YouhearaboutpeoplelikeClintonwhodidn'tsleepmuchitwouldmakeadifferencetoknowifhepushesforasolid8hours,orifhe'sgoingtobedat2AM.

3

Thea 2yearsago>AnnaHeworksuntil1andgetsupat7.So,6hourssleep.Notbad.

5

SaidadeVries 2yearsagoAnyone,sorelaxedaspresidentObama,willbeabletomanageanything.Whatagreatpersonalityandsurelyhopethathewillbereelected.

8

siatome 2yearsagoTheproblemwiththispostisn'tthetips,thosearefine,themanclearlyhasaholdondiscipline,scheduling,etc.otherwisehewouldn'tmakeitinpolitics.Theproblemisthathehaspersonallybecomeasymbolofsomuch,andsomuchofwhatheisasymbolifisinherentlypolarizing.Theminuteapictureofhimappearssidesaretaken.

Addtothatthefactthatthisparticularindustrylovestheguyandyouendupwithalargenumberofcreativeprofessionalswhoaredownrightsickofhearingabouthim.

Thatsaid,thedesignonhis2008campaignwasagamechanger,forpoliticsANDfortheindustry,anarticlecomparingromney'sandobama'sdesignsthisyearandthesortsofimagesandfeelingsthattheirprintandwebistryingtoinvokewouldbeveryinteresting.Ifyoucouldmakeitevenhandedenough.

Thatsaid,peoplewouldstillargueinthecomments.lol.

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Thatsaid,peoplewouldstillargueinthecomments.lol.6

ronnie 2yearsagowonderhowhemanageswhenhegetssick?

3

99U 2yearsagoTheirhavebeenquiteafewnegativecommentsonthispost,soIwanttotakeamomenttorespondregardingourmotivations.Thispostdoesnotexpressthepoliticalviewsof99norBehance,andwe'renotinterestedintryingtomakeanyonevoteaparticularway.

WethoughtitwouldbeinterestingtodigintosomeofthemanylengthyprofilesofObama,andpulloutsometipsaboutmanagingyourdayeffectivelybecausefewpeoplehavetomakeasmanyimportantdecisionsinadayasthesittingpresident(whicheverpresidentwe'retalkingabout).

It'satopicI'vealwaysbeencuriousabout.Ioftengetoverwhelmedinmyownday,sohowdoesaPresidentwhohasamillionmorethings,andthingsofsignificantlygreaterimporttodogeteverythingdone?

Ifyou'renotafanoftheinsightshere,Iwouldlovetohearyourcommentson*other*presidentsofanypoliticalpersuasion,whohavegreatinsightsonmanagingthedaytoday.Quotes,stories,whatever.

EditorinChief//JocelynK.Glei58

lebecka 2yearsago>99USorrytoseethatsomepeoplearesolimitedtheycan'tgetpasttheirpettygrievancestoseethevalueinlisteningtoapersonthattheymaydisagreewithinotherways.Thewayanypresidentmanagestogetthroughthedayisfascinating.

12

Kola 9monthsago>lebeckaHiLebecka,Ithinkyou'vesaiditallthewayanypresidentmanagestogetthroughthedayisdefinitelyworthsharingandlearningfrom.

1

ByronPalmer 2yearsago>99ULovedthepost.Ihavebeenwonderingaboutthewaythepresidentmanageshistimeaswell.Howanypresidenthas.Idon'thavestrongfeelingsaboutthepresidentonewayortheother,butIwouldliketothinkthatifIdidhavestrongfeelingsIwouldstillbeabletodifferentiateyourarticle'scontentfrommypoliticalleaningsandmybeliefinhisjobperformance.Seriously,whocanimaginethescopeanddifficultyofthatjob,nomatterwhichidiotholdsit.ThankyouJocelyn,itwasgreat.

22

Thiscommentwasdeleted.

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

99U 2yearsago>JoeNickloThanksforreading,Joe.Itiscertainlynowclearthecommunitydoesnothaveatasteforpolitics,andhasbeendulynoted.

6

senhorroo 2yearsago>99UThisisnotpolitics.It'saninsightintohowonepersondoestheirjobandgetsitdone.

Therewasnothingaboutpolicyoranythingevenremotelypoliticalatall.Theonlypoliticsinthearticleiswhat'sbeenbroughtintoitinthecommentssection.

Greatarticle99U.56

MikeLambert 2yearsagoSeemstypicalofmostmoderndaypresidents.Iwouldhavelikedtohaveseensomethingthathedidthatwasradicallydifferentfromtherest.

3

Luther 2yearsagoAllinall,afairlynormalapproach.

7

Subscribe AddDisqustoyoursited Privacy

Share

Share

Share

Share

Geniusis1%inspirationand99%perspirationThomasEdison

At99U,wedelivertheactionorientedinsightsthatyoudidntgetinschool,highlightingrealworldbestpracticesformakingideashappen.

Copyright20062014AdobeSystemsIncorporated.Allrightsreserved.