This Is How Top-Performing CEOs Manage Their Time & Calendar

Dusty goes solo to dismantle one of leadership’s most pervasive myths—the idea that an overloaded, reactive calendar is simply the price of effectiveness. Drawing on personal lessons, client stories, and striking CEO time-use data, he reveals the deeper truth: when a leader’s schedule is chaotic, the culture follows. In this episode, Dusty introduces his three-level intentional leadership system—anchoring your year with non-negotiables, theming your days to eliminate context switching, and protecting transitions so commitments actually get done—and shows how each layer silently teaches your team what truly matters. Through a vivid case study of a CEO spending nearly 80% of his time reacting to others, he demonstrates how a few disciplined shifts rebuilt execution and restored clarity. Rather than squeezing more into already packed days, Dusty invites leaders to rethink their role entirely: to plan before they react, design their rhythms deliberately, and lead with intention instead of urgency. For anyone drowning in meetings or frustrated that strategic work never happens, this episode reframes time as a leadership tool—and offers a clear, practical blueprint for using it well.

Key Timestamps:
(00:00) – The CEO's Time Management Crisis
(03:41) – Personal Struggles with Time Management
(05:11) – Building a System for Effective Time Management
(07:28) – The Three-Level Time Management System
(12:51) – Implementing Themed Days
(20:08) – Question 1: Handling Emergencies
(21:26) – Question 2: Setting Boundaries
(22:51) – Question 3: When to Start YOUR Day
(24:02) – Question 4: Using Technology to Guard Your Time

Key Topics Discussed:
Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership

Mentions:
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