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First Covey drop, every task fuels or drains, imagine stacking seven days of fuel

The Weekly Shift by DGTM | August 28, 2025

Author

David Goldsmith
August 28, 2025

One Quote. One Framework. One Challenge.
Just 2 minutes a week.

One Quote

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
- Stephen Covey

Stephen Covey was a leadership guru and author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, one of the most influential business books of all time.
We listen because his principles have shaped how millions lead, prioritize, and live with purpose.

One Framework

The “Energize vs. Drain” Audit
Build awareness before you build habits, creating intentionality in how you spend & reclaimyour energy.

Why it works:
We default to managing our calendars, not our capacity. By mapping what fuels you vs. what depletes you, you stop running on autopilot and start allocating energy where it actually matters.

What it is:
At the end of each day for a week, jot down your recurring activities and tag them 🚀 (energize) or 🪫 (drain). Don’t overthink - go with gut feel. Then review:

  • Where are the repeat drains?

  • Where can you add more energizers?

  • Which drains are unavoidable, and how can you buffer them with recovery?

You can’t eliminate every drain, but you can design a rhythm where energy gains consistently outweigh leaks.

One Challenge

The Energize Audit Challenge - One Week of Focus

For one week, be maniacal about tracking your energy. At the end of each day, tag your activities 🚀 (energize) or 🪫 (drain).

Your challenge: design each day so energy gains outweigh leaks.
Then notice - how different does your week feel? How different are your evenings? How much faster do you recover?

Do it ruthlessly for 7 days, then figure out how to make it sustainable.

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https://dgtm-weekly-shift.beehiiv.com/p/aug-28-2025

Until the next shift,

David Goldsmith
Founder, DGTM
[email protected] | www.dgtm.us

P.S. This newsletter is inspired by James Clear’s 3-2-1 Thursday, which I’ve looked forward to every week for years. Check it out here!