99 - m pp

OfficialWhiteHousePhotobyPeteSouza

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bySeanBlanda

FortyfourAmericanpresidentshavemanagedtonavigatethecomplicated
rolesandresponsibilitiesoftheExecutiveBranch,eachwithhisownstyle.
But21stcenturypresidentslikeBarackObamafaceanespeciallydaunting
task.Howcananyonegetthingsdonewith300millionbosses,a24hour
newscycleofcritics,andatodolistthatisoftenlifeordeath?Oh,andallina
citywhosenameissynonymouswithbureaucracy?
ThankstothefantasticjournalismofMichaelLewisofVanityFair,Ryan
LizzaofTheNewYorker,andothers,wewereabletoassembleadetailed
portraitofhowamoderndaypresidentlikeBarackObamaworks.

erearesomeparticularlyusefulproductivitytipsfromourcurrentcommanderinchief.
1.Getaheadstartonyourdaythenightbefore.

Inafunnyway,writesMichaelLewis,thepresidentsdayactuallystartsthenightbefore.Whenhe
awakensatseven,healreadyhasajumponthings.

Afterhisfamilyretirestobed,Obamaoftenstaysupworkingonoddsandendsleftoverfromtheday.
Chiefamonghisnightlyresponsibilitiesisleafingthroughthebinderofdocumentsthathisstaffhasasked
himtoreview.
Forexample,afterhewontheNobelPeacePrize,hisstaffsubmittedseveralacceptancespeechesthatObama
deemedunusable.Insteadofcrammingthespeechwritingprocessintotinywindowsthroughoutthenext
day,thepresidentutilizedhisnighttogetaheadstart.First,hecopiedthestaffwrittenspeechbyhandto
organizehisthoughtsandthenheusedtheexercisetowritehisownspeech,anapproachwouldhavebeen
impossibleduringhistraditionalday.

m b m b

v m m.

2.Limitdecisionfatigue.
WhiteHouseoperationsgrowincreasinglycomplexwitheveryadministration.HarryTrumanhad12
assistantstothepresident.Nowtherearemorethan100peoplewhohaveasimilartitle.Asaresult,
PresidentObamatriestolimithisinformationintake,includingwhenhegetsdressedinthemorning.
IdontwanttomakedecisionsaboutwhatImeatingorwearing,hetoldMichaelLewis.BecauseIhave
toomanyotherdecisionstomake.
Thepracticedoesntonlyapplytohiswardrobe.Inearly2012,TheNewYorkersRyanLizzaobtained
hundredsofpagesofWhiteHousememosthatofferedanintimatelookintotheinnerworkingsofObamas
team.Amongthestorysnuggets:thepresidentpreferstohavedecisionmemosdeliveredtohimwiththree
checkboxesatthebottomthatread:agree,disagree,orletsdiscuss.
3.Shutoutyourcritics.
RichardNixonfamouslykeptalistofenemies,butapresidentintodayspolarized24hournewscycle
doesnthavethatluxury.ProfilesofthepresidentrepeatedlymentionhispreferenceforESPNovercable
news.
Onecardinalruleoftheroadis,wedontwatchCNN,thenewsorMSNBC.Wedontwatchanytalking
headsoranypolitics.WewatchSportsCenterandargueaboutthat,ObamatoldTheNewYorkTimes.
Obamasayshelikestofilterthenewsasmuchaspossible,butrecognizesthatnoonecanliveinabubble.
Oneofthethingsyourealizefairlyquicklyinthisjobisthatthereisacharacterpeopleseeouttherecalled
BarackObama,hetoldMichaelLewis.Thatsnotyou.

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m.

4.Exercise.
PresidentObamastartseverydaywith45minutesofweightsorcardioinhispersonalgym.Hislogicwas
always,Therestofmytimewillbemoreproductiveifyougivememyworkouttime,Obamasformer
campaignmanagertoldWebMD.
Occasionally,healsoholdsaregularbasketballgamewithahandfulofWashingtonfriends,eachwith
seriousbasketballexperience.(ObamaplaysinredwhiteandblueUnderArmorhightopswiththenumber
44onthem.)
Youhavetoexerciseoratsomepointyoulljustbreakdown,ObamatoldMichaelLewis.
5.Yourpersonaltimeissacred.
Thepresidenthasthreemomentsinhisschedulethatareunquestionablyhis:themorningworkout,his
dinnerwithhisdaughters,andthenighttimeafterhisfamilyfallsasleep.Eachblockoftimeservesadifferent
roleforObama:thegymkeepshisbodyingoodhealth,thelatenighthelpshimcatchuponwork,andthe
dinnerisespeciallysacredtime,withtheaddedbenefitofgivingthepresidentabitofperspectiveoutsidehis
hecticworkday.
[Hischildrenare]notreallythatinterestedinhisday,becausetheyrekids,SeniorAdvisorValeriaJarrett
toldVanityFair.Theywanthimtofocusontheirday.

Moreinsightson:DecisionMaking,Leadership,TimeManagement

moreposts

SeanistheManagingEditorandProducerof99UandisacofounderofTechnicallyPhillyandPhilly
TechWeek.Emailhim:blanda@adobe.comorfindhimonTwitter:@SeanBlanda.

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HermanGMorganIII 9monthsago

IhadtocomereadthisoriginalarticleafterseeingitspunandskewedbyOpinionpiecesintheWSJ
andelsewhere.Seemsprettyinnocuoustome?
1

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ManhattanDatingproject 9monthsago

InterestinginsightofadayinBarackObama'slife.Itisgoodtoseeapresidentbeinghealthy.I
wonder,whatVladimirPutin'sdayislike.
3

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EcoPolitics&Animals ayearago

Helpfultipsfromamanwhohasmasteredtheartofbeingoneofthebusiestpeopleintheworld.
Thanksforpostingthisfascinatinginsight
9

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AnneFlash 2yearsago

Ifoundthisfascinating,especiallyinthelightofhisbeingnewlyreelected.Ihaveoftenwondered
howthismanwhohassomanythingsgoingon,somanymillionsofmovingparts,stayssocentered
andpresentseeming.
6

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MikeB 2yearsago

Greatarticle!Whilethiswon'tpersonallyhelpmebemoreproductive,Ifoundittobeavery
interestinginsightononeofthebusiestpeopleintheworld.

Share

MarkIrving 2yearsago

VeryinterestingpostalthoughI'dliketoreadmorethere'sgottobeapart2articlecoming
soon??
2

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SeanBlanda

Mod >MarkIrving

2yearsago

There'snopart2plannedasofnow.
1

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poppa 2yearsago

Greatarticleandinsightintothisuniquepresident'slife.Notmanypointers,(hehasn'thadmuch
lifeexperiencetodrawon),butsomeweIltaken.Ialsopreferthequietof1pmtoassemblemy

thoughts(researchtheprosandconsofupcomingprocedures),andfinalizepreparationsforafull
daywithcomplexpatients.Unfortunately,Ihavetogetbackupat6.Lovetheexerciseandsport
comments,andwilltryforasecond5min.roundofchinupsmidday(sincenotmuchtimeto
spare).Iwouldexpectmorehardworkfromapresident,knowingthatheisonlyinitfor4or8
years,especiallycomparedtomostdoctors,whohavetheintenselifedeathdecisionmakingburden
foroften40+years.
re:Europe:wasinPolandteaching,recently,andtheythinkUSisfoolishforlettingObamatakeus
inthedirectiontheyaresohappytohaveextractedthemselvesfrom!
4

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lebecka>poppa 2yearsago

Please,spareme.IlivedinPolandfor5yearsandtheyhadaveryhighopinionofObama
there.
9

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Anushka 2yearsago

Lovethearticle.Itsbrillianttoseehowsuchamanfunctions!(thestarsthing...ihavenocluehow
thatworks!)

Share

DaxBercasio 2yearsago

Thanksforthispost!
4

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Anushka 2yearsago

Iamsupergladyouputthisup.Ithelpssomeofusunderstandwhatkindofalifehelikestolead
eveninhisbusyschedule.Givesyouinsightonhowinsightfulheisaboutwork,family,andbusiness
matters.Amanlikethatwiththesekindsofmethods(thoughonlyafewwerementioned)isona
paththatnopresidentwouldhavefoundeasy.Iadmirehimforvariousreasons...Thankyouagain!
6

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Tom 2yearsago

WhatIlearnedaboutthePresident:
1.Heprefersnottowakeuptooearly.2.Heavoidshavingtomaketoomanydecisions.3.Helikes
playingbasketball.4.Heenjoyspersonaltime.
Coolstorybro.
11

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bluechimera>Tom 2yearsago

1.Wakingupat7am*is*earlywhenyouworkuntil1am(aswasmentionedinthearticle).
2.Minimizingthenumberofunimportantdecisionsyouhavetomake(whenyou'relikely
makinghundredsofimportantdecisionsperweek)isagreattip.
3.Exercisinghasbeenshowntoincreasementalclarity.Youshouldtryit.
4.Forbusypeople,maintainingsomepersonaltimeiscriticaltoavoidingburnout.Ifyou
everbecomeabusyperson,youshouldkeepthatinmind...

Whetheryou'reanObamafanornot,therewasnothingsillyinthisarticle.
24

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MichaelChan>Tom 2yearsago

Howdidyougatherthat?Thereisnomentionofthetimehewakesupinthemorning.He
couldwakeupat4AMtogoworkoutforallweknow.I'dassumeitscloserto6AMthough.
4

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Anna>MichaelChan 2yearsago

Yes,thestorydoesmentionit:"
Whenheawakensatseven,healreadyhasajumponthings."
6

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Anna 2yearsago

Whatreallyhithomeformewasthatthisscheduleisn'tsuperhumanreallytheonlything
differentfromlotsof95ersisthathegoesbacktoworkafterdinner(andlotsofpeopledothaton
atleastsomedaysoftheweek).Asagradstudent(withpresumablyfewerpeopletobombthenthe
president),itisgoodtoknowthatIdon'thavetowakeupatsomeungodlyhour,orgiveupon
personalcaretodowell.
Iwascuriousaboutsleepandwhenhewenttobed.YouhearaboutpeoplelikeClintonwhodidn't
sleepmuchitwouldmakeadifferencetoknowifhepushesforasolid8hours,orifhe'sgoingto
bedat2AM.
3

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Thea>Anna 2yearsago

Heworksuntil1andgetsupat7.So,6hourssleep.Notbad.
5

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SaidadeVries 2yearsago

Anyone,sorelaxedaspresidentObama,willbeabletomanageanything.Whatagreatpersonality
andsurelyhopethathewillbereelected.
8

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siatome 2yearsago

Theproblemwiththispostisn'tthetips,thosearefine,themanclearlyhasaholdondiscipline,
scheduling,etc.otherwisehewouldn'tmakeitinpolitics.Theproblemisthathehaspersonally
becomeasymbolofsomuch,andsomuchofwhatheisasymbolifisinherentlypolarizing.The
minuteapictureofhimappearssidesaretaken.
Addtothatthefactthatthisparticularindustrylovestheguyandyouendupwithalargenumber
ofcreativeprofessionalswhoaredownrightsickofhearingabouthim.
Thatsaid,thedesignonhis2008campaignwasagamechanger,forpoliticsANDfortheindustry,
anarticlecomparingromney'sandobama'sdesignsthisyearandthesortsofimagesandfeelings
thattheirprintandwebistryingtoinvokewouldbeveryinteresting.Ifyoucouldmakeiteven
handedenough.

Thatsaid,peoplewouldstillargueinthecomments.lol.
6

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ronnie 2yearsago

wonderhowhemanageswhenhegetssick?
3

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99U 2yearsago

Theirhavebeenquiteafewnegativecommentsonthispost,soIwanttotakeamomenttorespond
regardingourmotivations.Thispostdoesnotexpressthepoliticalviewsof99norBehance,and
we'renotinterestedintryingtomakeanyonevoteaparticularway.
WethoughtitwouldbeinterestingtodigintosomeofthemanylengthyprofilesofObama,andpull
outsometipsaboutmanagingyourdayeffectivelybecausefewpeoplehavetomakeasmany
importantdecisionsinadayasthesittingpresident(whicheverpresidentwe'retalkingabout).
It'satopicI'vealwaysbeencuriousabout.Ioftengetoverwhelmedinmyownday,sohowdoesa
Presidentwhohasamillionmorethings,andthingsofsignificantlygreaterimporttodoget
everythingdone?
Ifyou'renotafanoftheinsightshere,Iwouldlovetohearyourcommentson*other*presidentsof
anypoliticalpersuasion,whohavegreatinsightsonmanagingthedaytoday.Quotes,stories,
whatever.
EditorinChief//JocelynK.Glei
58

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lebecka>99U 2yearsago

Sorrytoseethatsomepeoplearesolimitedtheycan'tgetpasttheirpettygrievancestosee
thevalueinlisteningtoapersonthattheymaydisagreewithinotherways.Thewayany
presidentmanagestogetthroughthedayisfascinating.
12

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Kola>lebecka 9monthsago

HiLebecka,Ithinkyou'vesaiditallthewayanypresidentmanagestogetthrough
thedayisdefinitelyworthsharingandlearningfrom.
1

Share

ByronPalmer>99U 2yearsago

Lovedthepost.Ihavebeenwonderingaboutthewaythepresidentmanageshistimeaswell.
Howanypresidenthas.Idon'thavestrongfeelingsaboutthepresidentonewayortheother,
butIwouldliketothinkthatifIdidhavestrongfeelingsIwouldstillbeabletodifferentiate
yourarticle'scontentfrommypoliticalleaningsandmybeliefinhisjobperformance.
Seriously,whocanimaginethescopeanddifficultyofthatjob,nomatterwhichidiotholds
it.ThankyouJocelyn,itwasgreat.
22

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99U>JoeNicklo 2yearsago

Thanksforreading,Joe.Itiscertainlynowclearthecommunitydoesnothaveataste
forpolitics,andhasbeendulynoted.
6

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senhorroo>99U 2yearsago

Thisisnotpolitics.It'saninsightintohowonepersondoestheirjobandgets
itdone.
Therewasnothingaboutpolicyoranythingevenremotelypoliticalatall.The
onlypoliticsinthearticleiswhat'sbeenbroughtintoitinthecomments
section.
Greatarticle99U.
56

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MikeLambert 2yearsago

Seemstypicalofmostmoderndaypresidents.Iwouldhavelikedtohaveseensomethingthathedid
thatwasradicallydifferentfromtherest.
3

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Luther 2yearsago

Allinall,afairlynormalapproach.
7

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