
← Truth, Lies and Work6 aug · 52 min
325. He cancelled his meetings for a week (and nobody noticed), with Chris Lovett, best-selling author
Have you ever looked at a calendar packed with back-to-back, colour-coded blocks and felt a strange sense of pride?
In today’s workplace culture, a hectic diary isn’t just a schedule—it’s an identity. But what if all those reflex "yeses," endless Zoom syncs, and low-value emails are actually destroying your performance and pushing you toward burnout?
In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, host Al Elliott sits down with executive coach, author, and speaker Chris Lovett to discuss how applying a "less is more" mindset to your job can lead to radically better results.
From stepping on an old 1990s CD case to convincing a senior leader to decline every meeting for a week, Chris shares actionable strategies to help you break free from busywork, reclaim your time, and become a true "corporate athlete."
The Break Point: How stepping on a Mark Morrison CD case led Chris to sell almost everything he owned, board a flight to Copenhagen, and completely redefine success.
The Meeting Experiment: What happened when a senior leader declined a whole week of meetings—and why only one person noticed?
The "Needing to Be Needed" Trap: Why we treat calendar invitations like hits of dopamine, and how over-helping your team actually stunts their growth.
Are You a Corporate Athlete? Why high performers build tactical rest into their days, and how back-to-back meetings drop your attention and engagement by up to 40%.
Strategic Laziness & Small Rebellions: Tactical scripts and questions you can start using today to protect your time without burning bridges or looking uncooperative.
Connect with Chris:
Website: https://chrislovett.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lovett-29176933/