Unlock the secrets to building powerful habits that can skyrocket your business success with the Lewis Brothers. We explore how daily routines can make or break your leadership potential, drawing from personal insights and the current automotive landscape during truck month. Discover the subtle ways in which your morning clarity can set the stage for a productive day, and why letting go of unnecessary attachments—like excess inventory—can lead to better team dynamics and improved decision-making. 

As we navigate the complexities of time management and proactive planning, we take cues from experts like Alex Hormozi on aligning your energy levels with your tasks for maximum impact. Learn strategies to break free from unproductive habits and restructure your day for peak performance. From balancing accountability with empowerment in management roles to fostering a culture of trust that enables team growth, we share practical tips that can transform your organizational dynamics and set you on a path to sustainable success.

Finally, we tackle the challenge of breaking bad workplace habits with insights from Toyota's just-in-time production system and lessons in strategic decision-making. Hear about the courage and preparation needed for large-scale business projects, and why staying flexible and open to change is crucial for long-term success. Reflect on how external perspectives can keep you grounded and ensure you're not just going through the motions. Whether it's personal stories about managing morning routines or the importance of trusted resources, this episode offers a comprehensive guide to building strong business habits that will empower you in both personal and professional realms.

More About this Episode

The Power of Habits: How to Lead and Succeed Every Day

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from running a family business, it’s that your habits can make or break you. We’re not just talking about the big ones, like getting to work on time or making sure you hit your sales targets. We’re talking about the small, everyday habits you don’t even notice—the ones that shape your mindset, your leadership style, and ultimately, your success.

In this post, we’re diving deep into the power of habits and how they influence every aspect of your life and business. We’re not here to give you a motivational speech. We’re here to share what’s worked for us, what hasn’t, and how you can double down on the good habits while breaking the bad ones before they break you.

Why Habits Matter More Than You Think

Habits are the backbone of consistency. They shape your routines, influence your decisions, and determine how you react to challenges. In leadership, your habits aren’t just about productivity; they’re about influence. Like it or not, people are watching you all the time. Your team is constantly picking up on your energy, your mood, and even your body language.

If you walk into the dealership with a scowl on your face or you’re distracted because you didn’t start your day right, your team feels that. They might not say it, but they notice. And it affects their productivity, morale, and even how they treat customers. That’s why we believe so strongly in this: You don’t get to choose whether you’re influencing people. You only get to choose whether it’s positive or negative.

Start Your Day Right: The Power of Morning Routines

Your day is won or lost in the first few hours after you wake up. That’s why we’re obsessed with morning routines. For Matt, that means waking up early, getting his coffee, then heading straight to the sauna for quiet time and devotionals. By stacking his habits—prayer, reflection, and planning—he gets his mind right before the world starts demanding his attention. And then there’s the cold plunge. It’s brutal, but nothing gets you more alert and ready to take on the day.

For Taylor, mornings are about setting up the team for success. With multiple shifts and fast-paced days, he makes sure everything is organized and ready before the first person walks through the door. The goal? To eliminate surprises so the team can focus on serving customers, not scrambling to find information.

Why does this matter? Because if you don’t take control of your morning, the day will control you. If you’re reacting to emails, phone calls, and problems first thing, you’re already behind. But if you start the day on your own terms, you set the tone. You’re proactive, not reactive.

Leading by Example: Your Influence Starts Before You Say a Word

Here’s the truth: 70% of communication is non-verbal, and we’ve heard some studies say it’s as high as 90%. That means before you even open your mouth, your team is picking up on your mood, your energy, and your presence.

We’ve all walked into a room and felt the vibe. People are watching to see how you handle pressure, how you respond to setbacks, and even how you walk through the showroom. They’re asking themselves, “Is today a good day to bring up that new idea?” or “Should I wait because the boss looks stressed?”

This is why taking care of yourself isn’t just about you. It’s about your team. If you’re not in the right state of mind, it shows. And your team feels it. That’s why we prioritize our mornings—to make sure we’re bringing the right energy and mindset to the day.

Breaking Bad Habits Before They Break You

Let’s get real. Not all habits are good, and some can silently sabotage your leadership and your business. Here are a few we’ve had to break ourselves:

  1. Micromanaging: It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to control everything, especially when you care about the details. But if you’re always in the weeds, you’re not leading—you’re managing. And that’s not how you grow a team or a business. We learned to trust our managers by requiring them to turn in meeting agendas and recaps. It keeps us in the loop without us having to be in every meeting.
  2. Procrastination by Busywork: Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re productive. Matt used to stack his mornings with external meetings, thinking it was efficient. But he realized he was spending his best energy on things that weren’t driving revenue. Now, external meetings get pushed to the afternoon, freeing up his mornings to focus on what matters most—leading the team.
  3. Avoiding Accountability: If you’re in a leadership role, accountability starts with you. We’re big on facts, high energy, and respectful meetings. If something’s not working, we own it and fix it. There’s no room for finger-pointing or excuses.

Good Habits to Pursue

If you want to lead effectively and grow your business, here are some habits worth doubling down on:

  1. Prioritize What Matters MostYou don’t grow by doing more. You grow by doing more of what matters most. That means being ruthless with your time and energy. It’s not about being busy; it’s about being productive.
  2. Plan AheadDon’t wait for the day to plan the day. Whether it’s getting your workout gear ready the night before or setting the agenda for the week, planning ahead eliminates decision fatigue and keeps you focused.
  3. Delegate and EmpowerWe can’t stress this enough: If you can’t remove yourself, you can’t grow. If you’re the bottleneck in every decision, you’re holding your team back. Empower your people, trust them, and let them learn by doing.
  4. Create Accountability and StructurePeople perform better when they know what’s expected of them. We’ve learned to set clear expectations, follow up with accountability, and provide structure without micromanaging. It’s not about being rigid; it’s about being consistent.

Change Isn’t Easy, But It’s Worth It

Look, we get it. Changing your habits isn’t easy, and breaking bad ones is even harder. But the payoff is worth it. When we decided to uproot the whole business and move to our new location, we were risking everything—our legacy, our livelihood, and a lot of money. But staying comfortable wasn’t an option. We had to change to grow, even if it meant stepping into the unknown.

That’s the thing about habits—they either push you forward or hold you back. It’s up to you to decide which direction you’re going.

At the end of the day, your habits define your leadership, your business, and your life. They shape how you show up every day and how your team sees you. If you want to be a leader worth following, you need to build habits worth emulating.

So, take a hard look at your routines. What’s working? What needs to change? Don’t wait for a crisis to force you to rethink your habits. Be proactive. Start today.

If you’re ready to lead with purpose, grow your business, and build a team that thrives, it starts with your habits. Because the truth is, you don’t get to choose whether you’re influencing people. You only get to choose whether it’s positive or negative.

Choose wisely.