Our aim at Athena is to give you your time back so you can spend it in the ways that matter most.

In each issue of our newsletter you’ll get unique delegation tips and leadership inspiration.

Benjamin Franklin’s Daily Questions

Benjamin Franklin framed each day with two questions:

Morning: “What good can I do today?” 

Evening: “What good have I done today?”

One morning it meant drafting plans for the first public library in America. Another, it meant repairing a friendship through a carefully written letter.

The scale changed. The anchor stayed.

This rhythm naturally created a feedback loop. The morning question pointed him forward. The evening question held him accountable. Together, they forced alignment between intention and action.

Franklin measured life by contribution, not completion.

A to-do list ended when the box was checked. His system kept going, day after day, compounding into institutions, discoveries, and trust that lasted long after him.

Extraordinary lives rarely come from bursts of inspiration. They grow out of ordinary mornings, repeated with discipline.

Advanced scheduling tactics

You don’t usually need more hours, just a sharper calendar.

The simple fact is: not all meetings deserve your best hours.

Think about your calendar in three tiers.

Level 1: High-priority

These go in your prime hours — when your mind is sharpest and energy is highest.

• A final stage interview that decides the next key hire

• A tough client situation that can’t wait

• An investor conversation where every detail matters

Level 2: Standard

These live in mid-day or mid-energy slots.

• Weekly team syncs

• Ongoing client check-ins

• Regular process check-ins

Level 3: Optional / Flexible

These belong at the edges of your day — commutes, late afternoons, or any time you’re running lower on focus.

• Networking coffees

• Learning exchanges

• Mentorship chats

When you layer meetings this way, you stop treating your calendar as a flat grid. The right conversations get your best attention, while lighter ones still happen without draining prime time.

Learn more in our full guide to advanced calendar management.