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.

Lorne Michaels’ Gift Playbook

Gift-giving season is approaching fast. Here are three principles that transform gift giving from obligation to opportunity, with practical steps your assistant can execute immediately.

Create Your Signature Gift

Great gifts build anticipation through consistency and uniqueness. Find something distinctive to you and make it your annual tradition. Focus on quality and presentation over price. Add personal touches like custom labels.

Lorne Michaels sends raspberry jam from his farm to the entire Saturday Night Live cast every year.

A media mogul worth hundreds of millions sends homemade preserves. The consistency, uniqueness, and personal connection make this modest gift great.

Match the Moment

Track life events and milestones. Research what challenges people face right now. Consider their love language and choose gifts that solve real problems or enhance experiences they already value.

When Mindy Kaling had her daughter, Oprah sent two men with a U-Haul to deliver a hand-carved bookcase filled with one hundred classic children's books.

Each book bore a personalized bookplate reading "Katherine's Book Club." Oprah understood new mothers need bedtime stories and that Kaling valued literature. The gift could grow with the child.

Build in Surprise

Send gifts outside traditional holidays. Upgrade one element beyond expectations. Time delivery for maximum impact when people expect nothing.

Kaling expected flowers from Oprah. She received an entire library instead. The scale and thoughtfulness transformed a congratulatory gesture into an unforgettable moment.

Start with one principle. Give your assistant these guidelines. Great gift giving becomes a system, then a tradition, then part of your legacy.

UNODIR - Unless Otherwise Directed

Last month, my assistant sent me a WhatsApp message:

"UNODIR: Booking your flight to Singapore. Cathay Pacific business class, $4,320. Connection through Hong Kong. Completing payment end of day."

I didn't respond. I didn't need to.

The flight was booked, the trip was planned, and life moved forward – all without me having to make a single decision.

Enter UNODIR

UNODIR (Unless Otherwise Directed) is a military principle. An individual proceeds with a planned course of action unless explicitly told otherwise by higher authority.

Instead of asking for permission, your team informs you of actions they're taking. Unless you say stop, they keep moving forward.

How we use it

We created a dedicated WhatsApp channel where team members post their UNODIR updates. Real examples:

"UNODIR: Alice requested event sponsorship. Connecting her with Mark to discuss partnership opportunities."

"UNODIR: Declined meeting with potential vendor. Their pricing is 40% above our usual range."

We set specific guidelines for what qualifies as an UNODIR decision:

→ Financial decisions under $1,000
→ Day-to-day operational choices
→ Meeting scheduling and travel arrangements
→ Project timeline adjustments

Major decisions get immediate updates. Others get updated every few days. This prevents information overload while maintaining transparency.

Why it works

Your team knows they can move fast and that keeping you informed is enough. They gain more agency and enjoy their jobs more. You get a better check of what your assistant workload is at all times.

UNODIR is your path to building a team that moves at the speed of trust.