Here’s the latest edition of The Optimized Report newsletter, a collection of actionable ideas to help small business teams improve their performance, profit, and potential without sacrificing what's most important.

Self-accountability is crucial for a successful life – whatever success means for you.

My business advisor defines accountability as “taking ownership of getting a crucial task or responsibility done – on time and up to par.” The definition is broad enough to include everything outside of “work.” Great things happen when you focus on the right things and hold yourself accountable for those right things.

Maybe not as fast as you’d like, but progress is made on the back of daily commitments.

Now, on to this week’s optimized ideas:

1. 10 Mandatory Traits For ALL Leaders

“You can’t have a successful company with a weak leader.”

Business is hard.

It’s not a particular skill that will make you successful. Nor is it a specific strategy or tactic. Instead, to grow and maintain a successful company, you need leadership.

These are the top leadership traits.

Related: 3 Integrity Habits All Leaders Must Possess To Set The Best Standards

2. Dopamine Addiction

“People can be addicted to ANYTHING that releases dopamine. And we are all doing it constantly in an unnatural way.”

I’m addicted to three things; coffee, nicotine gum, and checking my phone for no apparent reason. There’s a constant pull from each one of these to want more. Andrew Wilkinson had a similar problem. He was addicted to dopamine, as am I.

This led me to want to start reading the book Dopamine Nation, which looks interesting.

Related: The Dopamine Addiction

3. 1, 2, 3, You Have ADHD

“Children with ADHD show things like preference for sugary foods which also act as dopamine inducing stimulants.”

I remember when I took Ritalin that put me in a Zombie-like state when I was a kid. I didn’t last more than a week on it.

What was fascinating about the Andrew Huberman podcast on ADHD is that people with ADHD are drawn towards stimulants. It helps us focus. You would think it would have the opposite effect, like what happens to people without ADHD (i.e., the jitters). It’s a core reason why I love coffee and nicotine gum. 🤦‍♂️

But being dopamine addicted isn’t a good thing, as we covered.

Related: Do You Have Business ADD? Focused Flexibility Is Your Cure

4. Financial Friday’s

“Freedom is a luxury only for the financially independent. And financial independence can only stem from being financially aware. After all, where your attention goes, your energy flows.”

I hate looking at reports.

Sure we all have to do things we don’t like doing, but I despise looking at reports every week. But it’s important, so I do it (maybe not weekly 🤪). I loved this strategy of Financial Fridays.

The idea is, you go through your personal and professional profit and loss statement every week.

It’s a good habit to create in a world of financial illiteracy.

5. One Simple Way to Motivate Your Team

“Everyone likes to receive recognition for their efforts.”

Affirmations are a great leadership tool.

People grow tired of being bullied and taken advantage of, hence the result of The Great Resignation.

When someone on your team does something good, offer them an affirmation in front of their team.

“Noticing the more regular—and more mundane—contributions of your team goes a lot further than you might think.”

Related: The One Way Anyone Can Motivate Themselves To Work Harder

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