Wolf&Grayson EditorialMost professionals struggle to balance what they want to accomplish personally with what their organizations demand. The challenge becomes even harder when performance pressures mount and time seems to evaporate. Alex Dripchak, an author, college-to-career pioneer, and sales director, has spent years studying this problem and developing practical solutions that actually work.
Building Practical Skills Through Reading
Dripchak started his career at Mercer and Oracle, where he learned how organizations identify and retain top talent. But he credits something else for his real education. “I’ve read over 300 different professional development books, and I would say a good 25 to 30 of those have shaped how I teach the program and look at how to develop talent,” he says. Through the Commence Foundation, he teaches practical skills that are applicable across various scenarios and they hinge on: Getting into a routine. Managing time effectively matters. “Being able to cultivate energy quickly and effectively is vital, so you need to find ways to stay highly energized and engaged in the work that you’re doing on a day to day basis,” Dripchak explains. It’s about staying engaged, not just busy.
Finding Meaning in Daily Work
Ask Dripchak about the biggest challenges professionals face, and he starts with purpose. He references Simon Sinek’s example of two workers building the same structure. One complains about cementing rocks in the heat. The other sees it differently. “We are building the next cathedral. They see the vision, the purpose, and they are motivated by it,” he explains. The difference? One worker connects their daily tasks to something bigger. “You need to always have a focus on the good you’re doing or the higher power you’re working for or the end goal that you’re going to bring to others,” Dripchak states. That focus has to extend beyond yourself to maintain a real sense of purpose.
Then there’s energy. Most people trap themselves in rigid schedules that don’t match how they actually work best. “We really need to break free from this societal trap and conformity to do a strict 9 to 5:30 job where you just are working constantly– only taking a break for lunch,” he observes. The alternative? Figure out your best working hours and structure your day around peak performance times. Whether through exercise, meditation, or something else, the goal is simple: find ways to operate at 100% of your energy, not whatever’s left over as the day drags on. The gig economy complicates things further. Close to half of workers now have side jobs, which fragments focus. “People aren’t staying laser focused on, hey, this is my day job and I need to make sure I’m getting my 40 hours done towards this,” Dripchak points out. Hybrid work eliminated commutes, but many professionals just lost their focus in different ways so putting guardrails on your phone and separating your workspace have become vitally important.
Staying Disciplined Through Simple Practices
- Creating Artificial Deadlines – During his internships, managers would assign work without firm timelines, so Dripchak made his own. “If they said, oh, I don’t know, it’ll take you four hours or a day or whatnot, I would see if I could do a thorough job and get it done before lunch,” he recalls. Recently, he used this same approach before his son was born in February, creating a countdown to finish projects before those chaotic first weeks of parenthood.
- A to Z Thinking – People focus on starting and finishing but ignore the middle steps. “There are 26 letters in the alphabet and probably 26 steps that are involved in your process,” he explains. Breaking big goals into smaller pieces with regular checkpoints keeps you from losing track of time and progress.
- Priming Your Environment – Set up your workspace with what motivates you and eliminates distractions. For Dripchak, that means having tea and water nearby, some books, motivational quotes. “I have a workplace that I call a sanctified space. This means it’s something that is solely dedicated for working. There’s no TV nearby, no kitchen nearby, no other things that are easier habits that might win out,” he shares.
Follow Alex Dripchak on LinkedIn for more practical insights on performance, purpose, and productivity.
