Revealed: Why Your Brain's 'Other Intelligence' OutPerforms IQ by 60%, The Productivity Lie You've Been Sold, and the 30-Second Age Reframe That Changes Everything

Hey there,

Hope you're having a fantastic week! I've been diving deep into performance psychology lately and discovered some fascinating insights about what actually drives success (hint: it's not what most people think). Today's newsletter tackles the hidden factors that separate top performers from everyone else.

Let's dive in!

Today at a Glance

• Absorb life-changing books in just 15 minutes?

• Shocking Truth: Emotional Intelligence beats IQ, & what you can do about it

• Time Management is Failing you and what to do instead

• Weekly Reminder to shift your perspective on your current age

• The path to inner peace in just four simple words

Read Time: 4 minutes

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#1. Why Emotional Intelligence Outperforms IQ & what you can do about it

Ever wonder why some brilliant people struggle professionally while others with average intelligence thrive? The answer lies in emotional intelligence (EQ).

The data is striking:

• Emotional intelligence accounts for over 60% of people's personal and professional achievements

• EQ has a 58% influence on job performance

• 90% of top performers have high emotional intelligence

• Leaders who demonstrate empathy see employee engagement increase by 76% and creativity by 61%

What fascinates me is how often we overlook EQ in our pursuit of technical skills. I've personally witnessed brilliant strategists fail because they couldn't navigate team dynamics, while those with average technical skills but exceptional emotional awareness rise to leadership positions.

The 5 Core Components of Emotional Intelligence:

1. Self-awareness - Recognizing your emotions as they happen

2. Self-regulation - Managing your emotional responses effectively

3. Social awareness/ Empathy- Understanding others' emotions and needs

4. Social skills - Building relationships and navigating social networks

5. Motivation: Being driven by a sense of purpose and staying persistent in the face of challenges. 

5 Practical Ways to Boost Your EQ Today:

1. Pause before reacting - Create a 5-second buffer between stimulus and response

2. Label your emotions - Name what you're feeling with specific language

3. Respond, don't react - Choose your behavior rather than being driven by emotions

4. Regulate your emotions - Use techniques like deep breathing or reframing

5. Reframe situations - Look for alternative perspectives and interpretations

Want to assess your current EQ level?

I've created a practical cheatsheet to help you determine your emotional intelligence: EQ Assessment Cheatsheet

#2. Why Time Management is Failing You🚨 Try THIS Instead

I've got to share something that completely changed how I work. You know how we're always trying to squeeze more into our days? I used to do that too, and also brag about my 12-hour workdays, until I realizedI was only getting about 3-4 hours of quality work done.

So, I started studying top performers to understand what they did differently:

Shocking Truth: They don’t manage time 

Because they know- Time is finite, but energy is renewable.

Look, the top performers aren't just scheduling every minute—they're matching their important work to when their mind is actually firing on all cylinders. 

Since learning this I focus on my energy, and honestly? I'm doing better work in way less time.

We've all been making these energy-killing mistakes: 

❌ Trying to do brain work when our energy is tanking 

❌ Pushing through exhaustion instead of just taking a break 

❌ Saying yes to stuff that drains us but doesn't really matter

No wonder we end up burned out with work we're not even proud of!

The people who are crushing it think differently. 

They work in energy cycles, 

they actually prioritize rest, and 

they're ruthless about cutting out distractions.

So, Here are 5 Ways to Start Managing Your Energy (That Actually Work)

1. Figure Out When You're At Your Best

• Just track when you feel awesome vs. foggy for a week (literally Track on a paper)

• I discovered I'm on fire from 10am to 1pm 

• Put your hardest stuff in your power hours

• I prefer adding to my google calendar 

2. Take Real Breaks Before You Crash

• Try this 50/10 thing: focused for 50 minutes, then completely off for 10

• No checking Instagram—actually walk away from screens

• I step outside, listen to music or just spend time with my spouse (checklist below on what else you can do)

• Set an alarm or you'll forget

3. Protect Your Energy Like It's Gold

• Start saying "not now" to stuff that drains you

• Block your calendar with "focus time" and mean it

• Tell people "I'm all yours after 2pm" and they'll respect it

4. Set Up Your Space For Success

• Clear your desk the night before (game-changer!)

• Hide your phone in another room during deep work

• I use that Freedom app to block websites that suck me in

• Create a visual cue that tells others "I'm in the zone"

5. Make Energy-Boosting Non-Negotiable

• Protect your sleep like your career depends on it (it does)

• Schedule walking meetings instead of sitting all day

• Keep good snacks around so you don't crash at 3pm

• Do at least one thing daily that makes you smile

Listen, this approach seriously changed everything for me. In addition to this I’ve also created additional tips to boost your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy Energy Management Checklist (Try implementing during the 10 min break time)

#4. Weekly Reminder: 

This quote hit me hard this week.

How often do we look backward with regret instead of forward with gratitude? 

Imagine if you could go back in time from your deathbed to exactly where you are now—wouldn't that feel like winning the lottery?

Try this exercise: For just one day this week, view your current age as a gift from your future self. Notice how it transforms your perspective on opportunities, challenges, and time itself.

😂 The path to inner peace in just four simple words

I laughed way too hard at this because it's so true!

One of the most liberating practices I've adopted is getting clear about what deserves my emotional energy and what doesn't.

Ask yourself: "Is this actually my problem to solve?"

You might be surprised how often the answer is no—and how freeing that realization can be.

This newsletter isn't meant to be a one-way conversation. Have some thoughts to share? Did something in this issue resonate with you or make you question your approach? I'd love to hear about it!

Simply hit reply to this email and share what's on your mind. Your perspective might just inspire a future deep dive.

And if there's a specific challenge or topic you're wrestling with that you'd like me to explore in an upcoming newsletter, let me know! The best content comes from addressing real questions from readers like you.

Drop me a line—I personally read every reply, and your input shapes where we go next.

Until next week,

Zeel