When Rest Brings Ideas You Don’t Expect
When Rest Brings Ideas You Don’t Expect
Especially the Week You’re Not Supposed to Be Doing Anything
The Idea I Lost
I get some of my best ideas when I’m not working.
Saturday was one of those days. I wasn’t writing. I wasn’t planning. I wasn’t thinking about anything important. I was just resting like I actually tell other people to do.
And then, randomly, while walking down a hallway, an idea hit me. A good one.
I thought, “Jordan, write that down.”
But we were just about to leave. I didn’t want to pull out my phone and risk getting sucked into texts, emails, or whatever else. So I told myself I’d remember.
I didn’t.
And I’m still a little salty about it. Because it really felt like one of the good ones.
I have no clue what it was now.
Why That Still Matters
Even though I lost it, that moment reminded me of something I’ve seen play out over and over again:
When I’m rushing, nothing new shows up.
But when I slow down, ideas finally have space to show up.
I don’t get creative when I’m overwhelmed. I get creative when I’m rested.
And that’s the whole reason I wanted to post this now—this week.
Because this is the one week of the year where most people finally stop.
No school. No meetings. A weird calendar blur where no one knows what day it is.
So instead of just killing time, what if you used this little pause to see what might surface?
Not in a productivity way.
Not in a goal-setting, five-year-plan way.
Just in a… breathe and see what happens kind of way.
That’s where the good stuff usually lives.
What This Looks Like for Us
At Leaders of Today, we actually built this into our rhythm.
Right after our big leadership conference in February, we take March completely off.
We call it our Sabbath Month, and it’s not just a nice idea—it’s one of the most important things we do.
We don’t schedule meetings.
We don’t assign projects.
We don’t nudge each other with “quick ideas.”
We rest. On purpose.
Then in April, we get back together for a retreat and share what came to us while we weren’t trying to force anything. Sometimes it’s a big dream. Sometimes it’s a fix to something we didn’t know was broken. Sometimes it’s just a sentence that helps us think more clearly.
It’s not perfect. But it’s honest.
And I’m convinced our best ideas haven’t come from working harder.
They’ve come from resting better.
What I’m Doing Differently
So yeah, I forgot the idea. But here’s what I didn’t forget:
I need to start writing things down. Immediately.
No more “I’ll remember that.” I won’t.
So I’m keeping sticky notes and a pen nearby from now on.
I may look like a grandpa wandering the grocery store with a notepad, but at least I’ll hang on to the next one.
Want to Try It?
If you’re in that in-between week and want to make the most of it—without burning out or overthinking—try this:
Actually rest. Not scrolling-on-your-phone rest. The real kind. Go for a walk. Take a nap. Sit quietly. Whatever helps you breathe.
Don’t edit the idea before you write it down. If it pops into your brain, capture it. You can decide later if it’s any good.
Keep something close to write with. Notes app. Voice memo. Pen and paper. Doesn’t matter. Just have it nearby.
Encourage your people to rest too. Whether it’s your team or your family—invite them into the pause. See what ideas show up when nobody’s forcing anything.
Review what surfaced. Take 10 minutes before the new year starts and look back. There might be something worth carrying forward.
Why I Write
I write these posts as part of my own design cycle — to reflect, learn, and grow as a leader, a husband, and a follower of Jesus. My goal isn’t to sound like I have it all figured out, but to share the stories, lessons, and experiments I experiance long the way.
I believe leadership isn’t just about titles or influence — it’s about how we show up every day. It’s the small choices we make, the way we treat people, and the courage to keep trying even when things don’t go as planned.
I also believe we should dream big — to imagine what could be, not just what is. Every great idea, every movement, every changed life starts with someone who believed it was possible. The design cycle gives us a framework to turn those dreams into something real: plan it, build it, reflect on it, and share it.
Through writing, I hope to help people build the confidence to lead right where they are— to think differently, lead boldly, reflect honestly, and keep trying even when it would be easier to quit. My goal is to remind each of us that leadership doesn’t start someday in the future; it starts right where we are. We’re not leaders of tomorrow — we are Leaders of Today. And in everything I do, my hope is to worship Jesus through the way I live, lead, and love others.
Use what you read here to build your own cycle of growth.
Observe. Reflect. Adjust. Share.
Dream big — and then, start again.