How Keystone Habits Anchor Your Systems

When we onboard a new client with their assistant, we always start with an intro call.

The client usually looks a little overwhelmed - they’ve been waiting for this moment, but now the responsibility shifts to them to use the assistant well and follow the systems we’ve built.

So I always tell them the same thing:

Forget everything else. Just focus on the weekly meeting.

It’s the keystone habit that makes the whole system work.

What is a Keystone Habit?

You can build a beautiful system, but without a jumping off point, systems can be difficult to adopt.

A keystone habit solves this.

It’s a single routine that, once in place, triggers a chain reaction.

Just like our EA/Exec weekly meeting. As long as you follow the agenda of the weekly meeting, you’ll never skip on:

• Reviewing tasks
• Reviewing SOPs
• Sharing wins
• Delegating

As a founder, you don’t need a 15-step morning routine.

You instead need 3 to 5 keystone habits that trigger you to make progress on your goals.

Keystone Habits I’ve Seen Change Everything

Here are a few I’ve seen work again and again - for myself and for the founders we support:

• 🗓️ Weekly Executive Sync – This single meeting drives clear priorities, expectations, and delegation. Without it, everything else slips.
• 📋 Daily Review Ritual – Just 15 minutes to scan your calendar, to-dos, and inbox. It’s the habit that prevents overwhelm before it starts.
• 😴 Nighttime Shutdown Cue – For some, it’s plugging in your phone outside the bedroom. For others, it’s putting on slippers. Either way, it signals: we’re done for the day.
• ☕ Morning Anchor Habit – Making coffee before opening your phone. Sitting in silence. Grabbing your journal. That tiny moment before inputs sets the tone.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Workout Trigger – Not the workout itself, but laying out your clothes the night before. That small action flips the switch.

Most founders try to stack tactics.

But tactics fall apart without keystone habits to hold them.

If you’re overwhelmed by your systems, your assistant, or your calendar…

Don’t optimize everything.

Just install one keystone habit and protect it ruthlessly.

Everything else will get easier.