0 steps to protect your focus (my deep work routine):

1. Eliminate Distractions

Close social media, silence notifications, and keep your phone out of sight.

It’s impossible to produce quality work if your attention is being pulled in a million
different directions.

Block off 4 hours every day to be completely free of distraction.

2. Reduce Multitasking

We often feel productive by juggling multiple tasks.

But the opposite is true.

Multitasking is a recipe for:

• Poor focus
• Bad concentration
• Reduced productivity

Multitasking means screwing up several things at once.

Focus on one task at a time.

3. Practice Mindfulness and Meditate

Set aside 5 minutes a day to sit with your eyes closed.

When you get distracted by a thought, practice bringing your attention back to your
breath.

Stillness is a superpower.

4. Get More Sleep

Being awake for 20 hours is similar to being drunk.

You wouldn't expect yourself to focus while hammered.

Entrepreneurs are athletes.

You need solid rest to be at peak performance.

Set a bedtime and get 8 hours of sleep.

5. Choose to Focus on the Moment

It’s impossible to concentrate when your mind is:

• In the past
• Worrying about the future

To produce quality work, you must be present and focused on the task.

The point of power is always in the present moment.

6. Learn to Take Breaks

When you begin to feel stuck, take a brief step away.

Our brains can't handle constant stimulation.

Take a walk, have a coffee, or call a friend.

When you return, deep work will come naturally.

7. Connect With Nature

Nature is the greatest mentor.

Humans were not meant to sit inside staring at a screen all day.

• Get sunlight in your eyes

• Observe plants in a garden
• Go on walks without technology

Find time to connect with nature.

8. Train Your Brain

Instead of mindlessly scrolling social media, take time to play brain training games.

• Solve a puzzle
• Play chess or sudoku
• Figure out a Rubik's Cube

Games enhance your short-term memory, which will improve concentration and focus.

9. Exercise

Fluid intelligence starts decreasing at the age of 25 for the rest of your life.

The only way to stave this off:

Exercise.
Do 3 rounds of ~30 minutes of cardio a week for enhanced blood flow and circulation to
your brain.

10. Eat Well

Avoid carbs in the morning while doing your most focused work.

Consuming carbs raises serotonin, which will put you into a drowsy state.

Instead, eat protein and fats throughout the day, and save carbs for the evening.

Uplevel your concentration and focus.

Harsh Truths I Know At 48

That I Wish I Knew At 28:

1) “Resilience” isn’t enough. Go beyond and become “antifragile”, so that each hit you
absorb makes you stronger than before.

2) Good leaders look into the mirror when something doesn’t go to plan.

3) Leadership is not defined by status, control, and power. It is defined by your ability to
serve others, even when it's uncomfortable or inconvenient.

4) Reaching your full potential may alienate you. There will be some that don’t
understand or support your ambition.

5) Business is ruthless. You may choose to play fair, but you can’t expect the same from
others.

6) It’s important to decide who you will spend time with. It’s more important to decide
who you won’t spend time with.

7) You will encounter failures, rejections, and heartbreaks on your journey. If you aren’t
winning, you’re learning.

8) 20% of your actions will produce 80% of your results. 20% of the people in your life will
give you 80% of your opportunities. Identify the 20%.

9) A leader’s job is not to master everything. A leader’s job is to identify what needs to be
mastered, then to find the person who is the master at it.

10) If you receive 5 more minutes on your deathbed, you won’t use them to sign another
deal. You’ll hug your loved ones and tell them how much you care. Remember this.
11) Amateurs wait to feel right to take action. Professionals take action to feel right. Be a
pro and take action, whether you feel like it or not.

12) Perfectionism is procrastination in disguise. That presentation, that speech, that plan,
that product – make it a habit to get it out before you’re ready.

13) Achieving your full potential is an internal process as much as an external one. You
will have to face your own demons.

14) As a leader, role-model the behaviors that you wish to see in others. Don’t expect
reliability from your team before becoming reliable yourself.

15) Becoming your best version, with your health and at home, is an intentional process.
Define what best is in each and evidence it daily.

16) A leader must make difficult, unpopular decisions. It's not so much about being liked
as it is about being respected.

17) Success is built on consistency and hard work. If you’re not where you want to be, you
probably aren’t ticking one or both of those boxes.

18) True leaders talk less and listen more. They appreciate the importance of
understanding different perspectives.

19) Business is less about making money and more about creating value. Focus on the
value and the money will follow.

20) You have no idea what you are capable of. Your full potential is far greater than you
believe it to be. Don't limit yourself.

-----

The right question can completely change your life.

Here are 20 self-reflection questions to ask yourself right now.

A brilliant sheet put together by my friend Colby

In life, it’s not always about the answers.

Sometimes, the questions are far more important.

These fantastic questions reflect on topics such as:

↳ Your relationships with others

↳ Your daily habits
↳ Your ideal self

If you want to copy them into your notes.

Take a look below:

1. Who brings out the best in you? Can you schedule more time with them?

2. If you keep your current habits-in 5 years will your life be better or worse?

3. What advice would your future self give you right now?

4. Which areas of your life would benefit from setting stronger boundaries?

5. Are your actions aligned with what you want, or just what others expect?

6. What do you want people to say about you at your funeral?

7. Who do you owe an apology? Can you do it today?

8. What would your ideal week look like, and how could you start creating it?

9. What truth about yourself are you denying?

10. What part of your life needs to change, and why haven't you done it yet?

11. What can you do to improve by 1% today?

12. What's getting too much attention from you? What's not getting enough?

13. What current habit is stopping you from making progress?

14. What would you change about your life if you were guaranteed success?

15. What's the bravest thing you could do today?

16. What's something you love that you've given up? Can you start again?

17. If your life was a book, what would you want the one-page summary to say?

18. What are you willing to struggle for because it's worth it?

19. What was the best day this month? Can you plan more days like it?

20. What action can you take in the next 5 minutes that you'll be proud of?

Make 2024 the year you reflect and improve.

hese 8 things do, regardless of where you sit:

1. Your actions
2. Your attitude
3. Your behavior
4. Your drive
5. Your empathy
6. Your example
7. Your integrity

And most important of all:

8. Your team's respect

You see, as my good friend Justin Wright,

so nicely lays out with this post...

No matter where you are in your company,

You can be a leader.

Because leadership isn't some kind of badge.

It's what you do daily.

So, let's start leading today...

5 Quick Tips to Get Started:

1/ Be Proactive: Don't wait for directives.

Pinpoint areas you can improve.
And take action.

2/ Influence Others: Inspire your peers by:

• Role-modeling the way

• Providing an empathetic ear
• Rallying the team towards a common objective

3/ Make Decisions: Leaders are decisive.

Monumental choices aren't always necessary.
Sometimes it's the small decisions that matter most.

4/ Be Accountable: Take ownership of your actions.

Embrace responsibility for both successes and errors.

5/ Communicate Clearly: Keep everyone up-to-date.

Articulate your vision and clarify when needed.

Leadership is a verb.
It's about action.

And you can begin at any time and in any position.

Don't wait for a promotion or approval.
Act the part... and both will quickly follow.