People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1'000 things. Steve Jobs
We're experimenting a lot. This week we're starting with a quote and celebrating 100 followers on 𝕏.
Recently, I have read somewhere that you should flex your results. So, here are the results of growing our community to 100 like-minded people.
I'm excited for each and every one of you who has joined this journey!
This week is all about focus.
As Steve Jobs said: It's about saying no to the 1,000 things and focusing on the big YES.
I've always believed I was a perfectionist. At least that was the response I got from my work. I then realized it was the exact opposite. I was lazy and often overshot the mark. On tasks that didn't matter to me.
It took me some time to clear my head and learn how to focus.
There are tons of self-help books out there, such as Deep Work, The Mountain is You, Big Five for Life or The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck. And to be honest, I haven't read them all yet.
But what I have come across in all these books are the following tips:
Turn off the noise – What steals most of your time each day? Unnecessary phone calls and meetings that could be avoided because they're not that important? Remove them from your calendar.
Create structure – Set up work blocks where you can immerse yourself fully in your work. Limit your time. You will get more done than you think.
Time stacking – Set a day to do all the little things, such as phone calls, meetings, and paying bills.
Stop complaining and do the damn work – Stop criticizing, talking, dreaming, and thinking too much about what you have to do. Just sit down and get started.
Put on headphones – and listen to background music. This creates a safe space where you can block out distractions.
Reduce screen time – Yes, I'll give you this tip too. Put your phone in another room when you are working intensively.
Create a specific work environment – It's already hard to create something. By having a designated workspace, you create structure and the imagination starts to sprout.
Use whatever works for you personally. I just want to encourage you to think about your current situation. There are always aspects where we can improve.
I tend to mess things up and throw the whole system out the window, only to start all over again. So I've learned to slow down at work.
At the beginning of your journey, you should avoid rushing and stressing the most. Over time, you will learn to handle it better.
Truly great things come with room to think. You don't want to waste your time running for hours in the wrong direction.
Figure out what works best for you and let me know.
I hope you can apply some tips to your daily life.