If you want to know the nerdy details about my keyboards, apps, and how I manage my business and my focus, then this is the podcast episode for you.
Predictions about 2023 made in 1923 →
Some of these are hilarious and some of these are depressing. Like that 4-hour work day? It seems further away then ever…
Just earlier this month I was hosting our new-member welcome call for Focus Academy, and I took note of the reasons why they had joined. Several folks mentioned how they are trying to reduce their work hours from 60-hour weeks down to something more sustainable.
Six Principles for Focus and Simplicity
In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster lists several principles for the outward expression of simplicity. These are things which someone could use or do in their attempt to flesh out the meaning of simplicity in the modern life.
Here are six of Foster’s suggestions:
- Develop a deeper appreciation for nature.
- Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
- Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.
- Develop a habit of giving things away; de-accumulate.
- Shun whatever would distract you from your main goal.
- Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
One In; One Out
As you plan and prepare for 2023, consider the Law of Tradeoffs. If you are going to add a new goal or project or focus to your life, what will you stop doing in order to make space for it?
(Side note, a whole bunch of clever people are making their annual planning process easier and more fun by using this fantastic little notebook.)
December Bonuses!
Enrollment is open for the January class of Focus Academy. And we have some bonuses for you if register before New Year.
If you enroll before midnight tomorrow, you’ll also get these amazing bonuses:
The Personal Retreat Workshop, which is a fast way to free up some much-needed breathing room in your schedule (no matter how busy and overwhelming it feels right now).
We’ll guide you through The Personal Retreat Workshop as a bonus during Focus Academy. It will give you the tools to recharge and reset whenever you need a breather long after our time together ends.
My Proven Productivity Templates Pack: The same templates I use to plan my days, weeks, and months so I can stay on track with my goals throughout the year.
- $150 Discount on Academy Pro: Yep. This is the absolute best price we’ve ever offered for Focus Academy, and it goes back up once January hits.
A Few Favorite Novels
One thing I love about the year-end holiday down time is the extra time to read for pleasure and leisure. Here are a few of my all-time favorite novels that I’ve read over summers and holidays past.
- Upgrade by Blake Crouch (my favorite novel of 2022)
- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
- Billy Summers by Stephen King (this was my favorite novel of 2021)
- 11-22-63 by Stephen King
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
- The Martian by Andy Weir
- Without Remorse and Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy
- Wool by Hugh Howey
My Grandma’s List of Values
At my grandma’s funeral several years ago, I remember reading her short list of the things she tried to live by. They were these short phrases:
- Be the first to say hello.
- Compliment three people every day.
- Live beneath your means.
- Let the first thing you say brighten everyone’s day.
- Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
- Always think the best of other people.
Simplifying Your Life can Change Your Life
At the end of the day, a simple life is an inward reality with an outward lifestyle.
But… if it’s a lifestyle you seek — a simple life with less stuff and less hustle — you can work from the outside in. This is how it goes with many other disciplines: start with the outward expression and allow your behavior to guide your attitude. Begin with duty and move toward delight.
Make Fewer Small Decisions
You and I only have so much willpower, decision-making ability, and/or creative imagination throughout the day. Try to reserve that energy for things like deep work, deep conversations, and big decisions.
The more you can automate the inconsequential areas of your life, the the more energy and strength you have for doing your most important work and building your most important relationships.
Lean on your daily habits to let things run “automatically” and thus giving yourself more energy for thinking, creating, and decision making.
Imposter Syndrome
Many business owners and creative professionals have moments where they feel something called impostor syndrome. It’s a feeling that your success is an accident and you do not deserve it. You fear people will soon find out “you are a fraud” and that you do not possess an ounce of real talent at all.
Adam Grant states that Imposter Syndrome is not a result of other people overestimating what you can do. Rather, it is a result of you underestimating your own potential and that it’s a normal response to internalizing impossibly high standards.
Early Bird Special →
Today, you can get a limited-time, early bird pricing for the January cohort of Focus Academy.
Right now you can save $150 on the Pro tier.
While the official doors won’t open until December 29, you can save your spot now for 16% off and get all the perks that come with being a Pro member (such as the facilitated Mastermind Groups and the Bonus Workshops)!
Fight for Margin, Fight for values
Someone with no financial margin — who lives paycheck to paycheck — cannot be extremely generous or philanthropic with their finances. No matter how much they want to.
When your life and schedule are completely overwhelming and out of control, you have no breathing room; no margin to spend with loved ones, respond to important requests, or to simply be present in the moment.
As you restore margin in your life, you will be able to better serve and love those around you. Margin enables healthier relationships and deeper interactions with your friends and family. Margin enables you to live out your values.
PS – Not only is “Fight for Margin” one of our core values for our team, it’s something we teach about in many of our courses. If you need someone in your corner helping you fight for margin consider joining our membership community.
A Very Notion Christmas →
If you want to use Notion to set up a Christmas List, here’s how to do it.