“Let it sink…”

Short example: I can cook way better pork chops than my friend with a way more expensive skillet. Let him stay unnamed here.

Power Moves

I Want It All, But Where Do I Find The Time?

I need to get in shape before summer (you know what I mean), but I’m swamped and don’t have a spare minute for a workout.

I need to take on this high-visibility project at work, but I’m overloaded with my current tasks.

I need... but...

See the pattern?

Everything before the "but" becomes void. It doesn’t matter.

So why even mention it?

Just to express our intention to do something "big."

We’re nice, hardworking people, but the circumstances just aren’t right.

There it is again - the "but."

So far, I have yet to meet anyone with huge plans who doesn’t complain about a lack of time.

I’d love to say I used to be like that, but not anymore.

Ha! I wish...

If anything, I’m still the reigning world champion of having no time!

Here’s what I’ve learned and am happy to share.

Many people complain about not having enough time.

But in 99 cases out of 100, the problem isn’t a lack of time - it’s a lack of direction.

Direction creates time. Motivation creates energy.

"So which direction to pick? I have so many..."

It’s simple - your priorities.

Priorities are like arms. If you think you have more than a couple, you’re either lying or crazy (credit to Merlin Mann).

If I need to get fit (again, only before summer), I cancel Netflix. Until fall, at worst.

If I need to learn a new skill, I delete Instagram from my phone. Believe it or not, 20 minutes a day adds up to more than two hours a week... Crazy!

And that's only one Insta. I’m sure you have more tricks up your sleeve - think about it!

As always - control your inputs.

You can do anything, but not everything (credit to David Allen, the author of Getting Things Done - a methodology my life depends on).

Two fundamental truths to remember:

1. Even a well-executed, but trivial task will not cease to be trivial.

2. Just because a task takes a lot of time doesn’t make it important.

From now on, remember: what you do is infinitely more important than how you do it.

Till next time!

Our Favorite Digital Finds

Short & Sweet

40 Unconventional Pieces of Advice That Most People Ignore - 6 mins read.

Interestingly, someone put into words what I had always believed was the right thing to do. There were a lot of good suggestions, but I subconsciously gravitated years ago towards “Go for a walk” and now it's part of my daily routine.

What Your Brain Is Doing When You’re Not Doing Anything - 6 mins read.

I'm not sure if this is something practical we could use, but I've always been fascinated by how the universe and the brain are designed to work. This one is about the brain.

Want to Handle Difficult Conversations Better? 1 Simple Trick… - 5 mins read.

Humans are naturally biased toward negativity, which can impact how we interpret certain facts (hello, over-thinkers, myself included). The aim of the article is to offer a possible way out, which may help in dealing with the discomfort of difficult conversations.

Add this to your shelf

We often believe we are rational creatures, capable of understanding what's best for us. At least, I was sure about myself. But the truth is, our brains are designed to fall short of purely rational behavior. The book offers great experiments and explanations that shed light on what’s really happening.

Unpacking the routines of interesting people

Naval Ravikant - an entrepreneur, investor, and philosopher known for his insightful perspectives on wealth creation, personal growth, and the art of living a happy, meaningful life.

Naval practices intermittent fasting, typically skipping breakfast to maintain mental clarity.

He prioritizes deep work and strategic thinking in the first half of the day, avoiding meetings to stay focused. In the afternoon, he schedules meetings in batches to preserve his energy and concentration for more meaningful tasks.

Naval focuses on maintaining mental clarity through meditation and mindfulness. He values quality sleep, winding down early, and avoiding late nights to support his well-being.

Watch-Worthy Clips

A clear explanation of mental models using chess as an example. A short video that answers the question of how to optimize our winning position.

Enjoying the newsletter? Please forward this issue to a friend who might enjoy it too 😊🙏🏻

It only takes 10 seconds. Making this one took us 8 hours…