seven steps

Lost your focus? Feel free to use this simple process to get focused and get moving again. 

Like most things on this website, this process is powerful and free (the way we want to feel as creative men!)

Let’s focus.

In just a few minutes, you can get an overview of the process.

Then, you can:

  • work through the process on your own.
  • ask me to help you with one or more parts of the process.
  • work through the entire process with me, to get the most out of it.

In other words, you have options!

The process:

Gather what matters

Relinquish the rest

Arrive at your Ithaka rested

Value your time

Invest in your why, and

Trust yourself when you’re tested

Yes! Trust yourself when you’re tested.

Gather.

In this first step, gather what matters. Focus on what is most important to you. You can begin by watching this brief talk by Emily Esfahani.

Then come right back for the takeaway.

The takeaway:

You need a strong, internal narrative to guide you.

Relinquish.

Now that you’ve gathered what matters, relinquish the rest.

In this second step, eliminate the nonessential stuff. Get as many “what ifs” out of your head as possible. They’re holding you back.

Please listen to this brief talk by Tim Ferris, then come right back for takeaway.

The takeaway:

“Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.”

Arrive.

With a clear, focused mind, arrive at your Ithaka rested.

You may have heard of The Odyssey —  a timeless tale about Odysseus, who keeps working his way back home to Ithaka.

Please listen to this brief talk by Andrew Stanton, and then come right back for the takeaway.

The takeaway:

Make me care. This is the essence of a compelling story.

Value.

Value your time.

You are remarkably cavalier about your time. You waste so much time every day that unconsciously, you have a huge pile of regret.

That regret, instead of motivating you to get up and go, is dragging you down.

It’s time to change your relationship with time.

Please watch this brief talk by Tim Urban, and then come right back for the takeaway.

The takeway:

Don’t wait. Get started today.

Invest.

Invest in your why.

Your “why” is your personal center of meaning. It is why you get up in the morning.

Which doesn’t mean it’s easy to accomplish. It takes focus and follow through, as you will hear in this next talk.

Please listen to this brief talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, and then come right back for the takeaway.

The takeaway:

Keep showing up. Make room for your creative genius.

Trust.

Trust yourself when you’re tested.

As men, we want to be tested. As humans, we want to succeed.

But to trust yourself when the going gets tough, much less in the day-to-day, takes focus, persistence, and confidence.

Please listen to this brief talk by Dr. Ivan Joseph, and then come right back for the takeaway.

The takeaway:

Confidence comes with repetition.

Yes!

This is where we’ve been headed since we began.

Yes is where you help and connect with others, even as you do your own best personal work.

Consider your yes as you listen to this brief talk by Poet Ali, and then come right back for the question.

The question:

Are you living your yes?

Want more help?

You have a couple of options for your next step. You could contact me and describe what you're going through. And I'll be in touch with suggestions. Or you can book a free session to make a time to get together and talk it over in person. Whatever you choose, I'm here to help you focusovercome resistance, and get moving again.

Get focused and Get moving.