Focus on This

Latest Episodes:

#057: Reach Inbox Zero Without Derailing Your Workday Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

You sit down to start the day with a clear vision on your most important tasks. But then you check your email. Before you know it, you’ve spent half the day responding to requests and working on other people’s priorities instead of your own. You’re sacrificing your best time and energy in the name of inbox zero. You hate feeling at everyone’s beck and call and can’t stand the way you’re always behind. But what can you do?

There’s another way forward. We know what it’s like to feel trapped by our inboxes. And we’ve developed a four-step strategy for making your inbox work for you. When you implement it, you’ll move from reacting to requests to accomplishing your most important work.

Finally, you can stop being perpetually behind and feel empowered to make real progress towards your goals.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

Why you should never operate out of your inbox for task management.
How to stack habits and set aside specific times for checking email.
The difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication.
App suggestions that can make your life a lot easier.
Tips on communicating expectations with team members and clients.
The value of declaring email bankruptcy—and why it’s not as scary as it sounds.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#056: Time to Step Away: Boost Productivity With Better Breaks Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

You want to accomplish demanding work. But some days, you hit a wall. When you buckle down and push through, you end up burnt out. When you try to relax by scrolling on social media or doing downhill work, you feel stressed because you’re not making any progress. Either way, you wind up exhausted. There has to be a better way.

We know the frustration of feeling stuck alternating between willpower and distraction. But we’ve cracked the code. The key is taking breaks that boost your productivity, not undermine it. Today, we’ll teach you three criteria for doing just that.

You can finally stop ending your workday feeling stressed out and frustrated. Better breaks will help you stay refreshed while empowering you to do your best work.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#055: That’s Not a Goal—It’s a Project Sep 21, 2020

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You know that goal you set is important, but you always dread working on it. When you finally stop procrastinating, you never seem to be able to make the kind of progress you want to and walk away feeling drained. It’s so frustrating to feel unable to achieve work you know matters.

You’ve accidentally turned a project into a goal. We’ve done it, too. But completing projects requires different strategies than accomplishing goals. Today, we’ll teach you how to make sure your important projects get done with three straightforward strategies. You’ll feel free to focus on the goals that make the biggest impact, without letting anything important fall through the cracks.

Your days of dreading important work are behind you. It’s time to accomplish the work that matters most.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

Questions to ask yourself to determine if you are working on a goal or a project.
How to avoid dependency on external motivation with your goals.
The difference of things you should do versus things you get to do.
How some efforts promote maintenance and others are for growth—and what that means.
What to do with goals that are assigned to you that will make them more exciting.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#54: How to Reevaluate Your Goals and Make Them Exciting Again Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

You start the year energized by your list of SMARTER goals. But you get a few months in, and your goals aren’t working the way you want them to be. Life looks different now than you planned. When you read your goals each day, you’re feeling less motivated and more uncertain.

We’ve been there. We’ve watched life change in ways we never could have expected. But we’ve learned how to keep our goals relevant by walking through the 5 R’s. When you master this simple process, your goals will give you energy and confidence, even when life throws you curveballs. You'll finally get unstuck and start making progress in life and at work.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

How to avoid the anxiety associated with the effect of changing circumstances on your goals.
Why you need to revisit your annual goals every quarter.
Tips on how to build goal checkpoints into your calendar.
What to do when you feel like a failure for not accomplishing a goal.
Strategies for achieving success—even in the midst of pandemics and chaos.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#53: How to Have a Full Focus Workspace Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

You arrive at work every day laser-focused on your Big 3. Then you walk into the office. Unread reports are stacked on your desk, so you rifle through them. You can’t find a red marker so you run to the supply closet. You open your Planner, then notice it’s sitting on top of that book you have to review. Better start now. You realize it’s lunchtime, and you haven’t started your first real task of the day. How did this happen?

The real villain here is not you or your workload. It’s the clutter in your workspace. It constantly tugs at your attention, finally wearing down your ability to focus. But we can fix that in just a few simple steps.

Follow this easy plan, and you’ll have a clean, inviting workspace that points you toward your top tasks every day. You’ll feel relaxed and focused on your work. And you’ll leave each afternoon feeling a greater sense of accomplishment.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

The negative impact of physical distractions on your work.
What you must do before you ever tackle decluttering.
Why you have to make a bigger mess before you can clean it up.
How to overcome your emotional resistance to decluttering your workspace.
Practical steps on how to group, sort, and select a home for everything.

This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by our new Full Focus Kids and Full Focus Students planners. Learn how you can equip your kids for this uncertain back to school season at www.fullfocusplanner.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#52: Expert Tips for Maximizing the Full Focus Planner Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

The beauty of the Full Focus Planner is that it gathers all of your planning essentials into one package. Like a fine wine or an intriguing novel, the Planner has many aspects that some may not appreciate at first glance. You may even wonder what some of the elements are for. Here’s help. We’ve assembled the best tips, hacks, and customizations used by our team here at Michael Hyatt & Co. Our staff members are past masters in the Full Focus System, and they can show you how to get full value from your Planner.

Try these tips, and you’ll go from scratching the surface to plumbing the depths of Planner use. You’ll gain insight, efficiency, and a high level of personalization, making the Full Focus Planner an even more valuable tool in your work and personal life.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

How to track daily wins in your Full Focus Planner.
Practical tips on using timers and short sprints to get important work done.
The value of accountability and how you can use it to increase productivity.
Which portion of the planner you should use if you don’t use anything else.
How annual goals and weekly objectives flow into your daily tasks.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#51: 4 Long-term Benefits of the Full Focus System Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

You really want to be productive, and the Full Focus System seems like a great solution. Yet you can’t help but wonder, “Do I really have time for this?” It’s a common enough dilemma.

We’ll solve it in today’s podcast. We’ll show you four solid benefits of this system that go way beyond organizing your workday. These are positive changes you can expect throughout every aspect of your life.

Commit to this system, and you’ll start enjoying more balance, focus, and margin in every area of your life. Let’s get you out of indecision prison and on track for the Double Win—winning at work and succeeding at life.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

How to transition from productive days to a productive life.
Tips on increasing trust levels from your peers.
The importance of “setting and forgetting” for expanding your capacity.
What makes the Full Focus Planner different from other planners.
A few simple actions that can trigger a snowball effect of growth and productivity.

Remember to check out the new Kids and Students edition of the Full Focus Planner at www.fullfocusplanner.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#050: How to Defeat Distractions and Stay Focused Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

You arrive every day really hoping to get a lot done. But before long, text messages, social media, and office chatter pull you off track. By noon you’re wondering, “What just happened to my day?” It’s so demoralizing to realize that you’ve wasted your best focus time.

Here’s help. We’ve fought our own battles with distraction and interruption, and we’ve developed a foolproof strategy for keeping them at bay. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll get your focus back, finish your to-do list, and leave work feeling satisfied nearly every day.

This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by the new Full Focus Pocket planner. Learn more at fullfocusplanner.com/pocket.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

What an “anticipation tactic” is—and how to use them to avoid distraction.
How to identify your unique obstacles to productivity.
The times of day when we’re most likely to fall prey to distraction.
Practical tips for designing around your weaknesses.
How to handle family interruptions when working from home (without hurting feelings).

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#049: How to Implement a Daily Gratitude Habit Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

You’re working hard to achieve more every day. But sometimes it’s hard to keep a good attitude about work. Things don’t always work out the way you planned. And sometimes life is just unfair. It’s so frustrating to work hard yet have the feeling that you’re not getting the results you deserve.

Here’s a simple pathway out of that swamp. We’ll show you how to leverage the amazing power of gratitude to free yourself from negative thoughts. Plus, it’s rocket fuel for your productivity.

Try it! You’ll be immediately released from that feeling the breaks never go your way. And you’ll gain the energy and optimism to tackle your greatest goal or challenge. As a bonus, you’ll find yourself emerging as a leader at work, or wherever you happen t0 be!

In this episode, you’ll discover—

How your gratitude can affect your entire team—not just you.
Suggestions for small changes you can implement to make huge progress.
Practical tips on how to shift your mindset and see your circumstances differently.
How you can overcome the negative effects of entitlement in your life and work.
Questions you can ask yourself to develop a grateful heart.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#048: The Easiest Way to Start Difficult Tasks Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

You want to get that big task knocked off. It’s like a weight hanging over you every day. And every day you say, “I’m going to tackle it first thing!” But it’s intimidating! Where do you start? It’s easy to procrastinate. And when you do dive into a big project first thing in the morning, you’re worn out by noon. It seems like you can’t win.

In our experience, there’s a right way and a wrong way to tackle a big project. And most of us have been taught the wrong way! We’ve got a foolproof plan for getting started on your biggest task of the day that will ensure you get it done—and the other things you need to take care of.

Just follow these steps, and you’ll quit procrastinating, start achieving, and have brainpower to spare at the end of the day.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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