Energy and attention are a finite resource. They run out easily.
Energy and attention are directly funded by the amount of sleep and rest an individual
gets, both of which are notoriously thin in today’s world.
This is why most people will never be successful; most people’s lives are set up to drain
energy and attention. Most people barely have enough energy and
attention to make it through their busy days. What little sleep and rest they get provides
just enough attention and energy to maintain this inefficient status quo (and often these
energy and attention reserves run out, resulting in burnouts and breakdowns).
If you want to experience true, lasting success in any area of your life — family, relationships,
career, finances, health, personal projects — you need to learn how to fill up your energy “tank”
more efficiently. After that, learn how to channel your energy properly.
Most people have constantly low energy reserves, and worse still, they misspend these reserves
in inefficient and wasteful ways. Here are three undeniable energy-wasters you
need to quit now in order to start channeling your energy and attention productively and
purposefully.
Multitasking is a “skill” many people like to think they have. But the truth is,
multitasking doesn’t work. In his book Deep Work, Cal Newport discusses
the concept of “attention drag.” Essentially, for every different task we switch to, our
attention “drags” a little. For every task, a little bit of our attention
is left behind, leaving us less and less to work with.
To illustrate, imagine you have 5 tasks to do:
Check your email Write an article
Research some strategies for your business Post on social media
….Watch YouTube. Most people think each task will take, say,
10% of your energy. 10% x 5 = 50%, right?
Wrong. Research shows signs that the action of switching tasks itself actually costs attention.
If you spend 10% of your energy checking email, an additional 2% or so is “dragged” behind
as you switch tasks. Over time, this “drag” might make up an entire portion of your attention
and energy. That’s “multitasking” for you.
Instead of multitasking, spend uninterrupted and intensely focused periods of time on one
or two projects. Think less time plus enormous intensity.
Many of the most successful people in the world finish the entire day’s work in 3–5
hours, because they channel intense focus into their most important tasks.
This is the “deep work” structure, and it provides an excellent framework for reducing
attention drag and channeling your energy effectively.
You need to say “no” more. There is no shortage of “good” opportunities
that come your way. The types of opportunities that make you say, “This could be fun”
or “Yeah, let’s see how this goes.” The danger of these particular opportunities
is that they take away your precious energy reserves for projects that don’t really
matter. Sure, the extra cash from taking on a few more hours a week to help someone out
might be nice, but is it worth it? From the big picture, it’s not. We’re
talking about your legacy here — what your life will mean when you look back on
it. What you’ll be remembered for. You can’t achieve your deepest and most
meaningful work while you’re distracted doing sundry little projects that cost more
than they’re worth. When my wife and I moved to South Korea to
teach English, I began saying “no” to almost every opportunity that came my way.
It was astounding how many things wanted my attention.
I said no to podcasts creators, a basketball coaching opportunity, more hours at work,
high-paying private tutoring sessions, playing the drums for a local church, and remote career
coaching gigs, to name a few. I said no because these were all “good”
opportunities — but they weren’t “great.” My legacy — writing and creating my
own business — needs all the time, energy, and attention I can spare. I’m not willing
to take away precious energy reserves I could dedicate towards creating my ultimate life,
even if you want to pay me $50 an hour just to teach Korean kids how to say “rebound”
and “free throw.” You need to say no to opportunities that are
just “good.” Only say yes to great ones.
Behind all those “good” opportunities are the people offering it. And like their
opportunities, often these people are the “wrong” people for you right now.
That’s not to say they’re bad people who don’t deserve your time (although some undoubtedly
are). But maintaining relations with individuals that seek to monopolize your time to promote
their projects is bad when you’re busy working on your own legacy.
The narrower your vision for your future, the wider the “wrong people” category.
The most potent and true success is narrowly defined and undiluted, and it not muddied
by a variety of “side” projects and the people involved.
Steve Jobs wasn’t focused on making iPhones, smart watches, and Macbook pro’s in the
80’s; he was entirely focused on getting a computer in every house.
Michael Jordan wasn’t focused on shoe deals or side businesses in the 90's; he was entirely
focused on winning the NBA championship (which he did 6 times in 7 years).
If you are focused on your friend’s podcast, your brother-in-law’s screenplay, your blog,
half-marathon training, and your full-time job, your attention is divided too many times
to allow yourself to be effective. Better to master a select few projects than
simply “be involved” in many without making real progress.
Your energy and attention reserves are precious. I want every spare moment I have to be spent
on my most important projects: spending quality time with my wife, writing, creating my business,
and exercising. I can maximize my energy by removing energy-wasters
like senseless multitasking, tiring relationships with people out of my inner circle, and saying
no to merely “good” projects. Warren Buffet said: “The difference between
successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to
almost everything.” Engage in deep work and focus all your energy
and attention on select projects. Sever ties with individuals who are not helping
you move forward. Say no to merely “good” opportunities.
Don’t worry — you’ll be glad you did when the “great opportunity” comes
along.