When the to-do list never ends...

Welcome to the Storybook

Each week, I share… ✍️

• a definition 🤓

• a quick story 📖

• a mindset shift 🤯

• an opportunity list 💡

I have a small battery.

My capacity for working long hours requires many short breaks in between.

Having a small tank doesn’t mean I don’t work hard or don’t get a lot done…

…it just means that I need to find ways to work more efficiently.

People with a large battery can work for long hours non-stop, but that’s not me and it took me many years into my business to realize this.

For years I thought grind, grind, grind meant never taking a break.

I thought it was the only way to be successful.

I thought it meant working until the point of exhaustion, then wake up and do it all over again the next day.

I thought this was normal and for many people it can be.

My health deteriorated.

My mind felt cloudy.

My FOCUS was off.

There are periods of days or weeks where this required to get your business off the ground, to be sure.

But along the way, I figured out that working hard, going all in without distraction, in short bursts, allowed me to get more done in less time.

And a little more sleep.

The small breaks in between provided a recharge and the stamina for the next step in the process or the next task at hand without feeling foggy.

The quick recharge brought renewed FOCUS and allowed me to think clearly.

The best way to find success is to eliminate distractions when working on a big project or task that needs to be completed within a short deadline.

Distractions promote procrastination, and can cause overwhelming stress.

Findings ways to work efficiently, with FOCUS, is the key to making it all happen and learning to enjoy the flow of entrepreneurship without the feeling of burnout.

🤯 THE MINDSET SHIFT 🤯

Try the 👉 Pomodoro Technique.

This technique was created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s which helped him with his struggling time management skills and minimized the stress for deadlines.

It is essentially a structured way for time blocking and FOCUS.

Here’s how the core process works…

1. Choose a task.

2. Set a timer to 25 minutes.

3. Work on the task without distraction until the timer rings.

4. Take a short break. (Start with 5 minutes)

5. Come back, set the timer, and work for another 25 minutes.

6. Do this process four times, then take a longer break. (20-30 minutes)

7. Choose another task or the next step in the same task and repeat.

This has proven to put “time” on your side and help you work more efficiently.

After the timer dings, get up from your desk and take a walk or get a glass of water or stand up and stretch.

This gets your blood flow on the move and helps refresh your brain to find functional answers and in the end to reach your goals.

There’s always going to be more work to be done.

There’s always going to be important projects.

There’s always going to be something to do.

It’s never ending.

FOCUS is required to get it all done well.

With your next project, try working in bursts for efficiency…

…and leverage time-blocking for success.

💡 AN OPPORTUNITY LIST 💡

a short list of ideas, learnings, recommendations, or happenings for the week

1. Pomodoro means tomato in Italian. The technique was named after the tomato timer used by Cirillo to help him track the 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off.

2. Check in on your entrepreneur friends. A lot of them are struggling right now, both personally and professionally. Most, if not all, are feeling like they’re on an island, even if they give off the perception that is everything is fine. A check in will provide an opportunity for them to talk it through, and for you, to show that you care.

Opportunity is Everywhere!

Cheers, Steven

Watch Episode #71 from the SuccessFlow Podcast.

In this episode, we discuss the significance of Q4, reflecting on personal and business goals as the year comes to a close. We emphasize the importance of setting clear objectives, maintaining health and lifestyle changes, and measuring progress through metrics. The conversation also touches on the urgency of Q4, the need to address unresolved issues, and the distractions that can arise during this busy time. Ultimately, we encourage listeners to take action and prepare for a strong finish to the year and a successful start to 2025.