13 Tactics to Improve Focus from Robert Greene, John Zeratsky, Dan Ariely and More
Like everybody else, I’d like to do more of the things that make me happy and spend less time being distracted. Of course, my brain chemistry wants to compulsively check email all day. I’m able to focus because others have taught me along the way.
As a podcast host, I’ve had the opportunity to directly ask my productivity questions to great authors, scientists, entrepreneurs and actors. Some could sense my personal interest (and even called me out), others assumed I was asking on behalf of my audience. Either way, I’ve gathered their methods for focus and put them to work in my life.
Below are the tactics I learned from them. Thank you gentlemen! Your wisdom has helped me to get to more things that I love, like reading and writing, and less email grazing.
Martin Sheen
This legendary actor showed me that being true to the things that personally resonate with you makes all the difference. This is how Martin found acting. He would see movies and tell his brothers that he was like the actors, that doing what they do struck his heart. It was the same for me and interview podcasts. I would listen to hosts guiding their guests through storytelling and knew that I would love to do the same. The love of my craft is like a magnet that keeps my focus locked on.
John Zeratsky
From John Zeratsky I learned so much about the science of distraction, he re-designed YouTube to be the irresistible platform we know today. In John’s new book, Make Time, he shares insider secrets and a counterintuitive approach. Rather than obsessing over the time wasters, first, pick the one thing you want to do in a day. Call this your “highlight.” Then build your day, tools, and systems around making sure that you do this life-giving activity.
Robert Greene
Robert Greene, controversial author of The 48 Laws of Power, gave me a generous lesson in emotional intelligence. In his upcoming book, The Laws of Human Nature, Robert has a chapter on conformism and the social spreading of emotion, like an infection. Social media and it’s viral nature will show you just the content to grab your emotions and suck you in. Now, I do not look at contagious media platforms when there is work to be done.
Sebastian Junger
From this Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and bestselling author, I picked up some advice about my own role at work. When leading people, there may be a pressure to charge out to the front, even when that’s not your role. Sometimes, the best thing a leader can do is stay out of the way and concentrate on the task that is most relevant for them. If you care about your people who are charging out to the front, that can inspire greater discipline on your task at hand.
Dan Ariely
From Dan Ariely I learned to despise waste, especially wasted time.
Paul de Gelder
A shark attack survivor knows how to get through tough things. When I first met Paul it was still the wee hours of the morning and he had been up, worked out, walked his dog, spent time with his girlfriend, and run some errands. By the way, he did all of that despite missing his right hand and right leg. I follow Paul’s method and make the most of the morning.
Dr. Dominic D’Agostino
Dominic D’Agostino told me he often does not eat until 3PM. He is incredibly productive and successful. The ketogenic diet, for some people, can liberate you from the need to eat frequently. I used this yesterday to get through 7 hours of nonstop study and editing.
Peter Zeihan
I learned from Peter Zeihan before we ever spoke. Do as he does and hire great people. Arranging an interview with his staff was great. Easygoing and helpful administrators make a world of difference, especially when I’m trying to get things done.
David Brooks
David is all about building character. He points out that the danger of spending lots of time generating content for your Instagram is that life starts to look like one big bucket list. Bucket lists are very photogenic. Hard work, commitment, and things that build character are often not photogenic. I don’t take selfies. I don’t even have a smartphone.
John Zeratsky
John told me that leaders can show more respect for their people’s time. In John’s first book, Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days, he shares Google Venture’s system for rapidly testing new products. It’s all about making the most of people’s time through inexpensive systems and tests. I bring his ideas to mind when I’m obsessing over some detail and need to iterate instead.
Bob Sutton
Popular podcaster, author, speaker, and Stanford Professor, Bob Sutton understands the things that cause friction at work. He’s an expert in “assholes” at work and how to deal with them. When pulled into to the drama of a toxic person, I use Bob’s strategies to extract myself. Many are painless tools like reframing the situation and empathizing.
Erik Brynjolfsson
Erik Brynjolfsson is a Professor of Digital Economics at MIT, which sounds very future-oriented. However, Erik taught me to focus on the here and now, the things I can control. Obsessing over how robots might take over does nothing to help people. I can address important things now that will ripple into the future. That’s why I create content that is immediately actionable.
Robert Greene
When Robert needs to find new material for a book, he skips his newspaper and reads a biography instead. Skip the news. I never check it. If there’s something big happening in the world, it will find me. When my workplace installed TVs in every office, I had mine removed. There are 6 holes in the wall and zero regrets.
Like to Get Things Done?
I’ve created a list of 3 immediately actionable tactics for making time that will help you in your career and personal life. Get them here.