I’ve written in the past about the ability to focus being a 21st century super power. I am more convinced of that every day.
Two new things I came across this week.
Lewis O’Brien’s Deep Work: A How-To Guide
Microsoft’s 2025: The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born
Microsoft study (Business Demands Outpace Human Capacity):
Avg employee is interrupted by a meeting, email, chat once every 2 minutes.
122% increase in the number of Powerpoint edits in the 10 minutes prior to a meeting (indicating a lack of ability to prepare).
Number of chats +15% y/y.
This is not sustainable, simply from a burnout perspective. Nor is it a way to get high-quality work done.
Lewis O’Brien offers the Pomodoro technique:
Pick a Task: Clearly define what you'll work on. Single-tasking beats multitasking.
Set Your Timer: Use a physical timer or an app to count down 25 minutes. During this time, eliminate distractions — no emails, no social media, just deep, focused work.
Work Intensely: Commit fully to the task. Treat these minutes as sacred, protected productivity pockets.
Short Breaks: Once the timer rings, take exactly five minutes to stretch, hydrate, or briefly relax your mind. Avoid engaging tasks that might pull you in longer.
Longer Breaks: After four rounds, reward yourself with a more substantial 15–30-minute break. Step away completely — take a walk, meditate, or enjoy a snack.
I have found that it is important to set aside time and space to get work done. Without this, you end up doing an average job on everything. Better to prioritize, and do those important things exceptionally well.
If you can demonstrate that you can focus and get stuff done, you’ll be way ahead.
