I love nature ten fold over concrete seclusion and traffic rumblings, and cellphone interruptions.
Focus is my excuse to ignore every external distraction with good reason to why I didn't you answer my 3 calls and 5 text.
Simply its my policy during any focal task.
Birds and rustling in the brush amongst wisper silence are easy to take my intrest away from my passion to find the miseries of truth that narrow my options to chioces I must make in light of my findings.
In nature we aren't in our zone of safety because animals take refuge and often can be a stand-off situation if your not aware of every sound and sight roaming in pursuit of survival.
The survival framing is what most people miss. Tie your work to something that actually matters to you, not just "being productive." I used to think obsession was the answer until I nearly died and realized I'd been obsessed with the wrong things entirely. Now I ask myself: would I trade an hour with the people I love for this task? Most days the answer changes how I spend my time. What's your non-negotiable priority when everything else falls away?
Hey Tim, loved this essay. For years my phone has been on don't disturb (only my mother can call me), and no notifications. But you inspired me to do something extra: I'll uninstall Reddit right now. It's been a massive time (and focus) sink since I installed it. Thank you!
What was that you wrote about insane taxes in Australia. I’m interested to hear more. Does it mean being an entrepreneur in Down Under is a nightmare? 😱
This is packed with a ton of valuable feedback and laughs.
The line that stuck with me most wasn't even about focus directly, it was the aside about surrounding yourself with people who tell you what you want to hear.
That's exactly why most advisory relationships quietly fail to move anyone forward. People hire for validation and call it strategy.
Your diagnosis of the focus epidemic is accurate. But the medicine makes me think.
Psychopathic urgency. Radical isolation. Lonely discipline. That is perhaps a form of focus. But one that catapults the nervous system into permanent stress. And from permanent stress no healthy growth emerges. The soil here in Portugal shows us that daily.
A root finds its way through stones and rocks without fighting. It senses the water. It reads the conditions and moves with sensitivity. To degrade that as weakness or lack of discipline would ignore millions of years of evolution. Because that is refined intelligence.
When I shut the world out the deepest focus is lost. But I find it again when I embed myself in what I love. Not isolation. Connection. Not fear as the driver. Meaning.
You write for your daughters. That is no psychopathic trick. That is love. And love is the strongest focus there is. Beyond any manufactured urgency. A truth that pulls rather than drives.
A person who heals soils and regenerates ecosystems is more dangerous to a world addicted to profit and surplus value than any 16-hour flow state.
That is the focus that survives. Because it co-creates with the creative force of the universe.
This was a lightbulb moment for me: “There has to be a reason why now is the right time. You must craft the story in your head and make sure it’s evidence-based.” It’s so EASY to forget your “why” and how it can be applied to the focus you need in this moment NOW. Thanks for this 🙏
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I love your writing. Do you use AI?
Definitely a huge issue
Spiders and flying buzz bombs…
Keep a swatter handy.
That would do the opposite in my case.
I love nature ten fold over concrete seclusion and traffic rumblings, and cellphone interruptions.
Focus is my excuse to ignore every external distraction with good reason to why I didn't you answer my 3 calls and 5 text.
Simply its my policy during any focal task.
Birds and rustling in the brush amongst wisper silence are easy to take my intrest away from my passion to find the miseries of truth that narrow my options to chioces I must make in light of my findings.
In nature we aren't in our zone of safety because animals take refuge and often can be a stand-off situation if your not aware of every sound and sight roaming in pursuit of survival.
Wow, that was a mouth full in opposition.
Hope yer not discouraged in your pursuit.
Now I need to find some crazy bastards to yell at me and be strict together with my schedule.
The survival framing is what most people miss. Tie your work to something that actually matters to you, not just "being productive." I used to think obsession was the answer until I nearly died and realized I'd been obsessed with the wrong things entirely. Now I ask myself: would I trade an hour with the people I love for this task? Most days the answer changes how I spend my time. What's your non-negotiable priority when everything else falls away?
Hey Tim, loved this essay. For years my phone has been on don't disturb (only my mother can call me), and no notifications. But you inspired me to do something extra: I'll uninstall Reddit right now. It's been a massive time (and focus) sink since I installed it. Thank you!
What was that you wrote about insane taxes in Australia. I’m interested to hear more. Does it mean being an entrepreneur in Down Under is a nightmare? 😱
hey, brother!
your idea that to be focused, it requires a distraction-free environment like a home office is a great reminder.
Insightful read
10 mins and no social media is crazywow
This is packed with a ton of valuable feedback and laughs.
The line that stuck with me most wasn't even about focus directly, it was the aside about surrounding yourself with people who tell you what you want to hear.
That's exactly why most advisory relationships quietly fail to move anyone forward. People hire for validation and call it strategy.
Yes, Tim Denning!! Excellent article. I can easily apply and shape it to fit my life. Thanks, I think...Tim Denning.
Your diagnosis of the focus epidemic is accurate. But the medicine makes me think.
Psychopathic urgency. Radical isolation. Lonely discipline. That is perhaps a form of focus. But one that catapults the nervous system into permanent stress. And from permanent stress no healthy growth emerges. The soil here in Portugal shows us that daily.
A root finds its way through stones and rocks without fighting. It senses the water. It reads the conditions and moves with sensitivity. To degrade that as weakness or lack of discipline would ignore millions of years of evolution. Because that is refined intelligence.
When I shut the world out the deepest focus is lost. But I find it again when I embed myself in what I love. Not isolation. Connection. Not fear as the driver. Meaning.
You write for your daughters. That is no psychopathic trick. That is love. And love is the strongest focus there is. Beyond any manufactured urgency. A truth that pulls rather than drives.
A person who heals soils and regenerates ecosystems is more dangerous to a world addicted to profit and surplus value than any 16-hour flow state.
That is the focus that survives. Because it co-creates with the creative force of the universe.
🌿🔥
This was a lightbulb moment for me: “There has to be a reason why now is the right time. You must craft the story in your head and make sure it’s evidence-based.” It’s so EASY to forget your “why” and how it can be applied to the focus you need in this moment NOW. Thanks for this 🙏