It's 9AM
I read a book called The 4 Hour WorkWeek.
Over a decade ago.
It talked about building systems, finding the Parato Principle customers and how to get really good at something really fast.
Which led me to the author’s blog.
He didn’t write many posts, but when he did, they were long and packed with actionable tips.
He often had guest posters, because his audience from the book was so large, and it allowed him to publish on a regular basis.
The title came from an ad test.
He tried 4 different titles using Goggle Ad Words and the one that got the most clicks become the title of the book.
His original idea?
How to deal drugs for fun and profit.
Because his book documented his fitness supplement business.
I stayed with the author for a long time, and a few years ago, after four more books, he moved to making a podcast.
When I drove a lot, I would put one on and listen, but it was tough.
People said so many good things I wanted to take notes, and I wasn’t keen on doing that while driving.
He hit the hundred mark on episodes in the last year or so, and has moved from posting on the blog to audio posts.
He has even taken the tip she learned from his blog and turned them into a book. (I have it too)
I read several blogs a week and my interests vary. I get a newsletter letting me know when a new one is published by the author or person I’m listening to.
James Altucher emails me once per day, sometimes twice.
I like his emails because our styles are similar, and he’s got a lot of good stuff in them.
Joanna Penn emails me once per week.
Her newsletter is like a round up of her blog post, her podcast and book in progress, plus other links.
Mark Dawson emails me every Friday with an update and I get three daily newsletters that are news round ups.
Just listing how much, it sounds crazy how much content I consume.
Noah Kagen has a Youtube Channel where he does a video newsletter I get daily, plus Gary Vaynerchek sends me something on every social media platform I follow him on.
He is a content machine!
But I love what he does. He just lets the cameras roll on everything he does, and has a team to cut it, edit it and keep posting it because he provides a lot of value to like minded individuals.
I like to provide value. I love to give.
I like to tell you things I’ve learned, thoughts I’ve got on the world, on traffic, on baseball and books and beer.
These are things I love and want to share with people who love them too.
But when I’m trying to decide on what to do next, what project to work on, what story to tell, it feels random.
Part of it is the way I trained myself to get after it.
I make lists.
And sometimes when it’s on the list, the brain feels like “it” is done.
Because I’ve written a reminder not to forget.
It gives me lots of lists because I have lots of ideas.
When I dial in and focus on one project, my environment conspires against me.
Because I get into a flow state and then the dogs need to go out.
Or I start typing and writing and editing and getting going good and the text goes off to remind me to do the honey do list.
Or go pick up #10 from school and “do this” as a favor.
Not that I need isolation and silence to get what I want done.
It’s just it feels like a lot of things compete for attention.
I know I’m not alone in this.
It just makes the whole go write in a cabin in the woods thing sound appealing.
Except…
How would I eat? What would I drink?
If I hunt, fish or farm, that would take time.
Homesteading means doing a lot of little things every day to keep systems maintained.
Still, it’s a very first world problem, this trying to decide how best to spend work time.
Even if my brain tells me while I’m walking, just write 1000 words an hour for 40 hours and the book is done.
Or film one long form video of you talking to the camera, then cut it into a bunch of shorts to share across the rest of the platforms.
Or list for sale the 1000 items you have in the closet and attic and storage that would sell on Craigslist or eBay or Mercari.
I’m not going to pretend that it’s not harder to concentrate some days more than others.
This weekend we’re going to St. Louis to play travel ball.
It’s a six hour drive, and we leave at noon, and hope to be there in time for a Cardinals Game.
Which means a long list of getting stuff done before departure tomorrow.
Maybe I should do it before I add it to the list.
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What did you think of Jake Burbank, the ex-lawyer turned accidental PI?
I wanted to let you know that book two is out, A FIFTH OF TROUBLE, and you can add it to your collection today.
I also wanted to talk about A SHOT OF REVENGE and A DOUBLE SHOT OF REVENGE.
They are almost finished and I want you to be the first to hear about them when they come out at the end of May and two weeks later in June.
Just to tide you over, like a little snack, I wanted to give you a short to read while you wait.
Go check out RITES OF PASSAGE today.
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