Deep Work Sessions Structure

Clear long-term plans let me “retire” as an Amazon VP at 50, travel 5 months a year, and still make money. Here’s how I did it and how you can apply the same thinking to your own life. Bill Gates once said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year but underestimate what they can do in 10 years.” I agree. Here are four real long-term plans I’ve created: – A 5-year savings plan that let me retire – A 10-year travel plan to see the world – A 10-year business plan for impact – A 40-year health plan to stay fit through age 95 Plan 1: Retire in 5 Years As my career progressed, I started thinking about financial independence. I followed three simple financial rules throughout my life to make this a possibility: 1. Live on less than I make 2. Invest for the long term 3. Max out my 401(k) match In my 40s, I calculated how much I needed to retire and I realized I was about 5 years away. The plan stretched to 7.5 years, but I made it. Even if plans shift, having one gives you clarity and options. Plan 2: A Business Plan for Purpose Post-retirement, I built a 10-year business plan to help others find career success and satisfaction. The plan includes scaling my impact and reaching 1 million people. Like all good long-term plans, this one evolves, but the overarching vision stays constant. Plan 3: See the World I made a list of everywhere I wanted to go and started planning travel around those dreams. Galapagos. Iceland. Switzerland. This is my “active years” travel plan, and it only works because of Plan 1—financial freedom. But you don’t need to be wealthy to travel, just committed to a plan. Budget, partner with others, and get creative. Plan 4: Be Healthy at 95 This is the longest-range plan I’ve made. Inspired by Dr. Peter Attia’s concept of the “Centenarian Decathlon,” I mapped out what I want to be able to do at age 95 and then worked backward. If I want to lift a grandkid off the floor at 95, I need to be strong enough today. The details of each of these plans are in my newsletter. But before I link that, I want to give you some specific tips to create powerful long term plans: 1. Decide what area to focus on (my four plans were financial, business, travel, and health) Trying to create a single holistic life and career plan at this scale is likely too complex. Take it on in pieces. 2. Figure out where you want to be in 5, 10, or 40 years. What is the ultimate goal. 3. Work backwards from the end as well as forward from where you are. Meet in the middle. 4. Iterate. You can draft the plan all in one sitting, but these plans benefit from periodic revision. I have clarified, updated, and changed all of my plans once to twice a year. The end goals have rarely to never changed, but the next steps and priorities within the plan definitely do. 5. Be flexible. The plan exists to help you, not to constrain you. Link: https://buff.ly/03hEvz2 Readers—share your long-term plans.

I used to believe more hours = more productivity. I was wrong. I used to be a slave to my to-do list, constantly looking for “more hours”. But, as Sahil Bloom shows us so wonderfully in this excerpt from his new book, 'The 5 Types of Wealth'... You don’t need more hours. You need better balance. Because not all time is created equal. Here's an overview of the four types of professional time (courtesy of Sahil)  and how you can use this wisdom to better structure your days: 🔴 Management Time – Meetings, emails, coordination. 🟢 Creation Time – Deep work, building, producing. 🔵 Consumption Time – Learning, reading, listening. 🟡 Ideation Time – Thinking, brainstorming, strategizing. When you mismanage these, your days feel chaotic. When you balance them, your work (and life) flow. I’ve snapped a photo from Sahil’s book so you can visually see how these four categories can bring better balance to your week. The main point is to start being more intentional about how you use your time, and group similar activities together. Here's how I've applied some of these lessons in my own life  (and how you can too): ✅ Stop checking your email in the morning I used to start my day in my inbox. But you can't plan your days around other people’s priorities. Spend the first 90 minutes each day in deep work before even glancing at your email. ✅ Create “meeting-free” days Back-to-back meetings kill focus. Implement at least one no-meeting day each week, reserving that time instead for your biggest needle-movers. ✅ Batch small tasks together Multitasking is a massive productivity killer. Instead of endlessly switching between small tasks, I now stack my admin work into a defined 30-minute block. Less task switching + more focus = greater output. ✅ Schedule time to think Yes, there is such a thing as “time to think”! Set aside at least 30 minutes of screen-free time each day. Your best ideas often come when you're by yourself. ✅ “Audit” your time every week I used to pack my weeks blindly. Now, I review where I'm spending my time and adjust the split, depending on my priorities. If you see yourself spending too much time in one category, you may need to rebalance. Look at your week. What dominates your schedule? Are you making real progress or are you just keeping busy? And if you need a blueprint for mastering your time - as well as the social, mental, physical, and financial aspects of your life - then Sahil’s new book 'The 5 Types of Wealth' is an absolute must-read. Order it here and take charge of your life: https://lnkd.in/dnPpts2e ⏳ Remember, time is your most precious asset. Once spent, you can never earn it back. So take control and make it count.

I wasn’t lazy. I was just distracted. (And I didn’t even realize it.) Tasks that should’ve taken 30 minutes dragged on for hours. Blank screens. Zero motivation. Endless scrolling. The problem wasn’t Time management. It was 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Then one day, I stumbled upon a 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 article that listed a few unusual focus hacks. I tried them. Tweaked them to fit my life. Soon, I started showing up better. With clarity, not chaos. Here’s what worked for me - (If focus has been a struggle lately, this might just help.) 1. 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 We often chase vague goals — deadlines, KPIs, praise. But real energy comes when your work feels personal. One day, I was stuck on a complex analysis. No motivation. Then I pictured telling my mom what I did at work today. Her smile. Her pride. That image changed everything. Suddenly, it wasn’t just a task. It was something to be proud of. ➡ Ask yourself: “Who would I be excited to share this with?” Picture their face. Then start the work. 2. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴. 𝗢𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝘁. It sounds odd, but looping one instrumental track helps me zone in. I use Shri Hanuman Chalisa – Instrumental. No lyrics. Just rhythm. In no time, my brain quiets down. The repetition becomes an anchor: “You’re working now. Stay here.” ➡ Pick a calm, lyric-free track. Hit repeat. Let it ground your attention. 3. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 2-𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 Before starting a task, I set a 2-minute timer. No typing. No scribbling. Just look at the task. It’s like a warm-up for the brain. You’re letting your mind settle into the work, not crash-land into it. ➡ Try this tomorrow. Just 2 min of stillness before starting. You’ll be surprised how much smoother the task feels. 4. 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆) Every time I get distracted during work hours, I don’t fight it. I note it down in my phone’s Notes app. • An unfinished Udemy course • A half-watched YouTube video on AI agents • The novel I abandoned after Chapter 7 • A call I owe to a childhood friend It’s not about guilt — it’s about awareness. A quiet system that tells me: “This is not urgent. It can wait.” ➡ Create a “Graveyard” note. Every time your mind wanders, log it. Then return to your core task. The Result? I’m still a work in progress. But I’m sharper. Quieter. Less reactive. The Biggest Shift? Not in my schedule, but in how I protect my attention. REMEMBER - You don’t need more hours. You need fewer attention leaks. P.S. Which of these 4 hacks would you try first? 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭 → 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. LinkedIn Guide to Creating #big4 #lifestyle #productivity #timemanagement

One of the most damaging errors analysts make when measuring marketing campaigns? Establishing an objective improperly. Should the objective be off, the effect on the work it guides will ripple through every step. In my experience, three common errors occur during the critical stage of objective setting: - Making the objective too broad - Confusing an objective with a result - Making the objective too complex Here’s how to correct them through proper objective setting. Breadth The campaign’s objective should be narrow and clearly defined. Avoid using "and" to ensure singularity. For instance, instead of saying "build awareness AND engage new customers," break them into two separate objectives: "build awareness" and "engage new customers." This will allow you to measure a campaign’s impact on each objective separately and more effectively. Objectives Versus Results It is a common mistake to confuse objectives with results when analyzing data. While sales may seem like the primary objective for advertisers, they are actually a result of achieving a different target. If a company's sales are struggling due to a lack of brand recognition, the true objective should be focused on "building awareness" in order to ultimately "drive sales." Complexity Clear and concise messages are crucial for rallying an organization behind an objective, as well as for centering stakeholders on the goal of an analysis. To do this, analysts should simplify their approach to setting objectives by choosing from well-established and tested business objectives. The visual below presents a set of interconnected objectives that are the staple of effective marketing, and all ladder up to the ultimate result of driving business performance (as Business Results are driven by Marketing Objectives which are driven by Media Objectives which are driven by Campaign Objectives). With appropriate objectives in place, analysts can confidently move forward in their measurement design with a sense of purpose and direction. Art+Science Analytics Institute | University of Notre Dame | University of Notre Dame - Mendoza College of Business | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | University of Chicago | D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University | ELVTR | Grow with Google - Data Analytics #Analytics #MarketingMeasurement

80% of your time and effort doesn't move the needle. Stop being busy. Start being bold. We live in a world that rewards urgency. We are addicted to productivity. Checking boxes. Clearing inboxes. Staying busy feels safe - because it gives the illusion of progress. You feel accomplished - but you’re often just exhausted. Here's the thing: A lion in a jungle has 2 choices - It can stay busy chasing mice all day - but still starve. Why? Because the return is too small to matter. OR it can choose to hunt an antelope. Where the risk is higher. The effort is greater. But so is the reward. So the question is: Are you chasing mice - or are you hunting antelope? According to a study in Harvard Business Review, managers spend over 80% of their time on “shallow work” - meetings, emails, administrative tasks. Less than 20% of their time goes into strategy, visioning, or creative problem-solving. This misalignment leads to what researchers call “false progress:” high activity, low impact. In neuroscience, this is explained by the “urgency effect” - our brains are wired to prioritize tasks that feel time-sensitive over those that are truly important. Unless we interrupt this loop consciously, we stay stuck in a cycle of reactivity. So how do you start choosing antelopes over mice? Here are 5 conscious strategies: 🌟 1/ Raise Your Bar, On Purpose ✅ Stop defaulting to the easy “yes.” Ask: What would a bolder version of this decision look like? If it’s not a little intimidating, it’s likely a mouse. 🌟 2/ Upgrade Your Environment ✅ Surround yourself with people who don’t just validate your comfort, but challenge your vision. If everyone around you is playing it safe - you will too. 🌟 3/ Use the Growth Filter ✅ Before committing to a task, ask: Will this help me grow - or just keep me in place? Mice maintain. Antelopes multiply. 🌟 4/ Build Your Stretch Ritual ✅ Each week, schedule one block of time for what I call “strategic discomfort” - the task, pitch, idea, or creation that feels like a stretch. Protect this time like it’s sacred. Because it is. 🌟 5/ Celebrate the Antelope Mindset ✅ Don’t just reward outcomes. Celebrate the boldness of choosing a bigger game. Courage is a muscle. The more you recognize it, the stronger it gets. You weren’t meant to live in reaction. You were meant to lead with intention. 📘 I write more about this in my debut book, The Conscious Choice (available for pre-order). So I’ll leave you with this: What’s one mouse you’re ready to stop chasing? And what antelope deserves your energy instead? Choose consciously. 🔁 Repost to help others focus on what matters. 🔔 Follow Bhavna Toor for more on conscious growth and leadership.

We don't prepare for effective meetings. But we can save time and boost outcomes with one rule. Here's how: Early in my career, I noticed meetings were often unproductive. 50% of the time was wasted without a clear agenda. So, I started using a 6-step formula to run meetings. 1. Prepare a Clear Agenda ↳ Create and distribute it in advance ↳ Include key topics: progress updates, challenges, tasks, decisions ↳ Set clear objectives for the meeting 2. Focus on Key Updates and Issues ↳ Start by reviewing action items from the previous meeting ↳ Have team members provide brief updates on their tasks and progress ↳ Discuss any roadblocks, challenges, or risks ↳ Prioritize the most important items for discussion 3. Encourage Participation ↳ Actively engage all team members to share updates and insights ↳ Allow time for problem-solving and brainstorming solutions 4. Manage Time Effectively ↳ Stick to the scheduled time for each agenda item ↳ Keep the meeting focused and on-track ↳ Consider setting a time limit for individual updates 5. Document Outcomes and Next Steps ↳ Assign clear action items and owners for follow-up tasks ↳ Summarize key decisions made and next steps ↳ Share meeting minutes/notes with all attendees afterward 6. Follow Up on Action Items ↳ Track commitments and hold people accountable. ↳ Ensure decisions are acted upon to maintain momentum Save this meeting rule: clear agenda → effective outcomes. Implement like a pro → Run meetings like a boss

As a product leader, have you ever felt like you're constantly working two jobs? Meetings by day, real work by night. You're not alone As product leaders, we're constantly juggling two distinct roles: the strategic thinker 🧠 and the team manager 👥. Finding the right balance between deep work and rapid context switching can be a daunting challenge, especially in today's hybrid work environment. In my latest article, I discuss the concept of the Maker's Schedule vs. Manager's Schedule, why product managers and leaders need to do both, and provide a four-step approach to designing a time management strategy that enables you to excel: 1️⃣ Audit and plan your time to align with priorities 2️⃣ Implement your ideal schedule by culling meetings and blocking off deep work time 3️⃣ Protect your time by saying "no," setting boundaries, and coordinating with your team 4️⃣ Create mental space for deep work using warm-up tasks, managing energy, and transition rituals Mastering the maker-manager balance is an ongoing journey that requires intentionality and experimentation. By understanding the demands of both roles and implementing these strategies, you can significantly boost your productivity and impact as a product leader. 📈💡 Want to learn more? Check out the full article and let me know your thoughts! What strategies have you found effective for managing your time as a product leader? 👇 #ProductManagement #TimeManagement #Leadership #DeepWork #ProductLeaders

I used to think entering "flow state" was up to chance. I'd consider it my lucky day because it was so rare. Then I discovered that I could hack my way to it. Here's 6 practices that work for me: 1️⃣ Movement before focus: ↳ Your brain needs blood flow ↳ 20 mins of morning exercise changes everything ↳ Momentum creates momentum 2️⃣ Environment is everything: ↳ Create a dedicated space ↳ Kill ALL notifications ↳ The work deserves your full attention 3️⃣ Time block ruthlessly: ↳ 90-minute deep work sessions ↳ No meetings before 11am ↳ Your calendar is a weapon - use it 4️⃣ Build triggers: ↳ Same playlist ↳ Same drink ↳ Same environment 5️⃣ Drop the perfectionism: ↳ First draft = rough draft ↳ Create first, edit later ↳ Give yourself permission to suck 6️⃣ Recovery is key: ↳ Can't flow if you're burnt ↳ Sleep like it's your job ↳ Rest is non-negotiable Flow state isn't about luck or talent. It's about building a system that works for you. What triggers flow state for you? (Repost to help a creative in your network) 👋 I’m Jolyon Varley, co-founder of OK COOL, strategic and creative partners to the hottest brands on the planet. I drop insights on culture and entrepreneurship every day at 8:30am EST 🔔

Ok, raise your hand if you've ever been the "fuzzy meeting person." 🙋♀️ 🙋♀️ 🙋♀️ I’d schedule sessions with no clear agenda, no defined outcome, basically, “let's chat and figure it out.” I’d leave half-exhausted, half-confused, thinking: "Did anything just get decided? Who’s doing what? Could this have been an email?" Probably everyone else thought that too. Waste of time. It took me a while, but I realized: the problem wasn’t the team. It was me. My meetings lacked clarity + intent. So I decided to get scientific about it. I started analyzing my meeting transcriptions with CoPilot. I wanted to see: - How much time I spent talking vs listening - How often I stated an explicit decision - Where confusion or rambling crept in The results were… eye-opening. I wasn’t just scheduling fuzzy meetings, I was enabling them. Here’s the system I built to fix it: Step 1. Define the single purpose (SO IMPORTANT) Every meeting needs a north star: “By the end, what should people know, decide, or do?” Step 2. Structure the agenda around outcomes List topics → assign a single desired outcome + time limit. Step 3. Prep key points, lead with decisions Skip long-winded context. Deliver the decision first, context second. Step 4. Track your talk ratio Use AI to see if you’re dominating or clarifying. Adjust accordingly. Step 5. End with explicit next steps Who does what, by when. No assumptions. Step 6. Follow up in writing 1–2 bullets summarizing decisions + assigned owners (you can do this with AI). Send within 24 hours. I also send transcripts if necessary. The transformation? Meetings went from draining and fuzzy → purposeful, productive, and trust-building. My coworkers leave knowing exactly what to do, and I finally stopped wondering why work wasn’t getting done. People like me more (hopefully?). Also, generally reduced my meeting frequency by 20ish%. Effectiveness frees us time, who knew. Moral: meetings are time, money, and trust. If people feel like you schedule fuzzy meetings, they'll be less committed. Use those steps to focus more on your clarity and intent. How do you make meetings more effective?

The fastest way to improve customer service training is through measurable learning objectives. Use the A-B-C-D framework to write them. One of the original objectives for a training program was "product knowledge." This wasn't really an objective. It was too vague. How do you really know if someone has the right product knowledge? A-B-C-D can make objectives clear and measurable. It works by asking four questions about the training. Let's use "product knowledge" as an example: A = Audience. Who is being trained? In this example, we want customer service specialists to increase their product knowledge. B = Behavior. What do we want them to do? For this client, they wanted customer service specialists to give the correct answer to customer questions. C = Condition. How will we verify the behavior has been trained? In this example, we opted to test product knowledge through in-class simulated phone calls where employees would have to answer questions a customer might ask them. D = Degree. How proficient must the participant be? Some skills come with a bit of latitude for beginners. This element allows you to adjust for that. In this case, we wanted customer service specialists to use a knowledge base so they always shared the correct answer. We decided each person needed to correctly answer five questions in a row. The finished A-B-C-D objective transformed "product knowledge" to this: "Customer service specialists will correctly answer customer questions during in-class simulations five times without error." Use A-B-C-D objectives to transform your customer service training. Move from vague to clear and specific. Get the ABCD worksheet: https://bit.ly/4d7QJQG