April 9, 2025
PM Talks S2E4: Focus
My next book, Productiveness, arrives this September. It's about the difference between doing more and doing what matters, and how we lost the ability to tell them apart. I'll send the release date the day it's set. Visit https://mikevardy.com/productiveness to learn more.This episode is the latest in our monthly PM Talks series, where Patrick Rhone and I go deep on foundational elements of productiveness. And for this one—our 600th episode, no less—we dive into a topic that touches everything from our to-do lists to our dinner prep: focus.What does it really mean to focus? And more importantly, how do we hold onto it when the world (and our brains) are pulling us in a million directions? Patrick and I get personal, philosophical, and practical in this candid conversation about the mechanics, challenges, and beauty of attention.Six Discussion PointsWhy clarity is essential for cultivating focusHow poor planning can derail your ability to be present (and how to get back on track)The four spheres of attention: Noticing, Awareness, Focus, and ConcentrationHow setting an intention—before a task or even a class—can sharpen your resultsThe role of tools, routines, and even AI in maintaining (or stealing) our attentionWhy focus is as much about space as it is about time3 Connection PointsPatrick's blogTed Lasso's "Be Curious" SceneThe Center Must Hold (but can it?)Focus isn’t just about removing distractions—it’s about choosing what matters and committing to it with clarity and care. Whether we’re talking about planning meals or choosing how to use AI, what Patrick and I come back to again and again is this: the quality of your attention determines the quality of your experience. And we hope this conversation helps you experience more of what really matters.Your inbox is a receiving dock, not a warehouse. Three moves, seconds a message, and only what needs you today is left standing. That's the promise of The 10 Second Inbox. Get it at https://mikevardy.com/10secondinbox today.
Also available on Apple Podcasts