The Art of Focus for High Achievers

Maximise your potential for high-impact projects and strategic growth

Hi, it’s Clive. Welcome to my first weekly newsletter for high achieving, ambitious individuals exploring elite level performance. Let's exchange what's predictable for what's possible.

This week, you’ll learn about the unusual time system I’ve been using in my private practice:

• Busy work holds you back

• The concept of Free, Focus, and Buffer Days

• How I organise my week

• The higher performance mini-mission

Reading time: 2 minutes

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What’s predictable?

Do you feel like you're constantly busy? 

If so, you’re probably not making progress on your goals as quickly as you’d like.

If I told you there's a way to double your productivity, without working longer hours, you’d be interested, right?

What’s possible?

A few years ago, I discovered Dan Sullivan's Strategic Coach concept of Free, Focus, and Buffer Days. I was skeptical at first, but within weeks of applying it, my productivity and satisfaction skyrocketed.

Here's how it works: 

1. Focus Days: These are for your highest-value activities - the work that truly moves the needle. 

2. Free Days: Completely disconnected from work. These days are for rejuvenation, personal pursuits, and gaining new perspectives. 

3. Buffer Days: These bridge the gap between Focus and Free days. Use them for planning, admin tasks, meetings, and setting up for successful Focus Days.

Simple concept, right? Yet most high achievers muddle these, diluting their effectiveness. When did you last have 24 hours truly work-free?

I’ll admit I found this difficult to put into practice the way Dan specifies it. That’s because I’m not an entrepreneur with a team. His clients are.

So, my version is more geared toward an expert practitioner looking for higher performance.

Here’s how I organise my week

• Two days completely work-free (including business books and emails).

• Two prep days for research and strategic planning.

• Three focus days for core high-value activities: writing, networking, coaching.

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🚀 Before the higher performance mini-mission, let me ask — do you want to unlock your own performance and growth potential?

I work 1:1 with highly ambitious achievers on their agenda: including mindset and behaviour change, leading others in a high stakes situations, and influencing decisions with integrity. If that’s for you please get in touch.

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Higher Performance Mini-Mission

Where to start:

1. Schedule one day this week that’s free of work activities. That means no emails!

2. Look at your task list. Divide it up into high-impact and supporting work. 

3. Look for any non-core activities you can delegate. 

4. Block 3-hour chunks for deep work on your money-making activities. 

5. Add preparation time so your deep work is well planned and uninterrupted.

Give it a go. Your future self will thank you.

Now, I want to hear from you. What's the main obstacle you face in adopting a system like this? I read every response.

Until next time.


Clive

PS: For more on this concept, check out this article.

Know others who could benefit from this too?

Why not forward this email to a couple of other ambitious individuals who could benefit from the concept?

And just imagine how much more you and your peers could achieve if everyone mastered the art of strategic time management.

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Read my work is on LinkedIn. That’s where I talk most days on a mixture of consultancy business development and high performance. Wherever the mood takes me.