It’s Friday – welcome summer! | one approach to focused work.

No, I’m not sitting under a palm tree as I write this yet I did have reason to travel to Palm Springs for a couple nights recently. What traveled with me was my current read – “Deep Work – Rules For Focused Success in a Distracted World.” – Cal Newport. As I pen this blog post, I share the beginning of a season (summer) for me in focused work with several initiatives lined up I’m working on for my company.

We can all probably agree summer is a time of play. And while summer in and of itself can be a place of distraction when running a business, with the right strategies is can be a perfect blend of both work & play. I offer this approach below from my current reading material – as it will too guide me thru the summer. Sharing an excerpt (pg 110-111) on “The Rhythmic Philosophy of Deep Work Scheduling“…

“In the early days of the Seinfeld show, Jerry Seinfeld remained a working comic with a busy tour schedule. It was during this period that a writer and comic named Brad Isaac, who was working open mic nights at the time, ran into Seinfeld at a club waiting to go on stage. As Isaac later explained in a now classic Lifehacker article: “I saw my chance. I had to ask Seinfeld if he had any tips for a young comic. What he told me was something that would benefit me for a lifetime.”

“Seinfeld began his advice to Isaac with some common sense, noting “the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes,” and then explaining that the way to create better jokes was to write every day. Seinfeld continued by describing a specific technique he used to help maintain this discipline. He keeps a calendar on his wall. Every day that he writes jokes he crosses out the date on the calendar with a big red X. “After a few days you’ll have a chain,” Seinfeld said. “Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing the chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”

“This chain method (as now some call it) soon became hit among writers and fitness enthusiasts – communities that thrive on the ability to do hard things consistently…”

Ok, me again. Welcome to summer – officially! As we approach this new season upon us – what strategies might you enlist to blend work & play in beautiful rhythm? Just maybe, something as simple as above could help!

Well. I’m signing off for July from penning my blog posts. I am entering a season of focused work (and play)…

Ah, before I do! Since laughter can be some of the best medicine of all – I’ll stick with the comedian theme within this post and give a BIG shout out to Windermere for landing Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost for a first annual Windermere Foundation Comedy Night. The event will take place on November 6, 2023, at Fremont Studios. I’ll be squirreling away my 2023 giving to attend this event! Watch the HUB & information from your offices to follow…

Again, welcome to summer – a time where our PNW shows off her best self – let’s go fill it with productive work & play. Here to help, the ultimate goal. – Laura