2x2: Keep a simple schedule

Hi, friends and welcome to this week's edition of 2x2. As you may know, here at Blanc Media we work in [8-week cycles](. But, for this current work cycle we did something new to us. We staggered our sabbatical week. Why? Well, I just opened the doors for the all-new Focus Accelerator membership (you can join [here](). And everyone who joins gets a free strategy call with us to help get personalized support right off the bat. In order to accommodate the calls, Joanna and Chloe just took their sabbatical week while Isaac and I did all the calls. And next week, Isaac and I will take our sabbatical while Joanna and Chloe do the calls. (Side note, tor my sabbatical, I’m taking my family to Colorado. If you want to see some pictures of the Rocky Mountains, follow me on [Instagram](.) * * * That said, let’s dive into this weeks newsletter. As always, I've got a couple of resources, tools, diversions, books, tools, toys, or other types of recommendations for you to check out; and then, secondly, are a couple of ideas, stories, or tips from me. Enjoy! Check this out 1: [Quote of the day]( Scott Belskey: “Make a mark, sustain the mark. Too many great things fade fast due to the lure of making vs. sustaining/iterating...scaling.” 2: [Anything You Want, by Derek Sivers](nosim&tag=pofl-20) “Business is as creative as the fine arts. You can be as unconventional, unique, and quirky as you want.” This is one of my favorite books on entrepreneurship and creativity, and it’s my most-gifted book. It’s short and easy to read too! You can get a copy today and read the whole thing during your lunch break on Monday afternoon. Something to think about 1: In your schedule, fight for simplicity The more complex your schedule is, the more opportunity things have to feel out of control. Keep your schedule simple. Use routines and [time blocks]( to your advantage. [Remove as many decisions as you can.]( 2: [Where have you created “False Urgency”?]( When you have an overwhelming urgency mindset, it blurs the lines between that which is actually important and that which is not. Everything begins to feel important all the time… and that, in turn, creates a lot of anxiety, stress, and worry that otherwise need not exist. The way I help folks overcome an urgency mindset is with what I call the 4-Focus Method. It’s a flywheel that helps you to: (1) identify the important work and then (2) celebrate that work. That simple cycle of Identify ←→ Celebrate will teach your brain to value non-urgent activities. The result is less stress and more motivation to work on long-term, important areas. * * * — Shawn P.S. [An Insta Reel about our 8-Week Work Cycles]( [In-Depth App Training for Power Users]( To unsubscribe, click [here](. Blanc Media, 714 Main St., Grandview, MO 64030, United States