The Forest Experiment (read if you’re feeling stuck)

Turns out, it’s more difficult to walk in a straight line than many people think. Imagine you’ve been plopped down in the middle of the forest. No landmarks. No compass. No Google Maps. Nothing but nature in front of you: You’re given one task: Walk in a straight line. That’s it. That’s the challenge. Easy, right? Back in 2009, the Max Planck Institute in Germany did this exact experiment, and the results were mind blowing. ^ ^ Not only were people unable to maintain a straight line — they ended up WALKING IN CIRCLES. Why? It turns out that when you lack clear markers for distance and direction, you constantly make “micro adjustments” based on where your feet are at any given moment. A little bit to the right. A little bit to the left. It feels like you’re staying straight but in reality you’re overcorrecting until you slowly but surely end up right back where you started. Sound familiar? This is one of the most common struggles people are describing as we welcome them into [the latest class of Focus Academy…]( Being so wrapped up in day-to-day minutiae that making progress on anything outside their to-do list feels impossible. The false urgency of their schedule leaves them walking in the same old circle over and over: Busywork. Reactive work. Procrastination. Burnout. Repeat… One of our Focus Academy alumni, Alexandra Immel, described it as feeling like “a walking to-do list” before she went through Focus Academy. She’s a business owner, wife, and mother who, in her words, “was always trying to fit something in…always trying to get more things done…I never had a moment to rest. And it was very dissatisfying.” [Focus Academy]( is a chance to hit reset on your schedule. To align your day-to-day habits with your longer term goals and vision in life, so your energy stays straight instead of constantly going in different directions. Think of it like this: As Alexandra put it: “Focus Academy was an escape route for me, from a way of living that was really wearing me out.” If you’re feeling worn out right now, you are only 4 weeks away from a completely different way of living. Each week of [Focus Academy]( is designed to help you untangle the many threads of your everyday life and reorient them to allow for steady, sustainable progress in the areas that matter most to you. 🗺 Week 1: Vision Week (Jan. 16 – 20) This is where we set the targets for your life — the mile markers and landmarks that will prevent you from walking in circles. Using our unique template, you will be able to identify your core values and draft your life’s mission. SO much productivity advice and “systems” fail because they overlook this part. That’s why we get clear on it from the start in Week 1. ⚡️ Week 2: Strategy Week (Jan. 23 – 27) Here we will focus on goal setting plus strategy. You will identify goals for each area of your life and discover how to tie small daily actions into the larger desired outcomes you have. Already have goals set for the coming year? No problem. Week 2 will help you make the tweaks and adjustments that’ll give you an even better chance of hitting them. 🗓 Week 3: Habits Week (Jan. 30 – Feb 3) The apex of Academy... in Week 3 you will build your ideal schedule and identify the habits that will keep you aligned with it throughout the year — no matter what life throws your way. This is when most members have their “lightbulb” moments, and the results from this week are often what make the biggest long-term impact on people. 🏖 Week 4: Margin Week (Feb. 6 – 10) In the final week, we will dive into overcoming resistance and distractions, creating Margin (a.k.a. Breathing Room) and boundaries in your life, and how to use the 4-Focus Method to keep things on track. 👉 [Click here to get all the details and secure your spot now before enrollment closes!]( This January cohort is shaping up to be yet another incredible group of people, and I can’t wait to see what kind of connections are made as we work through the program together. — Shawn P.S. If you [watch my short interview with Alexandra](, you’ll see that the community is one of the most valuable ways Focus Academy gives you an extra edge over things like books and courses. As she put it: “It was a fresh look at everything with other smart people all struggling at your level at the same things. It was very validating and very helpful.” [In-Depth App Training for Power Users]( To unsubscribe, click [here](. Blanc Media, 714 Main St., Grandview, MO 64030, United States