2x2: One way to stop thinking about work

Hello! Shawn here. And welcome to this week’s edition of the 2x2 Newsletter. Your premier Friday email for doing the important work that matters while creating and protecting your free time to enjoy life. I’m so glad you’re here. Check this out 1: [Rebecca Lily’s Latest Lightroom Presets]( This is for the photographers on the list. Rebecca Lily makes the best Lightroom presets out there. I’d guess that 95% of the photos I’ve taken over the past 6 years (since I first got my Leica Q) have been edited in Lightroom with one of Rebecca’s presets. Her latest set ([Pro Set VII]() is incredible. 2: [Loom](I’ve been using Loom for a few years now and it’s become essential to my business. Loom is a fantastic app for quickly recording screencasts and/or personal videos to send to folks. I use it all the time for short, easy, and personal ways to communicate with our Focus Course members, as well as for delegating to my team, and/or recording SOPs. Something to think about 1: Vision and MissionWithout a clear idea of your own core values and the things that drive your decisions and motivation… Then your schedule will reflect what someone else wants from you rather than what you want for yourself. The three primary areas that all need a clear mission: Your business, your family, and your self. 2: How to Stop Thinking About WorkHere is a quote from Ernest Hemingway: “I learned not to think about anything that I was writing from the time I stopped writing until I started again the next day. That way my subconscious would be working on it and at the same time I would be listening to other people and noticing everything, I hoped.” Let’s add some emphasis on the word “learned”. You see, I’ve always taken that quote and referenced the part about how he would let things brew in his subconscious. Which is pretty common advice. People tell you all the time that when you’re stuck on a problem you should go take a walk or build a kitchen table or something. But what I’ve always missed is how he says he had to learn not to think about anything he was writing. As a business owner, it can be nigh impossible to not think about work after I’m done working. But something that helps tremendously is to have a clear system in place for consistently staying focused on what’s most important. In short: If you are clear on what needs to be done, and you know when you’re next going to work on it, you can learn to not think about it during the in-between. And that is liberating. * * * — Shawn P.S. If you’d like help with your business, reply to this email and let me know. I’ve still got a handful of openings for a small, group program I’m leading in May where I’ll be working directly with a few agency owners and consultants to fix their personal + business systems.  👋 Whenever you’re ready, here are 4 ways I can help you: 1: [Start with the]([free Focus Assessment]( to get your personalized roadmap to eliminate busywork, procrastination, and burnout. 2: Join 3,500 creative professionals who have declared their goals and reset their schedule to do more of the important work that matters. Get instant access to the [Focus Course](. 3: [Join our growing Membership community]( and get your all-access pass to our entire course library along with weekly accountability and ongoing workshops. (Recommended.) 4: Business Owners: Hit reply if you’re interested in running your full-time business on part-time hours.  [In-Depth App Training for Power Users]( To unsubscribe, click [here](. Blanc Media, 714 Main St., Grandview, MO 64030, United States