From Procrastination to Flow: The High Performer's Playbook with Steven Puri

In this flow state mastery episode, I sit down with Steven Puri, former film studio executive and startup founder who's raised over $20 million venture. We expose why traditional productivity advice keeps high performers burnt out. And we reveal how understanding your brain energy can unlock sustainable excellence. Steven reveals why the last minute rush is slowly destroying you. He explains how Ron Bass writes $2 million scripts by refusing to speak to his family before 9am. He destroys the myths around hustle culture and shows you how to do your best work in less time without burning out. Whether you're a type A overachiever who procrastinates until 1am, a team leader watching your people work inefficiently, or a professional convinced you need to sacrifice sleep for success, this conversation will revolutionize how you think about productivity. It will show you that flow states aren't just for artists. They're for anyone willing to understand their chronotype. What we cover: Time boxing revelation: why declaring time limits makes tasks magically fit The procrastination paradox: how type A achievers create their own drama Chronotype awareness: discovering when you do your best work naturally The 15 to 23 minute rule: how long it takes to drop into flow states Email epidemic solutions: why inbox zero is a pipe dream (and what to do instead) Ron Bass morning ritual: the $2 million screenwriter who won't talk before 9am Location triggers: how Roland Emmerich's $5 million villa unlocks creativity Music and flow: why 60 to 90 BPM ambient tracks help you focus Brown noise discovery: how Himalayan rain became the third most popular playlist Beauty as fuel: why galleries and operas feed creative work Social media as smoking: the next generation's view of our distraction epidemic Sukha origin story: how a Bali honeymoon named a flow state company Steven doesn't just talk about productivity hacks. He proves that with proper time boxing, chronotype awareness, and flow state triggers, high performers can achieve more in less time. And they can actually have energy left for their families. Timestamps: 04:38 – Time boxing explained: why declaring time limits makes tasks fit 08:24 – Chronotype discovery: finding your natural productivity rhythms 15:36 – Email scheduling: the thoughtful leader's secret weapon 20:41 – Flow states defined: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's groundbreaking research 25:09 – The 15 to 23 minute drop in rule and why interruptions kill flow 29:29 – Charlene's French assembly debate: the first conscious flow experience 35:05 – Music for flow: why opera distracts but classical music activates 42:20 – Location association: how $5 million villas and Hilton rooms trigger creativity 48:21 – Environment and beauty: why museums and galleries fuel keynote writing 52:12 – Film industry lessons: what Hollywood taught about sustainable performance 01:01:26 – The Bali honeymoon story: how Sukha got its Sanskrit name Resources: The Sukha Company (flow state app): https://thesukha.co (7 day free trial) Steven Puri on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stevenpuri Cal Newport's "Deep Work": https://calnewport.com/writing Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's "Flow" book: https://amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202 Steven Kotler's Flow Research Collective: https://flowresearchcollective.com 📲 Connect with Me: 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charl%C3%A8ne-gis%C3%A8le-bourliout/