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July 17, 2025 23 mins

We’re living through a hurricane of distraction—constant pings, endless opportunities, and FOMO-fueled comparison. In Episode 5 of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Alan and Jonathan unpack why today’s leaders feel overwhelmed yet under-productive, and share a simple but counter-intuitive answer: do fewer things—better.

Press play to learn how to develop “healthy tunnel vision” in a scattered world, why prioritization and elimination go hand-in-hand, and how to stay accessible (not available) so you can protect your best work. If you find yourself grasping at tasks like kids in a wind-tunnel booth grabbing dollar bills, this episode will give you a clearer, calmer path forward.

Key Takeaways

  • Scattered vs. Strategic: Today’s world bombards us like a wind-tunnel booth of swirling dollar bills. You must choose a few priorities—and let the rest go.

  • Effectiveness > Efficiency: Machines optimize for efficiency; leaders optimize for impact by focusing on the right 2–3 actions.

  • Prioritize & Eliminate: To truly excel, ruthlessly say “no” to good things so you can say “yes” to the best things.

  • Accessible ≠ Available: You can remain reachable without being on-call 24/7—protect deep-work blocks as sacred.

  • Model the Change: A leader’s bandwidth sets the bar for their team. Guard your own focus to help everyone guard theirs.

Reflect & Apply

Set aside 10–15 minutes today with your journal or notes app. Answer honestly:

  1. How scattered am I right now? Where is your attention leaking?

  2. What’s distracting me from what matters most? Identify the “dollar bills” you’re chasing.

  3. What’s one commitment I must say “no” to this fall so I can laser-focus on my top priorities?

Links & Resources

📘 The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide → https://a.co/d/haM9rSR

📓 Right Side Up Journal (Weekly & Quarterly Audit) → https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh

   
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