You want to focus, but you keep getting sucked into nonsense. You know what you need to do, but you don’t do it.

A reader asked me:

“It is becoming difficult to maintain focus, concentration and discipline in terms of learning and studying for exams and for gaining knowledge in general.”

I agree. It’s getting harder to focus.

The reader also said that, “Certain advice such as “setting clear goals” and “breaking your work down in manageable chunks” have become cliche for students of my age, and they are not really helpful anymore.”

I agree once again. Self-improvement tips have been commoditized. Everyone is giving advice these days.

Let me give you my perspective on this topic. This is coming from personal experience.

1. Accept that focusing is hard

Most people think focus is about motivation. It’s not. It’s about endurance.

Focus isn’t easy because your mind will always seek comfort. But comfort is the enemy of results.

You have to be honest. Do you want to succeed at what you do?

Pay the price! And the price is hardship.

You have to embrace the pain of sitting with a tough problem, reading a difficult book, or studying when you don’t feel like it.

The first time I taught myself this process was while pursuing my graduate degree in Business Administration. When I had advanced math and econometrics for the first time, I just didn’t get it.

It was like looking at symbols to me. But I trained myself to sit with my books, make notes, think, and think again until I finally understood something. And I just kept going for hours on end.

Why? Simply because I wanted to finish what I started. Sometimes that’s the only motivation you need.

If you want to accomplish something, you should just keep going until you get some results. And never complain that it’s hard.

2. Throw away your phone when you focus

Seriously. Your phone is ruining your ability to think. Every time you check it, you’re training yourself to be distracted. You’re making it harder to concentrate for long periods.

The Stoic philosopher Seneca warned about wasting time: 

“While we are postponing, life speeds by.”

If you’re always scrolling, you’re losing time you’ll never get back. Technology is designed to pull you in. If you let it, it will control you.

When you sit down to work, put the phone in another room. Be ruthless about it. If you need to, use apps that block distractions or turn on airplane mode.

3. Focus on the next step, not the big picture

Look, I think everyone needs to have a bigger goal in life. Because that’s what keeps you going. For me, it was always financial independence. Now, it’s about teaching and writing. 

But when you’re overwhelmed, the big goal can make you freeze. Instead, focus on your next step.

Epictetus, another Stoic, put it best: 

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

Want to get better grades? Just start by reading one page. Want to write an essay? Just write one sentence. 

Don’t overcomplicate it. Take action now. Overthinking is a killer of focus. By shifting your focus to the smallest next step, you gain momentum, and momentum is everything.

4. Train your discipline like a muscle

Discipline is not something you have or don’t have—it’s something you build. Just like physical strength, mental strength grows through repetition and resistance.

• Challenge yourself daily with small, difficult tasks.
• Push through discomfort instead of avoiding it.
• Set clear boundaries for work and rest.
• Develop morning and evening routines that keep you grounded.
• Reward yourself after periods of deep focus to reinforce good habits.

Aristotle said, “Through discipline comes freedom.” The more you train yourself to do what must be done, the more control you’ll have over your focus and actions. 

If you consistently strengthen your ability to sit down and do the work, you will eventually become unstoppable.

5. Control your environment

This is the most important thing.

If you’re reading this and you want to only pick one of the things I’ve shared so far, pick this. Because it has a huge impact.

Here’s why: You are a product of your environment.

This is something I focus on the most because I know it matters most. If I’m surrounded by low-energy people who complain, I just don’t feel like doing anything. I become melancholic.

I’ve talked about this with my family and wife a lot. We need to make sure that we stay in a good mood, no matter how hard life is.

Because if you surround yourself with distractions, negativity, and bad habits, and people that drag you down, you will struggle to focus and stay disciplined.

• Clean up your workspace so it’s free from clutter.
• Spend time with people who are ambitious and always doing things.
• Listen to music that helps you concentrate or work in silence.
• Keep books, notebooks, and other study materials within easy reach.

Your surroundings either support your focus or destroy it. Choose wisely.

And take it seriously.

Focusing is getting harder every year

I can tell you from personal experience, it’s getting harder and harder to focus as time goes by. And that’s because of more…

• Opportunities
• Distractions
• Uncertainty
• Pressure

The world is designed to pull your attention in a million directions. That means you have to get stronger if you want to deal with it. 

As one of the first motivational speakers, Jim Rohn, said:

“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better.”

The world isn’t going to slow down for you. You have to become stronger and more focused if you want to win. 

So keep getting better!

The post Tips to Maintain Your Focus, Concentration, and Discipline appeared first on Darius Foroux.

Think about it. How does a man like Darwin come up with such a theory?

In fact, how do YOU come up with an idea, service, or product that would make such a significant impact in other people’s lives? Because that’s the key to career success – making other people’s lives better.

1. It takes longer than you think

Unless you’re extremely lucky and you achieve it on your first few tries, career success really takes a long time to happen.

Darwin wasn’t chilling at home, studying fossils, or taking a shower when the idea of natural selection suddenly hit him.

The truth is even more boring: Darwin researched thousands of plant and animal species on various continents for many years. He observed, sketched, traveled, and consulted with locals and fellow scientists, recording his findings in his journal.

He came up with the theory of natural selection little by little over many years of quiet study.

Even after developing his theory, he took time to reflect on it. Darwin discussed it with other scientists for feedback. Then, he dedicated many years to writing his renowned work, On the Origin of Species.

In all, Darwin spent decades of his life coming up with natural selection.

As expected, people eventually attributed Darwin’s success to his “genius,” which irritated him. After all, Darwin had spent his life gathering data and forming his theory, not pulling it from thin air. He stressed the hard work behind his theory.

In his other book, The Descent of Man, which came out 12 years after Origin, Darwin said:

“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert.”

Similarly, many successful folks, like Stephen King, have a consistent work routine. As King wrote in On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft:

“I like to get ten pages a day, which amounts to 2,000 words. That’s 180,000 words over a three-month span, a goodish length for a book… only under dire circumstances do I allow myself to shut down before I get my 2,000 words.”

King said that on good days, the ten pages come to him easily and he can be out and doing errands before noon. Most times, he would eat lunch at his desk and finish the day’s work at around one-thirty in the afternoon. When the “words come hard,” he’d spend more of the day on his desk “fiddling around at teatime.”

Either way, King gets his work done, and he does it every single day without excuse.

2. The key is not to miss but to attempt more shots than your peers

Before they hit it big, The Beatles played four to five-hour gig marathons, non-stop, per night and almost every night for two years as an unknown band in German bars and nightclubs.¹

Lennon and McCartney later attributed their meteoric rise to fame to this marathon of practice and performance. The Beatles would go on to release twelve original UK studio albums in a seven-year span (1963 to 1970), with many of these albums reaching multi-platinum status.

This trend of consistently creating high quality work is something consistent with many individuals who achieved lasting career success.

• Mozart and Beethoven each wrote over 600 pieces of music, far surpassing the output of most of their contemporaries, who often composed less than 100 pieces in their entire careers.²
• Picasso was incredibly prolific, creating an estimated 13,500 paintings, 100,000 graphic prints or engravings, 34,000 book illustrations, 300 sculptures and ceramics. His output far surpassed that of most other professional artists.³
• Research indicates that Nobel prize winners generally produce almost twice as much work as their peers in the same fields. ⁴

The idea that success happens due to a “big moment” or a “hit of inspiration” is a myth. Inspiration and success happen by doing the work.

Successful people don’t “find the time” to do what they need to do: They make the time.

Much like in basketball, these folks achieved success not because they never missed, but because they attempted the most shots.

What you do today dictates your career success tomorrow

History and human memory tend to highlight greatness while overlooking the work it took to achieve it. Famous figures like Mark Twain or Picasso may seem like they just effortlessly created masterpieces.

But the truth is, they worked hard at their craft for years to produce the few classics we admire today.

What you do today determines tomorrow. Every choice you make, every task you complete, every goal you set and reach: All of these contribute to your career success.

And while small actions – like doom scrolling social media – may seem insignificant at the time, these add up. And they eventually affect your life’s trajectory.

So start executing today. No more excuses.

Order The Stoic Path to Wealth

My new book, The Stoic Path to Wealth (Portfolio / Penguin), is out now.

Learn more here: stoicpathtowealth.com

The post 2 Harsh Truths on Career Success That People Hate to Admit appeared first on Darius Foroux.

It could be something small, like paying your taxes, or something big, like starting your own business. “Why can’t I stop procrastinating?!”

Maybe you’ve even tried the usual tips to avoid putting things off:

• Starting with the smallest/simplest component of a task. Imagine needing to write a pitch email you’ve been avoiding. Once you open your email app and begin typing—even if the initial draft isn’t great—you’ll likely finish the task. Starting gives you the momentum you need.
• Creating an environment that forces you to act is another common tip. This strategy involves creating a scenario where it’s harder not to do something. For example, some people spend huge money on gym equipment to motivate themselves to exercise, or they stock their home with only healthy food to simplify eating well.
• Using various productivity apps and tools is also recommended. I personally use the Waking Up app for meditation, the Reflection.app for my daily journaling habit, and so forth. Apps and tools make tasks much more convenient for us to do and avoid procrastination.

While these tips are helpful, they don’t tackle the root cause of why people fail to achieve their goals or complete tasks. They might help you for a temporary period, but they won’t cure a lifetime of procrastination.

The truth is, if you’re like most people, you find yourself procrastinating repeatedly. It’s a constant issue, and that’s because there’s a deeper reason behind your procrastination.

Your old self and procrastination

I know someone who always talked about writing his book and launching a professional writing career. He worked in academia as a lecturer, but he always wanted to pursue writing full time.

The thing is, this friend actually applied the usual procrastination tips: He started several manuscript drafts, he wrote articles, and he even saved enough money for what he called his “career fund” – which was supposed to let him live a whole year without work so he can focus on writing.

But the book never came out. The excuses were the same: The quality of what he wrote wasn’t good enough, he suddenly needed more money for a home improvement, or he didn’t have enough time to finish his manuscript.

One time, he finally admitted the real reason he never took the plunge of writing full-time: “I’m afraid my book will flop and I would be too embarrassed to show my face to my colleagues afterward.”

Essentially, he feared that his book would either not win any prestigious awards or not sell well. So even if he published his book while working for a university, he couldn’t handle the imagined impact that failure might have on his professional image.

Break free from your old self by not caring too much

This makes me think of a quote from Marcus Aurelius:

“I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others.”

Here’s the truth about the real root of consistent procrastination: Improvement in life means change. And humans are naturally afraid of change because it threatens their old selves.

The more something feels like a threat to your identity, the more likely you are to avoid it.

This means anything that might change the way you see yourself or challenge your self-perception can lead to procrastination. Interestingly, this applies to both positive and negative changes in your life.

• Earning a million dollars can shake up your identity just as much as going broke.
• Becoming a multi-platinum rock star can disrupt your sense of self as much as losing your job.

This is why people often fear success as much as they fear failure—it challenges their current identity and what they are familiar with.

Procrastination is emotional resistance

Generally, the hardest things for us to do in life are full of emotional resistance.

We often avoid actions like studying hard, moving away from our hometown, or starting to work on that idea we’ve always talked about because these things challenge our self-perception.

We all hold beliefs about our identity and tend to protect them. If I think I’m a nice person, I’ll steer clear of situations that might challenge that view. If I see myself as a shy introvert who’s afraid of crowds and public speaking, I’ll look for chances to reinforce that belief repeatedly.

Beliefs shape everything. Before we can change our actions and behaviors, we need to shift our self-perception and what we believe about ourselves.

This is also why I don’t recommend the usual “positive thinking” tips to procrastinators. As Epictetus said:

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

Positive affirmations may work for some people. But I caution against being too attached to outcomes. Think about it. Have you noticed that the more you care about the outcome of things, they suddenly feel harder to achieve?

If I think I want to write an awesome article, I often take a longer time to write it, and the results may not be very good. But if I start with little to no imaginary pressure, the writing comes easier, and the results are better, too.

The limiting thoughts come in because the action suddenly has more ability to threaten your self-beliefs.

So stop protecting your old self. That’s the first step to truly breaking free from procrastination.

The post Stop Protecting Your Old Self (The Real Root of Procrastination) appeared first on Darius Foroux.

Every time I ask him about when he actually wants to leave, he always has a reason (aka an excuse):

• “I’m waiting for a bonus”
• “I need to save up more money first”
• “I just don’t have enough time to job search right now”

Sound familiar?

It’s natural for humans to put off major life goals. Whether it’s changing jobs, starting your own business, or negotiating a higher salary, it can be easy to make excuses and procrastinate.

Doing those things is hard. It takes a lot of courage and skills.

But the truth is, you’re putting your financial growth and life on hold when you put things off. You miss out on opportunities that could have changed your life for the better and helped you earn more.

So how do you start taking action? Here are four steps.

1. Stop procrastinating on getting your finances in order

You need to know your numbers. If you want to earn more, you need to take the time to crunch your numbers: How much are you earning? How much are you spending?

The key is to keep it simple.

• If tracking your real-time expenses is helpful for you, then use expense-tracking apps.
• For peace of mind, ensure that you have an emergency fund. If you don’t have one yet, then make it a priority to start building it.
• Set clear financial goals for the short and long term.

You can also apply the 50/30/20 budgeting rule: spend 50% of your income on needs, 30% on wants, and save or use 20% for paying off debt. And keep everything automated so you don’t have to think about it.

When you know your numbers, you can easily see where your money is going. Life circumstances can change quickly, so it’s important to adapt your finances accordingly.

2. Define what “earning more” means to you

Once you have a clear understanding of your finances, set specific and realistic goals.

Instead of saying, “I want to earn more,” define what “more” means. Is it an additional $10K a year? A promotion to a higher managerial role? By setting these specific targets, you create a clear path forward.

Seneca said it well:

“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”

Wealth is built by providing a highly valuable service or product. So if you want to become wealthy, you need to provide a highly valued item or service to others. This could mean developing a new skill, improving your current skills, or finding a niche market to tap into.

The key is to constantly learn and adapt.

3. Get out of your bubble

Unless it’s purely luck, earning more requires personal growth. If you want to grow your income, you also have to grow more as a person.

And growth sometimes requires stepping out of your comfort zone.

• Don’t like your work environment, but you like your field/industry? Look for a better employer. But better employers also need better employees. So you’ll likely need to upskill before getting in.
• Want to present an innovative idea to your boss, but you’re not confident enough in your persuasion or presentation skills? Then do the work. There are courses and tutorials that can help you improve. You can even practice with friends. Whether or not your idea is eventually taken in, the important thing is that you did your presentation well and gained new skills.
• Launching a side hustle? This requires overcoming a learning curve. It would be great if all side hustles could start earning sustainable income within 6 months. But if things were that easy, most people would now be financially free. These things take time.

Too many people are stuck in their old situations because they don’t want to get out of their comfort zone. By taking on new challenges and learning new skills, we open ourselves up to better opportunities.

4. Find a mentor

Having a mentor can provide you with guidance, support, and insider knowledge about your industry. Mentors can help you navigate career challenges, provide feedback on your goals, and keep you accountable.

Your “mentor” doesn’t need to be a famous person who is personally coaching you. That would be ideal, but successful people get mentorship requests all the time. If you can write a good pitch email to a mentor, and they respond positively, then that’s great.

But if not, you can always use them as models instead. The key is to find two or three people who have achieved what you want and are living the lifestyle that you like.

Study how they forged their path. What were their attitudes, beliefs, and habits?

You’ll probably find that they all share some similarities in how they approach work and life. You can use these as guidance.

Act or regret

The key is to get started.

Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Take the initiative and make it happen.

If you’re procrastinating your income goals, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with taking action towards their financial goals. Simply start small and build momentum.

Too many folks are not financially free because they procrastinate for too long on their income goals.

It’s natural to find yourself making excuses; the fear of failure or the discomfort of stepping out of your comfort zone can be daunting.

But delaying these will only turn into regret. The longer you wait, the more opportunities you’re likely going to miss.

So take the first steps. No matter how small. And take it now.

The post If You Want to Earn More, Stop Procrastinating appeared first on Darius Foroux.

Back then, I was writing my thesis for my degree in Business Administration, and I also started a company with my dad.

I initially thought, “How hard is writing a thesis? And how hard is it to start a company?”

It took me only a few weeks to realize that the answer is: VERY HARD times two.

Especially if you just wing it or try to accomplish results by simply working hard. Sheer force and willpower aren’t sustainable. After running around in circles and not making any meaningful progress, I decided to take my productivity as seriously as my business and thesis.

In fact, I prioritize my personal productivity over everything else. I used a scientific approach to getting more things done and improving my work output.

In just four minutes, I will share with you five scientifically proven ways you can raise your productivity. All these tips are rooted in science, research evidence, and 14 years of personal experience.

While these tips might sound obvious, you’ll be at least twice more productive than 99% of the population if you actually live by the following tips.

Tip 1: Start with micro productivity

Research has shown that micro productivity, or breaking your work into smaller, manageable tasks can significantly help you increase and improve your work output.¹

This method lowers the cognitive load, making the task feel less daunting and easier to accomplish. That’s how you get more done with less time.

This advice sounds SO obvious, but it never fails. I honestly think that many smart folks tend to discard simple advice because it’s simple. I was like that too. But it’s a big mistake.

Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, said it well:

“Don’t make the process harder than it is.”

Any time you’re working on a larger project, break it into small tasks. Then tackle each one individually.

You’ll make it easier for yourself to start. And when you start, you generally keep going.

Tip 2: Use the Pomodoro Technique

You’ve likely heard or read about this technique already. If you’re already using this, then that’s great. Keep at it.

But if you’re not, then this is the reminder to start. Remember that starting is the most crucial part. Too many folks don’t get things done because they never start.

The Pomodoro Technique involves a few simple steps:

• Break your work into 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between. This allows for focused and productive bursts of work without burning out.
• For your short breaks, it’s usually advised to have 5 minutes only. For long breaks,
• Use a timer or app to keep track of your intervals and breaks. (I use the Be Focused app).

You can also level up this strategy by incorporating Flow into your Pomodoro workflow.

By doing these, you’ll find yourself completing tasks more efficiently while also giving your mind and body the necessary breaks throughout the day.

I’m still amazed by how well this super simple technique works.

Tip 3: Stop multitasking

Multitasking might seem like a great way to get more done, but research suggests otherwise.

Research suggests that multitasking often causes us to make more mistakes, retain less information, and change the way our brain works.²

So instead of trying to do everything at once, focus on one task at a time. This will allow you to give your full attention and effort to each task, resulting in better-quality work output.

Also, try removing distractions as much as possible. Close unnecessary tabs on your computer, put your phone on silent or in another room, and let others know when you need uninterrupted time to work.

By avoiding multitasking and focusing on one important task at a time, you improve your work output and avoid making mistakes.

Tip 4: Set specific and challenging goals

Research also points out that individuals who have specific, challenging, but attainable goals have better performance than those who set vague ones.³

The keywords here are “specific” and “challenging.” You have to be clear about your goal, and it must be hard enough that you find it challenging – but not too hard that it becomes impossible for you.

• Want to run a marathon, but you can barely do 2 kilometers? Try running 5k every day. That should build up your stamina.
• Want to earn more? Allocate an hour or two every day to improve your income-generating skills, or start working on your side hustle.

So always set goals. And be precise about what you want to achieve. Specificity is the key.

Tip 5: Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness involves focusing on the present moment without judgment.

To me, the greatest benefit of mindfulness is improved focus. Every time I meditate, I feel like I have more clarity. And the best thing is that daily meditation for a longer period will change your mind forever.

Studies suggest that focusing on the present can have a positive impact on health and well-being. These things are crucial if you want to enhance your work output.⁴

While I don’t meditate daily anymore, I did meditate every day for nearly three years. Since then, my ability to focus and tune out the foggy thoughts has remained.

Implementing mindfulness into your daily routine could be as simple as taking a few minutes each day to focus on your breath, paying attention to your surroundings, or even enjoying your morning coffee without distractions.

If you want to use a guided meditation app, I recommend Waking Up. That’s my favorite app.

Enhancing your work output isn’t about hard work

It’s about creating habits and systems that allow you to get more things done in a sustainable way. Productivity isn’t just about willpower. It’s about having strategies that don’t solely depend on it.

The author Greg McKeown described productivity well in his book, Essentialism:

“It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.”

So stop running in circles and start implementing these evidence-based strategies to get more done.

Order The Stoic Path to Wealth

My new book, The Stoic Path to Wealth (Portfolio / Penguin), is out now.

Learn more here: stoicpathtowealth.com

The post 5 Scientifically Proven Ways to Enhance Your Work Output appeared first on Darius Foroux.