Latest Post

The Excellent Textbook

The Excellent Textbook

As a student, I’d look at the year’s textbook and easily feel awed by the amount of material. It would be all too easy to turn away, often not even realizing that I’d done so, happily enjoying a game, barely thinking of the work ahead.

But some textbooks were excellent. They’d draw me in.

Wherever I was, I felt I was getting somewhere. Or if I got lost, it seemed to have a way of saying,

“Hey, take a look back here. You may have missed something,”
“Maybe this example could help?”

or maybe

“Here’s an exercise to bring it together.”

The author gave me a sense that all I needed was to be with the material in the Now. It didn’t say I needed to know everything. Instead, it seemed to anticipate at least some of my questions, giving me leads where I lacked or lost information to help me understand.

It told me what was relevant to where I was.

Even when I took several steps back, I felt I was gaining ground.

That momentum tended to permeate the rest of my studies, days, and play. For example, I could better tell where another textbook wasn’t working in my favor, but now I had greater confidence to know that and to then find another path.

Generalizing further, I began to more experientially realize that if I don’t understand something, that my frustrations were signals, my intuition trying to point me in a direction.

But I get ahead of myself.

It began with this teaching vessel of a book. Increasingly, I realize building such vessels is a practiced skill and art.

As I’ve built out the Waves of Focus, I’m fully aware of the amount of material involved and how overwhelming that might feel. The latest module, Crafting Messages, adds 2 plus hours of videos, exercises, and the like.

I do not sacrifice material, and there is no fluff.

More importantly, though, I aim to support that sense of the Now. Doing so allows a person to take things at their pace, giving them what’s relevant to the moment. Each step presents something to build on or build from, hopefully furthering a sense of growing strength and momentum.

There is no need to know everything. All that’s needed is a Visit, being here Now.

Any step, forward or backward, is still a step forward, under your guidance, attuned to the moment.

– Kourosh

PS Last week’s post, which included a piano composition called “Wooden Hills”, seemed to be quite the hit. Several of you emailed me with such kind words. If you’re interested, check out my next live performance this Monday, June 3rd, at 7pm Central. Hit the buzzers, subscribes, and all the buttons. It’ll make you feel good. At least, that’s what the dopamine tells me.

What is Productivity?

Productivity is many things. For some, it is about doing a lot in a little time.
But, truly, productivity is so much more. It is about:

  • Setting yourself up for success.
  • Being focused where you want to be.
  • Doing things that you find meaningful.
  • Being creative, sometimes even in harsh environments.
  • Forging your own paths.
  • Finding your voice and delivering it well.
  • Knowing and actively deciding on your obligations.
  • Knowing where and how to say “no”.
  • Avoiding procrastination.

Too often, many of us fall into just going along with and fighting whatever the world throws at us. “Go with the flow!”, we say. Meanwhile, we might think, “I’d like to do that one thing. Maybe one day I will.” The days go by. The goal never arrives, and then we wonder why or blame circumstance.

But when we learn to take charge of our lives and the world
around us, we start living life with intention.

“I should do that,” becomes “This is how I start”. Deliberately forging a path to our goals and dreams, we figure out what we want in life and then start taking steps there.

Of course, striking out may seem scary. It takes courage to live life with purpose and on purpose. Roadblocks and worries, fears and concerns show up everywhere.

This is my passion. I want to help you to find that sense of your own unique play to meet the world so that you can:

  • Create a life that is yours.
  • Find and follow an inner guide in a way that works for you and those you care for.
  • Decide on your obligations and meet them while building the world you want.

Productivity Journal

The Visit and the Waves of Focus

The Visit and the Waves of Focus

Many people feel that they have to "force" themselves to work. Examples include: Waiting for deadlines to pressure themselves Faking deadlines Hoping for a muse or interest to strike before approaching Shaming yourself with past failures in hopes you’d feel bad enough...

read more

Join the Weekly Wind Down Newsletter

Get a weekly letter about getting to play and meaningful work. Start getting where you want to be with calm focus.
You’ll receive free samples of:

  • Creating Flow with OmniFocus
  • Taking Smart Notes with DEVONthink
  • Workflow Mastery
  • PDF on beating deadlines with ease using the Touching the Keys Technique

These products use or are based on Getting Things Done® or GTD® Principles. They are not affiliated with, approved or endorsed by David Allen or the David Allen Company, which is the creator of the Getting Things Done® system for personal productivity. GTD® and Getting Things Done® are registered trademarks of the David Allen Company For more information on the David Allen Company’s products the user may visit their website at www.davidco.com.

Skip to content