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It’s easy to be discouraged after a year like 2020. But when we see ourselves as the victims in a narrative, we give up the only thing we always have control over—our response. The solution? We need to practice gratitude. Gratitude changes the way we experience the world. It opens us up to new possibilities. It builds up the relationships that matter most. It helps us persevere, even when faced with uncertainty. Gratitude is encouraging in the truest sense: it gives us courage. That’s why this Thanksgiving special is all about gratitude. We’ll delve into why gratitude matters and how you can cultivate it. Then, we’ll practice a little gratitude of our own. In this episode, you’ll discover— Why gratitude can lead to hope The difference an abundance mindset can make How gratitude drives connection Simple ways you can integrate gratitude into your life Why Courtney and Verbs are grateful for listeners like you This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by our Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale. Visit michaelhyatt.com/blackfriday to get up to 50% off select products today.

Somehow, it’s already noon—and you’ve accomplished nothing you intended to. You started the day with good intentions. But then, you had a string of morning meetings and split your time between too many tasks. Now, the day is half gone and you feel like it’s been wasted. We know what it’s like to feel at the mercy of your day. But we’ve discovered how to leverage the power of rhythms to start each day with clarity and confidence. That’s why we’re unpacking the three simple practices of a workday startup ritual built for breakthrough. At last, you’ll stop wondering where the day went and start each day with a clear path to success. In this episode, you’ll discover— Why setting your priorities boosts productivity How to balance the meetings you need to attend and the work you need to accomplish What to do to prevent your inbox from derailing your day And, a special segment with a Full Focus community member about why goal setting and self care might just be the solution to feeling unmotivated

You’re convinced journaling is a good idea, but you just can’t seem to get started. You have a laundry list of reasons—there’s no time, getting started is overwhelming, or you just can’t seem to find a rhythm that works. But you’re tired of watching yourself make the same mistakes and lose out on personal and professional growth.  Here’s the good news: you’re not the first person who’s tried to start a journaling practice. Our team, representing a range of journaling experience, just finished a 30-day experiment with the brand-new Full Focus Journal. In this episode, we’ll dive into what we learned and invite you to try an experiment of your own by joining us for a community-wide journaling challenge.  In this episode, you’ll discover— How to fine-tune when and where you journal Why you might need to “mature” your view of journaling The value of prioritizing journaling in challenging seasons How journaling shapes the way you move through your day What makes accountability so powerful—and how you can leverage it This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by our new Full Focus Journal and Black Executive Pocket planner. Get them today at fullfocusstore.com.

You want to live with intention. But life happens so quickly that you feel like you’re just reacting. The world feels chaotic and you’re wearing thin. This can’t really be living, can it? We know what it’s like to long to feel grounded and confident about the life you’re leading. To get there, you’ll need to go beyond accomplishing your most important work. You need to learn from your life, shape your thinking, and cultivate self-awareness. In this episode, we take a practical look at journaling—what it is, why it matters, and how it fits into the Full Focus System. Whether you’re a tried-and-true journaler or just not the journaling type, you’ll learn how engaging in regular reflection can help you get more out of your work—and your life. In this episode, you’ll discover— How journaling changes what you notice day-to-day Why even people who don’t like writing should journal The difference journaling for just 15 minutes can make in your day How journaling helps boost one of the most important skills of a leader What’s happening next week—don’t miss this sneak peek! This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by Michael Hyatt's Countdown to 2021. Join this exclusive newsletter and free community of like-minded achievers who are committed to turning 2020's disappointments into 2021's greatest successes. Learn more at fullfocusplanner.com/countdown.

You’ve mapped out your ideal week, but it never happens—and it’s hard not to blame your partner, spouse or roommate. It seems like you can never get on the same page, and that’s a problem when your lives are so intertwined. The miscommunication and foiled plans are creating tension that’s driving you crazy. We’ve been there, and we’ve got good news. The problem isn’t a person. It’s your plan. You can collaborate to create a shared ideal week that helps both people experience success and feel supported. All you have to do is follow four straightforward steps. When you do, you’ll stop having your ideal week derailed and start experiencing the benefits of designing your days. And, you’ll overcome the relational disconnect and finally feel like you and your partner are on the same team again. In this episode, you’ll discover— How to identify and communicate the most important parts of your ideal week Why prioritizing your partner is key to mutual support What question to ask when your ideal week is in conflict with your partner’s Why you should treat integrating your ideal weeks like an experiment How to improve your shared ideal week over time This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by Michael Hyatt's Countdown to 2021. Join this exclusive newsletter and free community of like-minded achievers who are committed to turning 2020's disappointments into 2021's greatest successes. Learn more at fullfocusplanner.com/countdown.

You want to do your best work and support the people you love. But interruptions to your workday are taking a toll on your focus and ability to do your important work. You hate feeling pulled in multiple directions—like you have to choose between your work and your family. You can accomplish your most important work without sacrificing your most important relationships. As parents, spouses, and full-time employees, we’ve been there. And we’ve developed proactive strategies that help us invest in the people and work that we love. When you implement them, you’ll be able to minimize interruptions and increase your productivity without sacrificing the relationships that mean the most. This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by Michael Hyatt's Countdown to 2021. Join this exclusive newsletter and free community of like-minded achievers who are committed to turning 2020's disappointments into 2021's greatest successes. Learn more at fullfocusplanner.com/countdown.

You really believe in the Full Focus System and you know that it will help you feel less overwhelmed—but you can’t seem to get started. The tool itself feels overwhelming! There’s so much you know you need to change to increase your productivity and holistic balance, but you can’t do it all at once. It’s easy to feel discouraged before you even begin. We’ve been in your shoes, and we’ve become experts in maximizing the effectiveness of the planner. We’ll walk you through four simple actions you can take to implement the Full Focus system gradually by adopting an iterative approach. When you do, you’ll stop neglecting your planner and start leveraging it to accomplish your most important work.  You can finally stop feeling ruled by the chaos of your life and start living with intention. In this episode, you’ll discover— Several approaches to begin using the Full Focus Planner How to identify your next step in using the Planner. The very first feature of the Planner you should use.  The worst mistake you can make when starting to use the Planner.  How to gain more value from using the Planner over time. 

You sit down to start the day with a clear vision on your most important tasks. But then you check your email. Before you know it, you’ve spent half the day responding to requests and working on other people’s priorities instead of your own. You’re sacrificing your best time and energy in the name of inbox zero. You hate feeling at everyone’s beck and call and can’t stand the way you’re always behind. But what can you do? There’s another way forward. We know what it’s like to feel trapped by our inboxes. And we’ve developed a four-step strategy for making your inbox work for you. When you implement it, you’ll move from reacting to requests to accomplishing your most important work. Finally, you can stop being perpetually behind and feel empowered to make real progress towards your goals. In this episode, you’ll discover— Why you should never operate out of your inbox for task management. How to stack habits and set aside specific times for checking email. The difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication. App suggestions that can make your life a lot easier. Tips on communicating expectations with team members and clients. The value of declaring email bankruptcy—and why it’s not as scary as it sounds.

You want to accomplish demanding work. But some days, you hit a wall. When you buckle down and push through, you end up burnt out. When you try to relax by scrolling on social media or doing downhill work, you feel stressed because you’re not making any progress. Either way, you wind up exhausted. There has to be a better way. We know the frustration of feeling stuck alternating between willpower and distraction. But we’ve cracked the code. The key is taking breaks that boost your productivity, not undermine it. Today, we’ll teach you three criteria for doing just that. You can finally stop ending your workday feeling stressed out and frustrated. Better breaks will help you stay refreshed while empowering you to do your best work.  

You know that goal you set is important, but you always dread working on it. When you finally stop procrastinating, you never seem to be able to make the kind of progress you want to and walk away feeling drained. It’s so frustrating to feel unable to achieve work you know matters. You’ve accidentally turned a project into a goal. We’ve done it, too. But completing projects requires different strategies than accomplishing goals. Today, we’ll teach you how to make sure your important projects get done with three straightforward strategies. You’ll feel free to focus on the goals that make the biggest impact, without letting anything important fall through the cracks. Your days of dreading important work are behind you. It’s time to accomplish the work that matters most. In this episode, you’ll discover— Questions to ask yourself to determine if you are working on a goal or a project. How to avoid dependency on external motivation with your goals. The difference of things you should do versus things you get to do. How some efforts promote maintenance and others are for growth—and what that means. What to do with goals that are assigned to you that will make them more exciting.

You start the year energized by your list of SMARTER goals. But you get a few months in, and your goals aren’t working the way you want them to be. Life looks different now than you planned. When you read your goals each day, you’re feeling less motivated and more uncertain.  We’ve been there. We’ve watched life change in ways we never could have expected. But we’ve learned how to keep our goals relevant by walking through the 5 R’s. When you master this simple process, your goals will give you energy and confidence, even when life throws you curveballs. You'll finally get unstuck and start making progress in life and at work. In this episode, you’ll discover— How to avoid the anxiety associated with the effect of changing circumstances on your goals. Why you need to revisit your annual goals every quarter. Tips on how to build goal checkpoints into your calendar. What to do when you feel like a failure for not accomplishing a goal. Strategies for achieving success—even in the midst of pandemics and chaos.

You arrive at work every day laser-focused on your Big 3. Then you walk into the office. Unread reports are stacked on your desk, so you rifle through them. You can’t find a red marker so you run to the supply closet. You open your Planner, then notice it’s sitting on top of that book you have to review. Better start now. You realize it’s lunchtime, and you haven’t started your first real task of the day. How did this happen?  The real villain here is not you or your workload. It’s the clutter in your workspace. It constantly tugs at your attention, finally wearing down your ability to focus. But we can fix that in just a few simple steps.  Follow this easy plan, and you’ll have a clean, inviting workspace that points you toward your top tasks every day. You’ll feel relaxed and focused on your work. And you’ll leave each afternoon feeling a greater sense of accomplishment.  In this episode, you’ll discover— The negative impact of physical distractions on your work. What you must do before you ever tackle decluttering. Why you have to make a bigger mess before you can clean it up. How to overcome your emotional resistance to decluttering your workspace. Practical steps on how to group, sort, and select a home for everything. This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by our new Full Focus Kids and Full Focus Students planners. Learn how you can equip your kids for this uncertain back to school season at www.fullfocusplanner.com.

The beauty of the Full Focus Planner is that it gathers all of your planning essentials into one package. Like a fine wine or an intriguing novel, the Planner has many aspects that some may not appreciate at first glance. You may even wonder what some of the elements are for. Here’s help. We’ve assembled the best tips, hacks, and customizations used by our team here at Michael Hyatt & Co. Our staff members are past masters in the Full Focus System, and they can show you how to get full value from your Planner.  Try these tips, and you’ll go from scratching the surface to plumbing the depths of Planner use. You’ll gain insight, efficiency, and a high level of personalization, making the Full Focus Planner an even more valuable tool in your work and personal life.  In this episode, you’ll discover— How to track daily wins in your Full Focus Planner. Practical tips on using timers and short sprints to get important work done. The value of accountability and how you can use it to increase productivity. Which portion of the planner you should use if you don’t use anything else. How annual goals and weekly objectives flow into your daily tasks. This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by our new Full Focus Kids and Full Focus Students planners. Learn how you can equip your kids for this uncertain back to school season at www.fullfocusplanner.com.

You really want to be productive, and the Full Focus System seems like a great solution. Yet you can’t help but wonder, “Do I really have time for this?” It’s a common enough dilemma.  We’ll solve it in today’s podcast. We’ll show you four solid benefits of this system that go way beyond organizing your workday. These are positive changes you can expect throughout every aspect of your life.  Commit to this system, and you’ll start enjoying more balance, focus, and margin in every area of your life. Let’s get you out of indecision prison and on track for the Double Win—winning at work and succeeding at life.  In this episode, you’ll discover— How to transition from productive days to a productive life. Tips on increasing trust levels from your peers. The importance of “setting and forgetting” for expanding your capacity. What makes the Full Focus Planner different from other planners. A few simple actions that can trigger a snowball effect of growth and productivity. Remember to check out the new Kids and Students edition of the Full Focus Planner at www.fullfocusplanner.com.

You arrive every day really hoping to get a lot done. But before long, text messages, social media, and office chatter pull you off track. By noon you’re wondering, “What just happened to my day?”  It’s so demoralizing to realize that you’ve wasted your best focus time.  Here’s help. We’ve fought our own battles with distraction and interruption, and we’ve developed a foolproof strategy for keeping them at bay. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll get your focus back, finish your to-do list, and leave work feeling satisfied nearly every day.  This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by the new Full Focus Pocket planner. Learn more at fullfocusplanner.com/pocket. In this episode, you’ll discover— What an “anticipation tactic” is—and how to use them to avoid distraction. How to identify your unique obstacles to productivity. The times of day when we’re most likely to fall prey to distraction. Practical tips for designing around your weaknesses. How to handle family interruptions when working from home (without hurting feelings). 

You’re working hard to achieve more every day. But sometimes it’s hard to keep a good attitude about work. Things don’t always work out the way you planned. And sometimes life is just unfair. It’s so frustrating to work hard yet have the feeling that you’re not getting the results you deserve.  Here’s a simple pathway out of that swamp. We’ll show you how to leverage the amazing power of gratitude to free yourself from negative thoughts. Plus, it’s rocket fuel for your productivity.  Try it! You’ll be immediately released from that feeling the breaks never go your way. And you’ll gain the energy and optimism to tackle your greatest goal or challenge. As a bonus, you’ll find yourself emerging as a leader at work, or wherever you happen t0 be!  In this episode, you’ll discover— How your gratitude can affect your entire team—not just you. Suggestions for small changes you can implement to make huge progress. Practical tips on how to shift your mindset and see your circumstances differently. How you can overcome the negative effects of entitlement in your life and work. Questions you can ask yourself to develop a grateful heart.

You want to get that big task knocked off. It’s like a weight hanging over you every day. And every day you say, “I’m going to tackle it first thing!” But it’s intimidating! Where do you start? It’s easy to procrastinate. And when you do dive into a big project first thing in the morning, you’re worn out by noon. It seems like you can’t win.  In our experience, there’s a right way and a wrong way to tackle a big project. And most of us have been taught the wrong way! We’ve got a foolproof plan for getting started on your biggest task of the day that will ensure you get it done—and the other things you need to take care of.  Just follow these steps, and you’ll quit procrastinating, start achieving, and have brainpower to spare at the end of the day. 

Setting goals really turns your crank. But getting them accomplished is harder. Everything takes longer than it should. And it’s hard to keep the willpower going. It feels so lousy to find yourself behind on goal after goal.  Here’s a little secret. You don’t need more willpower to achieve your goals. You need more support. And we can show you how to get it. We’ll give you four ways any of your friends can support your goal achievement. All you have to do is ask.  When you do, you’ll get the encouragement, feedback, and accountability you need to stick with it. You’ll be hitting your goals again in no time! In this episode, you’ll discover— The importance of surrounding yourself with encouragers. Tips for fast-tracking your growth through the experience of others. What accountability can do for your desired life. How to recruit partners for joint pursuit of your goals. This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by a free video series, 3 Tips to Equip Your Kids for Back to School. Get access by going to focusonthispodcast.com/backtoschool.

You love being focused and in control. But sometimes important commitments get dropped.  You find yourself double-booked. Or you overlook an important deadline. Or, worst of all, you let down the people closest to you because you’re too busy. At some point, you realize that your calendar is totally out of control.  We’ve got a solution for that. We finally got tired of being prisoners to our calendar and found a way to break free. In just three steps, you can tame that wild beast and get your life back.  Try it! You’ll go from overscheduled to perfectly balanced. You’ll quit missing important appointments and have room to breathe again. This will be a great leap forward in your productivity and life balance.  In this episode, you’ll discover— How your calendar got in bad shape in the first place—and what you can do about it. The first decision you have to make before you can overcome your scheduling woes. Tips for translating your productivity desires into actionable steps. Which items should make it through your filter and remain on your calendar. How to say no to requests that aren’t in alignment with your goals. This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by the new Full Focus Kids and Full Focus Students planner, available for preorder now. Learn more at fullfocusplanner.com/preorder.

You’ve got a big vision for your business and you’re building a team to get you there. But where two or three people are gathered, there’s bound to be some misunderstanding. No matter how hard you work at it, you wind up having to repeat yourself. That costs time and wastes momentum. Why does communication have to be so hard? Actually, it doesn’t. Nearly every communication breakdown can be traced back to one of three problems.  Avoid them, and your team will get the message the first time, every time. And you’ll gain even greater clarity about what you want for your business. In this episode, you’ll discover— The Clarity Grid—and how you can use it to assess and revive your communication. Some of the most frequent meeting mishaps and their implications on team morale. A clear path to the most important component of a healthy culture. What you must do if you want predictable results. How to avoid pitfalls related to communication shortcuts. Why the “curse of knowledge” is so damaging. How to save yourself (and your team) from embarrassing situations. This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by the new Full Focus Kids and Full Focus Students planner, available for preorder now. Learn more at fullfocusplanner.com/preorder.