On focus, value, frustration and silly work
On focusing only on what adds value.
A close friend told me that one of their 2026 resolutions was to focus only on what adds value. She asked me if I had any tips to make that come true.
I also had that resolution for many years. Two things happened to me while pursuing a more value-driven life: I started having a lot of free time (even while working a lot), and then, by being very productive and having free time, I had trouble deciding what to focus on. For me, it was about continuing to learn and connect with people. In the process, if you feel awkward about the time, remember: keep moving forward and do what you love.
Then she asked how to handle her frustration better when things don’t move at the speed she’d like or in the way she’d expect.
I’ve learned that things will never go as fast as you want - because it will always be like that for people who challenge themselves, the status quo and the world - accept the frustration and the discomfort as something that tells you that you are doing the right thing - but don’t let it stop you or cloud your mind. Frustration is like a green traffic light: it means go forward, no point stopping to look at me.
Lastly, she told me that she would like to do more enjoyable things: make space, read fiction, and lighter, “unserious” books without guilt.
I’ve read a lot of books. I mean, 100+ books. So many that I had to donate most of them to have room in my home. Unserious books and silly stuff are just as important as serious stuff. Just one of them is a mistake. If you are not reading and doing things you love, that’s a red flag. But binge-watching Netflix for 4 hours straight is also a red flag. There’s enough time for everything important - and doing silly and enjoyable stuff is important.