👟 The "Shoe Dog" method for staying focused

The 5-minute weekly newsletter for high-performance dads.

What’s good fam!

“Another day, another dollar,” my old man would say.

But these days, let’s be real—more like another day, another $200 (am I right?)🤣.

-Collier

_QUOTE
“The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind.”
- Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon, widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history, highlights a fundamental aspect of being "strong."

In today's world, the rapid flow of information from all directions not only desensitizes us but also allows everyone to craft their own version of the truth without accountability—based on what they "feel" is right.

But do we want to live just by the whims of our feelings?

As we have all likely experienced, this is a dangerous way to live.

We must train our minds to critically and properly process information, from the moment it touches our senses before it forms thought patterns in our minds (unless they are good thought patterns, of course).

To summarize: take every thought captive and make it work for you, not against you, before your senses take control.

According to Napoleon, that is where true strength lies.

_WISDOM
Don’t get too many things on the platter.

There’s a lot we can learn from the Shoe Dog himself—Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike.

One key takeaway from his 1980 manifesto (16 years after the company started) is the importance of not overloading ourselves with too many commitments.

Think about Nike. It’s a $140B global sports company, but what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name?

SHOES.

Yes, Nike does much more than just make shoes, but shoes are their core focus, and they excel because of it.

Similarly, as men, husbands, and fathers—what are our key focus areas?

Are we dedicating ourselves to those key areas that will help us and our families achieve our goals? Or are we spreading ourselves too thin with an endless list of tasks and obligations?

In short, audit the things you are saying yes to and align your commitments with the vision you have for your family.

_ACTION
Don’t be afraid to work on what you really want to work on.

In a blog post on how to be successful, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, encourages the reader to not shy away from pursuing one’s true interests.

Despite our many obligations, failing to prioritize what we are truly passionate about begs the question: what are we really achieving?

This is a great reminder for us all.

Pursuing what we want to “work on” doesn't have to be about entrepreneurship; it could mean coaching your kid’s team, investing more in your marriage and kids, or even mentoring others.

Whatever it may be, I don’t think we will regret working on something meaningful to us.

That’s it and that’s all, folks!

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