How to Structure Work for Deep Focus

Want to know why top performers close 2-3x more deals than average reps? It's not that they're smarter. It's that they've mastered deep work. After studying hundreds of high-performing sellers, I've found one consistent pattern: They protect their prime selling hours like their life depends on it. Most reps are drowning in shallow work, constantly switching between email, Slack, CRM updates, and social media. Each task switch costs you 23 minutes of focused energy. The result is a day filled with activity but empty of results. Here's how innovative sellers are implementing deep work: 1️⃣ Power Blocks They schedule 90-minute uninterrupted blocks for their most important selling activities. No email. No Slack. No phone. Just focused execution on revenue-generating work. 2️⃣ Energy Management They align their most important tasks with their peak energy hours. For most, that's 9-11 AM, not 3 PM after back-to-back meetings. 3️⃣ AI-Powered Prep They leverage AI to prepare for sales calls in half the time. "I feed the AI my call notes, recent news, and past objections. It gives me a hyper-focused prep document in 5 minutes instead of 45." 4️⃣ Elimination Before Optimization Before trying to get faster at tasks, they ask: "Does this task even need to exist?" You can't optimize what should be eliminated. 5️⃣ Digital Minimalism They turn off all notifications during selling hours. No Slack pings. No email popups. No LinkedIn alerts. The sellers implementing these practices aren't working more hours. They're just getting 3x more value from the hours they work. Most sales organizations obsess over activity metrics while ignoring the quality of focus behind them. What would happen if you protected just one 90-minute deep work block every day?

12 steps to protect your focus - And develop a deep work routine: (5 and 6 are so important) 1) Prioritize ↳Before you begin, pick just 1 task you want to work on (no multitasking) ↳Choose your "frog" - the important item you've been putting off 2) Protect the time ↳Find a window of at least 1 hour (2-3 is even better) and block it on your calendar ↳Experiment to find the time when you're most productive and focused 3) Find a space ↳Choose a location where you can close the door and limit distractions ↳Ask others not to interrupt you when you're in there 4) Prepare ↳Download files and gather resources you'll need to complete the work ↳Go to the bathroom, grab a water, and anticipate any other needs 5) Put your phone away ↳Switch your phone to airplane mode and put it out of reach ↳Do NOT look at it until you're finished - that friend's text can wait 6) Shut apps  ↳Close anything on your computer that has notifications, like email and Slack ↳X out of any distracting tabs like news sites or social media 7) Grab a pen and pad ↳It's impossible to stop to-dos and other thoughts from popping into your head ↳Simply write them down when you think of them and then move on 8) Use headphones ↳If you're particularly sensitive to sound, try noise-canceling headphones ↳Find what's best for you: playing nothing at all, white noise, or music without lyrics 9) Clear your mind ↳When everything is ready, pause before diving in to briefly relax ↳You can simply close your eyes and breathe, or do a 1-minute meditation 10) Use a timer ↳Set a timer so you don't have to worry about watching the clock ↳Experiment with techniques like Pomodoro to work and break in intervals 11) Improve ↳After every time you do deep work, reflect on what helped and hurt your focus ↳Make improvements each time to consistently enhance your productivity 12) Handle the basics ↳Exhaustion, hunger, and lack of exercise can be even worse for focus than your phone ↳Get adequate sleep, eat well, and move your body every day Just two hours of deep work can beat a full day of distracted work. Use this checklist to focus deeply on your most important tasks, And turbocharge your productivity. P.S. I'm always curious to hear: When do you get your best deep work done? --- ♻ Repost to help your network be more productive. And follow me George Stern for more. If you want the high-res PDF of this sheet, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gpe6Q3V6

How to Be Present & Productive When You Have No Time Ever feel like you’re constantly busy but never actually present? You’re juggling deadlines, emails, and meetings—yet the most important things (like your family, health, and personal growth) keep slipping through the cracks. ✅ The Problem: Most productivity advice tells you to do more. But the real key? Doing less—with more focus. Why This Matters Studies show that multitasking reduces productivity by 40% and increases stress levels. In a world that demands constant attention, true efficiency isn’t about working harder—it’s about being fully engaged in what matters most. The Shift: The 3-Minute Presence Rule 🔹 Before a task: Take 3 minutes to define your focus. Ask: What’s the most valuable outcome here? 🔹 During a task: Use single-tasking—shut down distractions and set a timer for deep work. 🔹 After a task: Take 3 minutes to reset, breathe, and mentally shift gears. This micro-shift increases cognitive clarity by 30%, allowing you to be productive and present. Example: The 3-Minute Rule in Action Imagine stepping into a chaotic workday. Instead of reacting to notifications, you start with 3 minutes of intention setting. You tackle your top priority first, uninterrupted. By noon, you’ve made more progress than in a typical 8-hour day. That evening? You’re fully present with your family, not mentally stuck at work. The Conflict: Breaking the Cycle of ‘Too Busy’ Your brain craves quick wins, so the default is reactivity—jumping from task to task without strategy. But small intentional actions, like the 3-Minute Presence Rule, create momentum and replace busyness with true productivity. Want to Break Free from the ‘Always Busy’ Trap? 💡 Try the 3-Minute Presence Rule for just one day and see the difference. Comment below: What’s one area in your life where you want to be more present? ♻️ I hope you found this valuable, please share with your network. 📌Click "Follow" and 🔔 #Leadership #ProductivityHacks #MindfulLeadership #HighPerformance #SuccessMindset #TimeManagement #CoachingTips #PersonalGrowth #FocusBetter #EfficiencyMatters #LeadershipDevelopment #EntrepreneurMindset #PeakPerformance