As we continue our exploration of the Weekly Preview, this week we turn our attention towards the After Action Review (AAR). Completing your AAR is a critical step in building momentum towards accomplishing your goals, but you have to make sure you think critically as you fill it out.In this episode, Courtney and Verbs talk you through the four questions of the After Action Review and provide both the rationale and some helpful tips to help you get the most out of filling it out. Also, Courtney speaks with Dr. Nicole Coomber who is the Assistant Dean at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. (She's also a Full Focus Planner Certified Pro!) Dr. Coomber offers some data-driven insights into why the Full Focus Planner works so well and shares a new paradigm to help shape your Weekly and Daily Big 3.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Neag0qYDcfATo talk with other Full Focus Planner users (and Certified Pros!), then make sure to join the Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more episodes, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Avoid Repeating Mistakes: Weekly Preview Pt. 2

The Weekly Preview is essential to the Full Focus System and it's one of our users' favorite tools. In order to really dig into who and why it works, we're starting a three-part miniseries all about the Weekly Preview.First up: Setting your Weekly Big 3. While this actually happens at the end of your Weekly Preview, it is perhaps the most important step in the process. Courtney and Verbs share three considerations that you should use when setting your Weekly Big 3.Also, Nick and Courtney talk about a potential daily task that can be a pain point for almost everybody: planning and making dinner every night.To watch this episode on YouTube (and to see Verbs' lovely accent performance), visit: https://youtu.be/myTqE4SIytUThe Cassy Joy Garcia books referenced by Courtney:Cook Once, Eat All Week: https://a.co/d/0ys89QtCook Once Dinner Fix: https://a.co/d/0ys89QtRecipe/shopping apps referenced by Nick:eMeals: https://emeals.com/Paprika: https://www.paprikaapp.com/To talk with other Full Focus Planner users (and Certified Pros!), then make sure to join the Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more episodes, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What Matters This Week?: Weekly Preview Pt. 1

We’re well into January and might be starting to feel some friction on our goal journeys. After a couple of weeks of the new year, good intention and effort alone are no longer enough to see your goals through. Now is the perfect time to let your processes and strategies carry you forward so you can build some momentum.Verbs and Courtney talk about a key strategy to help make progress on your goals: keeping them visible. After that, Courtney is joined by Erin Perry to talk about the Quarterly Preview.In this episode, you will learn:Why it is important to keep your goals visibleCreative ways to keep your goals front and centerWhy the Quarterly Preview is essentialTo watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/B05fSxoAl0kTo talk with other Full Focus Planner users (and other Certified Pros!), then make sure to join the Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more episodes, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Best Tip to Keep Goals Front and Center

So, you have your goals set and you've figured out what the next steps are to help you start moving towards those goals. What's next? Well, now is the time to start focusing on the foundational tool of the Full Focus Planner: The Daily Big 3. Even if you've used your planner for years, it's always good to refresh your memory and build upon your own experiences.To help you with that, Blake and Nick explain the Daily Big 3, why it works, and best practices for setting them.In this episode, you will learn:How to set the best Daily Big 3 tasksWhy setting your Daily Big 3 is so effective at helping you achieve your goalsTo watch this episode on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/sFkwtLjSxpMTo talk with other Full Focus Planner users (and other Certified Pros!), then make sure to join the Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more episodes, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What Can I Do Today to Advance My Goal?

Happy New Year! It's 2023 and it's time to make sure that you've set yourself up for success. Every year, in order to start off on the right foot, it's important to take a step back and plan your year with some very simple actions that will build up speed and propel you all the way until December 31 with a list of completed goals.Courtney and Blake talk you through three questions that you can ask yourself to give yourself some quick wins at the start of the year. They also talk through how Blake can use these questions to start his stand-up comedy career. Also, Courtney speaks with Full Focus Certified Pro, Nicole Santamaria, about using the Full Focus System with kids and teachers.In this episode, you will:Learn how to ask yourself the questions that will get you moving towards your goalsSee how to apply these questions in a real world situationHear how to introduce elements of the Full Focus System to kidsTo find out more about Nicole, visit her website: https://Nicolesantamaria.comWatch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/zsZJjrYuNa0 If you want to join a community of people who have brand new goals and are looking to achieve them, then it's time to join the Full Focus Community on Facebook! There's nothing to lose and a wonderful community to gain. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more podcast, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Start with Simple: Building Goal Momentum

Sometimes the quickest way isn't the best way. While it would be very fast to simply write a list of goals on December 31st and then just hope that they work out, the research proves that it's not an effective way to reach your goals. The Full Focus System is built on the idea that you have to slow down at the beginning (and periodically throughout the year) so that you can achieve your goals both faster and with less stress.Blake and Courtney share with you two allies that you can use to help you through this busy season. Also, Courtney speaks with Full Focus Certified Pro and author, Beth Stanley. She shares how the Full Focus Planner kept her grounded during a very difficult season in her life.In this episode, you will learn how to:Use your calendar in a way to keep you on trackAsk others for support in your goal-achievement journeyHear how the planner provides clarity for not only your future, but your pastIf you would like to work with Beth Stanley, visit https://trainertainment.net/.To view this episode on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/OYaYU-oej2sThis is the perfect time to join the Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook. Not only will you be able to see other planner users end of year wins, but you'll be able to share your own. It's the perfect way to put some of the lessons of this episode into practice. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more podcasts, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Slow Down to Speed Up: Goal-Setting During Crazy Seasons

So often the areas we want to set goals are areas we’ve tried to set goals before - and failed. We’ve become discouraged. We’ve lost hope. We don’t want to try again. Along the way, we’ve turned those "failures" into limiting beliefs. We say things like, "I simply can't reach that goal." But the truth is that it's the limiting beliefs themselves that can hold us back from achieving a goal or from even setting it in the first place!Courtney, Verbs, and Blake provide you with three steps to help address your thinking and free you from those pesky limiting beliefs. Also, Courtney speaks with a listener about how to juggle his Daily Big 3 and the urgent demands placed on him at work.In this episode, you will learn how to:Identify and rewrite a limiting beliefGive grace to yourself for your past goal-setting attempts.Balance the demands of your personal goals and the needs of your officeWatch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/peYDbPq0eTYMake sure to join the Full Focus Community so you can interact with the most productive Facebook group on the internet: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktank/For more podcasts, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3 Steps to Stop Holding Yourself Back

As a kid, did you ever wonder, "When will I need to know what a verb is?" Well, the answer to that question is: today. How you write your goals is a crucial element of your ability to achieve them. A poorly-worded goal can leave you feeling adrift and like you've failed. A correctly-worded goal not only helps you accomplish what you've set out to do, but you'll feel great about the person you've become in the process.Blake, Courtney, and Verbs talk about the power of verbs (the part of speech - not the person). Also, Jim Kelly is back to do a speed round of some of his favorite productivity hacks.In this episode, you will learn:The difference between weak and strong verbsHow to make your goals actionableUseful productivity hacks to help make accomplishing your goals a bit easerJim's list of resources:333 ProjectTime TimerFocusmateSpeedUp Chrome ExtensionHoneyLibbyOtterWant to watch this episode? https://youtu.be/Bqlz5yorVm8Make sure to visit our Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook! That's where all of the cool people go. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more podcasts, visit www.focusonthispodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Give Me a Verb: The Grammar of Goal-Setting

Sometimes goal-setting can feel overwhelming. It can certainly feel like there are too many choices that you have to make before you can accomplish your goals. However, of all of the open questions that you need to answer, there is one that is more important than the rest.Blake, Verbs, and Courtney share that most important question, why it is so important, and share their experiences in answering it.In this episode, you will learn:How to use one question to shape your goal-setting journeyThe importance of self-identityHow Blake, Courtney, and Verbs have answered this questionTo take your free LifeScore™ Assessment, visit https://fullfocus.co/lifescoreTo view this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lvpWvnSUiIoFor more podcasts, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Most Important Goal-Setting Question

While the holiday season is wonderful, it can also disrupt all of the routines and rituals that you've spent all year developing. With more family, more events, more time with friends, more gifts, more meals - there's seemingly not enough time to devote to pursuing your quarterly and annual goals. When there's so much "more" happening in our lives, it's important to look for strategies of "less" to help be both peaceful and productive.In this episode, Courtney, Verbs, and Blake share one strategy to help you stay grounded this holiday season. Also, Courtney speaks with Michael Hyatt's Executive Assistant (and all-around productive person), Jim Kelly, about some of his favorite hacks.Here's the list of apps that Jim uses every morning as part of his morning ritual:Othership (breathing): https://www.othership.us/appGlorify (Christian worship): https://glorify-app.com/Aura (meditation): https://www.aurahealth.io/The Tapping Solution (EFT Tapping): https://www.thetappingsolution.com/blog/tapping-solution-app/Day One (journaling): https://dayoneapp.com/To view this episode on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/AFmzPPlzXEgTo get help simplifying your rituals, visit www.fullfocusplanner.com/downloads and look for the Build Your Ritual Kit. Lastly, make sure to visit the Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook. It's what all of the cool kids are doing. (Seriously. There are a lot of very helpful planner users that are available to offer support and guidance.) https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How to Stay Grounded This Holiday Season

The research tells us that gratitude makes us both happier and healthier. With that in mind, it's easy to say, "Okay. I'll just be more grateful then!" However, forced gratitude runs the risk of just being robotic. So, how do you create the feelings of gratitude without forcing it?Verbs, Courtney, and Blake provide you with two tips to help you integrate gratitude into your weeks. Also, Courtney speaks with Full Focus Planner Certified Pro, Jeremy Clopton, about using the planner as a workaholic.In this episode, you will learn:How to set activation triggers to help practice gratitudeHow the language we use is so important to our sense of gratitudeHow to use your planning to combat workaholic tendenciesTo learn more about Jeremy Clopton, find him on the Full Focus Planner Community or find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyclopton/In need of a coach, find a Full Focus Planner Certified Coach, then visit https://fullfocus.co/directory/ and poke around. Looking for a specific name? Then make sure to search for "earners".Lastly, you can also find Jeremy and other Pros in the Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankTo watch this episode on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/J8BOrxoV1HcFor more podcasts, visit www.focusonthispodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cultivate Gratitude Naturally & Combatting Workaholism

The question, "When you set your Daily Big 3?" is perhaps the most debated and most personal choice that every planner user has to grapple with. Should you set your Daily Big 3 during your morning ritual, the workday startup, your workday shutdown, or even the (apparently) controversial evening ritual?Courtney and Blake identify the four potential opportunities to set your Daily Big 3 and share the pros and cons for each one. Also, Nick asks Courtney to detail her morning ritual.In this episode, you will learn:The pros and cons to when you set your Daily Big 3When our hosts set their Daily Big 3sHow Courtney structures her morning ritualNeed help setting or resetting one of your daily rituals? Visit www.fullfocus.co/build-rituals to download your own ritual kit.Make sure to join our Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/J3-QTEBmbsgFor more podcasts, visit www.focusonthispodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Should I Set My Daily Big 3?

"You're a mixture of the five people you're closest to." That's how the saying goes at least. We believe that the same thing is true for the things that we pay attention to. The movies we watch, the books we read, the hobbies we participate in all change both who we are and who we will become.In today's episode, Courtney and Blake explore two tactics that will help you leverage the power of attention to accomplish your goals. Also, Nick has another segment of "Videos that the YouTube algorithm fed him". This time it's a video about home organization for people who struggle with it.In this episode, you will learn:How memorization can be your allyHow to make your important goals and ideas visibleSome quick organizational tips to provide some margin in your dayTo get your monthly phone wallpapers, visit www.fullfocus.co/downloads.To watch this episode on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/18QaZj2mp1A.Watch the home organization video that Nick talks about here: https://youtu.be/xRGXi1aTh1w(Note: This video was not produced by Full Focus. It's very helpful, but has just a few moments that are a bit sassy or edgy.)For more podcasts, visit www.focusonthispodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leveraging the Power of Attention

Everybody loves a good costume - even your tasks! There are things we do every day that might feel like productive work, but they're actually tasks that are simply filling your time and keeping you from accomplishing the goals you've set for yourself. The question is: How can you tell the difference between actual productive work and the downhill tasks that find a way to monopolize your time?Also, Courtney answers a community member's question about how long to track habit goals. In this episode, you will:Learn two ways to identify downhill workUnderstand how to replace downhill work with productive tasksHear about the complexities of habit stacking over multiple quartersTo view this episode on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/hEuLvDBZ7bgMake sure to join our Full Focus Planner Community. It's where all the cool kids hang out! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more podcasts, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How to Spot Downhill Work in Disguise

The good news is that most smartphones now have built-in apps that will tell you how long you've used your phone and what you're using it for. The bad news is that people tend to avoid looking at the numbers. The reality is that everyday you probably spend hours on your phone - those are hours that could be used to accomplish the big goals you've set for yourself!Today, Courtney, Blake, and Nick talk about their own phone usage and they tackle three ways to set some simple boundaries around screen usage.In this episode, you will learn:How to check your smartphone usageHow individual apps can eat up a lot of timeJust how much Courtney, Nick, and Blake are using their phonesWhy exploring the issue of screen time is important in the first placeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ss3bNedYA-4Remember to visit the Full Focus Community for the latest tips to help keep you focused:https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more episodes, visit www.focusonthispodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reclaim Your Time by  Setting Simple Tech Boundaries

Journaling is the type of activity that most people seem to recognize would benefit them, but they don't know where to start. When do they write? And, more important, what do you actually write while you're journaling?In this episode, Courtney and Blake give you two questions that will jumpstart your journaling practice and get you going on the right track. Also, Nick gives Courtney a very important quiz.You will learn:What barriers people often feel when they start to journalThe importance of vision when it comes to journalingThe opportunities that journaling providesThat Courtney has a questionable British accentTo check out the Full Focus Journal, visit https://fullfocusstore.com/collections/journals/products/full-focus-journal-singleTo watch this episode on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/DWjxMoiLKIgCheck out The Accidental Diarist by Molly McCarthy: https://amzn.to/3T4vqESJoin the Full Focus Community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#162: The Overlooked Key to Growth and Vision

If developing a habit were easy, then everybody would just snap their fingers and enjoy their life with their new awesome habit. However, that's not how it works. Developing any habit takes time and repetition. The goal is that a habit requires no decision-making so it frees up your mind to focus on the tasks and projects that will help you reach your goals.Verbs and Courtney give you two tips that can help you develop your new habits faster. Courtney also speaks with Dave Yankowiak, Technology Director at Full Focus. As a planner user for five years, Dave has some thoughts on how to get the most out of your Full Focus Planner.In this episode, you will learn:What activities you can turn into a habitHow to use activation triggers to engrain those habitsHow to navigate both work and home tasks without stressWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QakiYBDhUIQJoin the Full Focus Planner Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor more episodes, visit www.focusonthispodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#161: 2 Tactics to Finally Install Your New Habit

One of the most common questions in the Full Focus Planner Community is "How can I use the planner to manage my ADHD?" In this episode, we're giving you some initial thoughts to help steer you in the right direction.First, Verbs, Blake, and Courtney talk about three questions that you can ask yourself to help improve and streamline your Ideal Week. Then, Courtney talks with Full Focus Planner Certified Pro Cindy Wolford about how she uses the planner to manage her ADHD.In this episode, you will learn:How to prioritize the tasks that should make it to your Ideal WeekIdeas for activities to help you stay groundedInsights into how to structure your day to maximize productivityWhy the planner works so well with ADHDWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Eswskn3X4EQGet your free Ideal Week template at www.fullfocusplanner.com/idealweek.Learn more about Cindy's coaching and her experiences with the FFP and ADHD: https://cleaningup.co/blog/ffp-adhd/Talk with Cindy and other members of the Full Focus Planner Community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktank.The Hexagon Pomodoro timer that Cindy uses can be found here:https://www.amazon.com/Hexagon-Rotating-Minute-Preset-Countdown/dp/B07L2QN8MYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#160: Improving Your Ideal Week & Managing ADHD

For many people, Q4 is the busiest time of the year. There are so many events and holidays that happen between October 1 and December 31 that it can be difficult to make sure that your goals are on track. This is why it's important to make the most out of your upcoming Quarterly Preview! This is the time to make sure that all of your ducks are in a row so that you can finish the year out strong.Blake, Verbs, and Courtney offer you two hacks to help level-up your Quarterly Preview game. Also, Courtney welcomes back Adam Hill, Full Focus' "Product Development design and, uh, no. Product Design and Development and Supply Chain Director". They talk a little about the planner and Adam offers some of his favorite productivity tips.View the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/50OAtiirDzkIn this episode, you will learn:How much time you should set aside for your Quarterly PreviewWhat you should know before and during your Quarterly PreviewWhat Adam does to get the ol' noggin workingHow hard Nick is pushing for a Daily Big 3 stampRemember to visit www.fullfocusplanner.com/quarterlypreview for a fully-guided Quarterly Preview with Blake Stratton.Adam talks about the craftsmanship in the new Full Focus Notes. Make sure to give them a look here: https://fullfocusstore.com/collections/accessories/products/full-focus-notesMake sure to join our Full Focus Planner Community on Facebook so that you can hang out with just the coolest people on the planet (oh, and talk all things planner and productivity): https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankFor a complete transcription of this episode, visit www.focusonthispodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#159: 2 Tips to Hack Your Quarterly Preview

A planner is a great way to stay organized and the Full Focus Planner is an excellent way to both stay organized and achieve the goals you've set for yourself. The planner is full of boxes and circles to to mark off your progress, but you don't get the full benefits of the planner unless you use them.In this episode, Courtney and Marissa Hyatt talk about the power of actually checking off all of the boxes. Also, in our new Certified Pro segment, we talk with Jake Brown about how he coaches creative professionals to use their planners. He's got some great insights that you can put into practice right away. In this episode, you will learn:Where all of the boxes are that you can check off in your plannerThe importance of checking items off as you complete themWhy tracking is important when it comes to celebratingHow to best start your planner (according to Jake)What happened on Courtney's traffic stopWatch this episode at https://youtu.be/xGQBsCztjSQDownload the StreakTracker at https://fullfocus.co/streaktracker/To learn more about Jake, visit https://airballoonadvisory.com/To learn more about our other Full Focus Certified Pros, visit https://fullfocus.co/certified/directory/Join the Full Focus Planner community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ffpthinktankSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Focus on This

Focus on This

Get Started

Download the App