If you're in your 20s or just trying to build something meaningful you probably feel this:
You're working hard, but something’s missing. You try different paths, chase new goals every few months, yet nothing sticks. You feel like you're wasting time. Like you're not reaching your full potential.
If that sounds familiar, keep reading. This letter might help you see things clearer.
Why It’s so hard to know what to do?
Today’s world is full of options. That should be a good thing, right? But instead, it’s overwhelming.
I get it. I’ve tried video editing. Then modelling. Then interior design. Now writing.
And guess what? They all had potential. But none of them worked until I gave one of them real time and effort.
The truth is: You don’t need to find the “perfect” path.You just need to choose one and stick with it long enough to grow.
In this letter we are going to talk about:
- Modern digital success vs the traditional 8-hour system.
- What real productive work looks like?
- Simple ways to level up your productivity
Let’s break it down.
Modern digital success vs the traditional 8-hour system.
We live in a world where people succeed doing things that didn’t even exist 10 years ago. New services, platforms, and income streams are popping up everywhere.
You see someone making thousands of dollars a month on social media.
But here’s what no one tells you:
Nobody knows what’s going to work in the beginning. They just keep showing up. They try. They fail. They adjust. They’re not afraid to look stupid or start over. They take risks and they back those risks with hard work. That’s what makes the difference.
On the other hand the traditional 8 hours working system was created during the Industrial Revolution. Back then, people worked in factories, doing repetitive, mindless tasks.
But today, we don’t work like that. Most of us use our brains. We create. We write. We plan. We solve problems. You can’t focus deeply for 8 hours a day. Research shows most people can only do about 3 hours of truly focused, productive work each day.
The big problem is when AI will soon replace many repetitive jobs. If you want to stay relevant, focus on developing your brain. Build skills that make you irreplaceable like creative thinking, problem-solving, and self-discipline.
Even if you don’t have a business yet, focused work will help you find your path. It trains your mind to go deep. To think clearly. To create something valuable.
So whether you’re just starting out or stuck in the middle remember this:
You don’t have to follow the old path. You can create your own. One that fits the person you're becoming. One built on clarity, focus, and meaningful work. One that make you exited living your life.
What real productive work looks like?
You need to focus your attention on doing productive work. Productive work is any task that requires a decent amount of mental focus like writing, programming, generating ideas, solving problems, filing & entering data, designing, planning.
These tasks require deep focus. And your focus is strongest in the morning, when your mind is fresh.
So instead of checking emails or doing admin work early, start your day with the hardest task. The tasks that actually move you closer to success.
Simplicity is the key for productivity.
Your productivity depends on two things - focus and speed.
How to raise your focus?
When your mind is fresh, hard work feels easier. So the best way to stay focused is to do the hardest task first.
I used to do the most difficult work at the end of the day. But over time, I realised That I am just avoiding doing the hard work. And this was holding me back.
Sure, I was doing “productive” things. Easy, enjoyable tasks that still mattered but they weren’t the ones that would move the needle. They wouldn’t get me where I wanted to go.
How to Get More Done in Less Time?
If you want to save hours each week, you need to work faster without burning out. Here are two powerful techniques that help:
- Pomodoro Technique - Work in 25-minute focused sprints, with short breaks in between. It helps you track your time and stay sharp.
- Set Deadlines - When you give yourself a fixed time to complete a task, you stop overthinking and start doing. You’ll be surprised how fast you can move when the clock is ticking.
And one more thing maybe the most important:
Stick with one plan for at least 6 months. Don’t switch directions every time something feels hard. Every idea, business, or habit takes time to grow. If you constantly change the path, you keep cutting the process short.
Even if you don’t know your path yet, start training your mind today:
- Learn new skills.
- Write regularly it helps you develop your ideas and see things differently.
- Read self-improvement books that stretch your thinking.
- Create meaningful projects, even if you don’t publish them. Creating while learning is how you grow.
This is how you build something meaningful.
You’re not behind.
You’re just getting started.
That's all for this week.
Thank you for reading.
See you next Sunday.
-Ekaterina
