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MATT GRAY Profile picture
Mar 17 21 tweets 8 min read Read on X
The cost of distraction is the person you could’ve become.

If you suffer from distraction, read this.

My Deep Work routine: Image
As an Autopreneur, I've learned that the key to success is not just working hard, but working smart.

One of the most powerful techniques I use is deep work - focusing intensely on a single task without distraction.

Here's my deep work routine to help you master anything:
Turn Off Your Phone

Notifications, calls, and texts are the enemy of deep work.

When I'm in deep work mode, my phone is on airplane mode or in another room.

If you service low-leverage tasks, you sacrifice energy from higher-leverage activities.

It's a zero-sum game.
Reduce Multitasking

Studies show that multitasking reduces productivity by 40%.

When I'm doing deep work, I focus on one task at a time.

I break projects into small chunks and work through them systematically.

Multitasking is the ability to screw everything up simultaneously.
Practice Mindfulness And Meditate

Before starting a deep work session, I take a few minutes to meditate.

This helps clear my mind, reduce stress, and increase focus.

Mindfulness gives you time. Time gives you choices.

Choices, skillfully made, lead to freedom. Image
Get More Sleep

Adequate sleep is crucial for cognitive function and productivity.

I aim for 7-9 hours per night to ensure my brain is well-rested and ready for deep work.

Practice does not make perfect. It is practice, followed by a night of sleep, that leads to perfection.
Focus On The Present Moment

During deep work, I aim to be fully present with the task at hand.

If my mind starts to wander, I gently bring it back to the present.

This takes practice, but you can train your brain to focus. Image
Take Breaks

Paradoxically, taking breaks can actually improve your focus.

After 60-90 minutes of deep work, I take a short break to recharge.

I'll go for a quick walk, do some stretches, or just rest my eyes for a few minutes.

Because taking a break can lead to breakthroughs.
Connect With Nature

Whenever possible, I do my deep work sessions outside in nature.

The fresh air, natural light, and greenery have a calming effect that aids concentration.

I believe nature is not a place to visit; it is home. Image
Train Your Brain

Deep work is a skill that can be trained and improved over time.

Start with shorter sessions (25 minutes) and gradually increase the duration as you build your focus muscle.

Continuous improvement > Delayed perfection. Image
Exercise Daily

Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your brain.

It increases blood flow, releases endorphins, and promotes the birth of new brain cells.

Movement is a medicine for creating change in your physical, emotional and mental states.
Eat Clean

The food you eat directly impacts your cognitive function.

I fuel my deep work sessions with nutrient-dense whole foods like veggies, nuts, and lean proteins.

I avoid sugary snacks and processed foods that cause energy crashes and brain fog.

You are what you eat. Image
Listen To Music

The right music can help you get into flow state and drown out distractions.

I have a dedicated deep work playlist with instrumental tracks that put me in the zone.

Music is therapy

It is a communication far more powerful than words, and far more efficient. Image
Set A Daily Priority

Each morning, I identify my #1 priority - the task that will have the biggest impact on my goals.

I block off time for deep work on this task before anything else.

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. Image
Use A Timer

To build a deep work habit, I use a timer to track my sessions.

I set it for 60-90 minutes and work intensely until it goes off.

Seeing the timer ticking down creates a sense of urgency and helps me stay on task.

I use the Pomodoro technique to include breaks. Image
Have Fun

Deep work doesn't have to be a grind. I approach it with a sense of curiosity and playfulness.

I choose topics and projects that genuinely interest me so it feels more like play than work.

When work becomes play, and play becomes your work, your life unfolds. Image
Have An Exciting Mission

Ultimately, deep work is most effective when aligned with a meaningful mission.

For me, it's helping 100M founders automate their business and hit $5M profit per year.

Define your own inspiring mission to fuel your focus.
If you want to achieve mastery in your field, you need to put in deep work.

By following this routine consistently, you'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in a short amount of time.

It's not about working more hours - it's about making the hours you do work count.
"Deep work is the superpower of the 21st century." - Cal Newport

Master the art of deep work, and you'll be able to learn anything, build anything, and achieve anything you set your mind to.

It’s the first step towards the life you always dreamed of. Image
Want to Learn How To Get More Leads Than You Can Handle?

Join my live (FREE) Workshop on March 21st (4 days away).

Attend Live & Get My “Relentless Founders Checklist” FREE
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Spots are limited. Secure yours here:

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P.S. If you like proven systems, you'll love my weekly newsletter (it's free).

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Join 107,000+ subscribers here:

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More from @matt_gray_

Mar 13
The cost of perfectionism is the life you could’ve lived.

How to get over perfectionism (and not overthink everything): Image
Perfectionism is a disease that plagues most founders.

Trying to be perfect costs far more in the long run than making mistakes in the short term.

It leads to overthinking, delays, and missed opportunities.

How to overcome it and achieve extraordinary results:
Done Is Better Than Perfect

Adopt this as your guiding principle. Don't wait for things to be flawless before shipping.

When building Bitmaker, I launched after selling 30 spots - before having spare computers, instructors, or a finished curriculum.

Execution > Indecision
Read 12 tweets
Mar 10
I just read about a study I can’t stop thinking about…

Introverts are more effective leaders (according to Harvard):
Conventional wisdom says extroverts make the best leaders. They are:

• Decisive
• Outgoing
• Dominant

They’re favored in hiring decisions and are seen as more effective leadership figures.

And 65% of corporate executives think introversion is a barrier to leadership.
Look at the upper echelons of organizations and the bias is clear:

50% of the general population are extroverted - but 60% of top-level executives show high levels of extroversion.

Is conventional wisdom correct?

A study from Harvard says otherwise… Image
Read 21 tweets
Mar 9
This took me 10 years to learn, I’ll teach it to you in 5 minutes.

Stop trying to hire the “smartest” people (and why you should focus on these superpowers instead): Image
After building companies for over a decade, I realized chasing A-players with sky-high IQs was the wrong formula.

Fixating on a candidate’s IQ overlooks all the other valuable traits not measurable by a number.

There are far better predictors of success:
Teammates with varied strengths and thinking styles outperform individual A-players who only look out for themselves.

As etched into Netflix's hiring policy:

“On a dream team, there are no ‘brilliant jerks.’ The cost to teamwork is just too high.” Image
Read 14 tweets
Mar 7
Steve Jobs once said:

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

Here’s how a great CEO can change your life (and how to spot one): Image
The impact of a great CEO goes far beyond your day-to-day. They influence:

• Your growth & learning
• Your company’s direction
• The way you see the world

They are the most important figure in your career (and maybe your life).

But why do they have such an outsized impact?
A Great CEO Is A North Star

They spark your imagination with a vivid vision of the future.

Having a great CEO aligns you with a common WHY, rallying you and your team toward daring goals.

Their ambition helps you to dream - and that’s worth more than any incentive package.
Read 26 tweets
Mar 3
Harsh leadership truth:

Paying a sh*tty salary is the most expensive mistake you can make.

21 other harsh leadership truths that took me 10 years to learn: Image
If you avoid tension, you enable dysfunction

Have the courage to confront and address issues early before they compound.

Lead conversations with care, compassion, and brutal honesty.

Burying problems lets cancers grow.
All decisions have tradeoffs

Understand deeply what you must give up to move forward.

Make choices wisely by calculating second and third-order consequences, and know that the perfect solution doesn’t exist.

Don’t try to have it all.
Read 25 tweets
Mar 2
If you want to travel while working on your business in 2024, read this.

How I built my company to $8.7M/year while traveling the world and doing what I love: Image
Let me set the scene.

I own two companies that make me $8.7 million a year - all while I travel the world and live a life I love living.

But 10 years ago, I was chained to my business, stressed, and near-suicidal.

How did I turn things around?
It all started with my degree at Ivey Business School.

I was excited to learn about a life of freedom…

Turns out business school doesn’t prepare you for a life of autonomy at all.

But backpacking Europe & Asia after graduation opened me up to a whole new world. Image
Read 10 tweets

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