It's that T.I.M.E of the week again!

Welcome to the Fourth-ever edition of The ThinkerNick Newsletter! This is a FREE weekly publication where I’ll share key life lessons, up-to-date trends, and the tools and techniques I use in this journey called life. Expect insights on health, wealth, finance, lifestyle, community, and fresh new perspectives to help you thrive. I hope this brings as much VALUE to your life as it does to mine. I’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to reply and share your feedback. Happy Days!

The Focus Index

A while ago I listened to the Creator Science podcast hosted by Jay Clouse and was fascinated by an interview with Nuseir Yassin, the CEO of NAS Daily Studios and NAS Academy.

Nuseir broke down the focus index, and here’s what I learned:

When building a brand, there are three main focus areas:

1. Attention - This involves creating content that will increase your following and subscriber base.

   • Making 1-minute videos but a lot of them. (Quantity)

2. Impact - Focus on creating content that has high value and will make an impact on the lives of other people.

   • Creating content to raise money to serve others. (Impact)

3. Money - Involves monetizing your brand or content to generate revenue. (Monetization)

   • Selling one of your brand's products to earn an income.

It's okay to focus on one area temporarily, but you need to ensure that you have a plan to incorporate all three together to build a successful business.

The second concept I learned is the difference between a machine gun and a sniper:

• Snipers create less frequently and have a singular focus. They are people who become successful from one opportunity. (Timing)

  • For example, someone who disappears for three years to work on a documentary that reaches number one, then disappears again and repeats the process.

• Machine Guns create often and have multiple projects. (Consistency)

  • This might be someone who makes 1,000 videos in 1,000 days, where 700 fail, and 300 see some success.

Are you a machine gun or a sniper?

This definitely changed my perspective on my content creation and brand-building approach.

How do you view focus, and what strategies do you use?

Check out the interview here:

A book that recently come onto my radar is Deep Work by Cal Newport.

This book is for high achievers, students, creatives, knowledge workers or anyone wanting better focus.

Here is a brief breakdown of what to expect in the book:

The Importance of Deep Work: Newport emphasizes that in a world full of distractions, the ability to focus deeply is a superpower. He emphasizes that deep work is not just about working hard, but about working smart and eliminating distractions which allows you to focus on the tasks that truly matter.

Rules for Deep Work: Newport provides several strategies for cultivating deep work:

• Work Deeply: Create routines and rituals that support deep work.

• Embrace Boredom: Resist the urge to seek distraction when bored.

• Quit Social Media: Be selective about the tools you use, focusing on those that provide the most value.

• Drain the Shallows: Minimize the amount of time spent on shallow tasks.

The Value of Solitude: Newport argues that solitude is crucial for deep work because it allows for the kind of focus and contemplation needed to solve complex problems and generate new ideas.

You can find a digital copy of the book from a quick google search. If you read it, I’d love to hear if it made an impact in your focus and productivity.

Since I was a child, I have always been a fan of Bruce Lee.

This quote is so profound as it is a great example of how each and everyone one of us is capable of doing much more than we truly believe. All it takes is hard work, dedication and focus.

It’s easier said than done though.

We live in a world full of distractions and we often get caught up in our daily lives.

The next time you feel unproductive or doubt yourself, I encourage you to look to this quote for motivation.

You are capable of anything you put your mind to.

Have you ever not been feeling up for work or you need a little boost to start your day?

I came across this site called the NPR Joy Generator in this newsletter.

It’s like a little online happiness machine. It’s full of fun, quick activities designed to brighten your day.

It works by listening to relaxing sounds, looking at cute pictures, or doing something calming.

As a teacher I look after a group of students that see every morning. It’s very rare that all students come into school with a smile on their face. Anything could go wrong from the time they wake up to the time they get to school.

This applies to all of us. Not everything is going to go your way. Good days and bad days are elevatable.

The NPR Joy Generator is your go-to spot for a quick mood boost, making it easy to find a bit of joy whenever you need it.

So far I’ve had pictures of adorable kittens and a way to engage your flow start by using art.

Who doesn’t love kittens right?

I hope this brings that little extra to your day.

In case you missed last week's newsletter, I spoke about:

The Surfer Mentality: Embrace the inevitability of change, stay consistent, and position yourself well for opportunities.

Get Ahead of 99% of People Today: Mark Manson shares strategies like being unique, staying consistent, and defining success on your terms.

Motivation: New beginnings often come from painful endings; focus on moving toward the next opportunity with positive energy.

Explore Hula Lab: A useful AI tool for educators and professionals to generate resources like lesson plans, reports, and more.

Check it out here.

Feel free to share this if you gained any value from it. Feedback is also welcome.

THANKS FOR READING LEGENDS!