Hello Reader,

Seth Godin once said, "You don't need more time in your day. You need to decide." That hit me hard the first time I read it, because like most people, I'd spent years wishing for extra hours in the day.

The good news is that there's a simple framework that can help you overcome that barrier.

I want to share a productivity method that's changed the game for me. It's a riff on the classic Pomodoro technique, but with a twist that makes it feel less like work and more like a challenge you can actually win.

Here's how it works:

1. Get your priority task list ready
2. Set a 40-minute timer
3. See how many items you can knock out before it goes off
4. Take a break
5. Repeat

The magic isn't just getting things done—it's in proving to yourself how much you can accomplish when you truly focus.

The best antidote to feeling overwhelmed is racking up wins.

Small victories build momentum, and momentum builds confidence. You'll be amazed at what happens when you consciously commit a fixed block of time to bulldozing through your list. This is Parkinson's Law in action—the idea that tasks expand to fill whatever time you give them. By "time-binding" your work into these 40-minute sprints, you're essentially putting yourself under the gun (I like to imagine I've got a plane to catch), and that artificial pressure can unlock a level of productivity you didn't know you had.

Here's where it gets fun: gamify it. Make it a personal challenge.

I love doing a few of these rounds back-to-back, then sitting back and marveling at how my once-daunting To-Do list has shrunk dramatically—all because I consciously chose to power through it. And before you worry that this means rushing through things sloppily, let me be clear: this isn't about cutting corners or doing half-baked work.

This method permits you to prioritize "Done" over "Perfect." It teaches you to stop letting perfection be the enemy of progress. Over time, you'll become less precise about getting every detail "just right" and less prone to over-engineering simple tasks. You'll discover that making forward progress doesn't compromise the quality of your work—it actually enhances it by keeping you moving, learning, and iterating rather than stuck in analysis paralysis.

So, this week, I challenge you to pick one day, grab your task list, and try this 40-minute sprint method.

Decide today is when you stop waiting for more time and start using it with ruthless intention. You might surprise yourself with what you're capable of.

Can you do me a favor? Once you try this method, email me and let me know what you think. I read every reply.

Here's to a productive week ahead.

Have a great one!

Doug Mattice

Business & Brand Builder for Photographers & Visual Artists

"Helping Photographers Build a Business That Pays Consistently"

​www.dougmattice.com​

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