A short YouTube +1 by Brian Johnson introducing the first step to build personal agency: control stimuli. Johnson summarizes advice from Paul Napper and Anthony Rao and quotes Jim Collins to argue that reducing distractions and creating quiet space improves attention, concentration, creativity, and disciplined action. The clip ends by prompting the listener to begin exercising their agency today.
Chapters
Hi, this is Brian.
Welcome back to another optimize +1. In our last several +1s we've been.
Talking about the power of agency.
In our next few plus ones, we're.
Going to talk about the top three ways Paul Napper and Anthony Rao tell.
Us we can build our agency such.
That we can eat all those challenges.
Like the energy bars they're meant to.
Be fueling us as we optimize and.
Actualize our potential in greatest service to the world.
You want that kind of agency?
Okay, step one.
Control stimuli.
As they say, quote, cutting back the.
Number of distractions in your immediate environment.
Increases your ability to choose where your.
Attention goes, improves your concentration, bolsters creative thinking and makes you less susceptible to both impulsive acts and poorly thought out decisions.
End quote.
Again, want agency.
It all starts with reclaiming control of your attention and flipping the switch from hyper stimulated input ville to a calmer, more focused zone of attentional management. As Paul and Anthony put it, agency begins with what you let into your mind. I'm reminded of Jim Collins, brilliant forward.
To Lead Yourself first, where he tells.
Us, I quote, again, we live in.
A cacophonous age, swarming insects of noise.
And interruption, buzzing about emails, text messages.
When and how do you escape the noise and and find your purpose and.
Summon the strength to pursue it, he says this book, Lead Yourself first, illustrates.
How leaders can indeed must be disciplined people who create the quiet space for disciplined thought and summon the strength for disciplined action. It is a message needed now more than ever else.
We run the risk of waking up.
At the end of the year having accomplished little of significance each year slipping.
By in a flurry of activity, pointing nowhere.
So take some quiet time, he says.
Engage with that book and commit to.
The hard work of alone time.
End quote.
That cacophony of inputs we need to.
Get really good at managing it.
All that incoming data takes a lot.
Of energy to manage.
We're blind to the volume of stimulation we're surrounded by and we'd be wise.
To exercise more conscious control over of.
What we allow into our consciousness, but only if we want more agency. Of course, the authors provide tips to control stimuli, but you already know at least one thing you could be doing.
What is it today?
A good day to start exercising your agency muscles?
