About

If you’re feeling stuck and wondering why your hard work isn’t getting the results you want, I have a theory: You’re working too hard on your dream—but on the wrong things.

A few years ago, I went all in on my music career. I shut down my teaching studio, poured everything into songwriting and production, and worked harder than ever. And after two years? I was burnt out. I had no love left for the thing I once cared about most.

That experience taught me a hard truth: effort alone isn’t enough.

This episode is all about breaking free from busy work and focusing on the 20% of tasks that actually move the needle. We’ll talk about:

The Pareto Principle and how to use it to your advantage

Why we default to busy work (and how to stop)

The Jenga effect—how to focus on the right foundational pieces

A simple action plan to eliminate distractions and make real progress

Your challenge: Take 15 minutes today to list everything you’re working on. Circle what actually moves your podcast forward. Cut (or delegate) the rest.

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Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Are You Working Too Hard? Why effort alone isn’t the answer

00:32 – The story of shutting down my teaching studio to chase my music dream

01:56 – When hard work leads to burnout: Losing joy for what I loved most

02:24 – The Pareto Principle: Why 20% of your work drives 80% of results

03:17 – The trap of busy work—how I wasted time instead of making real progress

05:08 – Why we default to low-impact tasks (and how to shift focus)

06:20 – The Jenga Effect: How to identify the foundational work that changes everything

07:47 – Signs you’re stuck in busy work (and what to do instead)

09:09 – The danger of perfectionism—stop researching & start executing

10:24 – Losing focus: How jumping between tasks slows progress

11:07 – The 20% That Actually Matters for creative podcasters

12:28 – High-impact tasks: What successful creators focus on

13:57 – The Laser vs. Floodlight approach to focus and productivity

14:55 – Your Action Plan: A 4-step system to identify & prioritize your most valuable work

17:46 – How to gamify productivity & stay accountable

18:42 – Systems for efficiency: Time blocking, batch recording, and automation

20:36 – Your Challenge: Take 15 minutes to audit your time & eliminate distractions

21:36 – Final thoughts: More effort isn’t the answer—more focus is

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️ If this episode resonated with you, let me know in the comments. Let’s stay focused, stay strategic, and keep

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Website: https://www.podcastbuilders.co/

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Podcast Audio Version: https://bit.ly/3XGRmte

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