Many of our clients, ranging from Fortune 500 CEOs to extremely affluent business owners, sometimes manage two or three telephones at once during meetings. The quiet success killer that lies at the heart of many poor boardroom decisions is attention deficit disorder.

It is a common directive for leaders to be creative, strategic, and visionary. However, a hidden factor known as shortening attention spans is eroding the ability of most CEOs, executives, and business owners to broaden their vision for the future. It is an illness that goes unnoticed and creeps into our daily lives, proliferating thanks to the very devices and social media sites that keep us linked. Even though it's subtle, the effect is significant.

This is why Steve Jobs was notorious for calling out anyone who did not pay attention, even for a second.

The brain at odds: Building careers with the same brain that checks social media

Consider this: the same brain that helps us create multimillion dollar businesses also drives our obsessive need to check our phones for the newest information. Never before has this paradox been more obvious. While we want our executives to make strategic decisions, have a long-term vision, and be focused, we also train them to always crave the next dopamine hit—a fast glance at social media, a quick text message, or a notice.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is commonly referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter. It is released when we experience pleasure, such as when we check our emails or receive notifications. Particularly in the setting of smartphones, where we are constantly one click away from the next reward, this short dose has an addictive quality. As noted by Jeff Bezos, phones have evolved into attention-getting gadgets. Furthermore, despite the fact that we might think that running our businesses from these devices keeps us productive and connected, in reality, they are undermining our capacity to see the wider picture.

Dopamine vs long-term success

Why does this hurt corporate leaders so much? Just like any muscle, the brain changes to accommodate new skills. We effectively wire it for fast gratification when we teach it to want transient dopamine boosts. And when getting satisfaction right away becomes the norm, it gets harder to focus, think critically, and consider long-term effects.

Think about this: a corporate executive who checks their phone nonstop is teaching their brain to focus in small bursts. While this might be appropriate for hurried judgments or tasks, it is detrimental for long-term strategic thinking. Developing a successful business requires the capacity to reason through difficult issues, consider all available options, and make judgment calls that will have long-term effects. These are not something that can be finished quickly. They demand perseverance, patience, and the ability to withstand the allure of instant dopamine hits.

The importance of managing attention in leadership

Top executives, including CEOs and company owners, need to consciously choose to manage their attention span just like they would any other resource. They need to commit time and efforts to extending and maintaining their attention span, just as they would to invest money or hire the best candidates. In a world when distractions are everywhere, this is now a need rather than a luxury.

Bezos wasn't the only one who noticed this. Several accomplished leaders have started to notice that the very instruments meant to strengthen our bonds are really severing our ties to the most crucial responsibilities at hand. The difference between leaders who can maintain their concentration and those who can't will only get bigger as attention spans get shorter. One of the most critical differentiators in corporate leadership going forward will be the capacity to sustain focus and withstand the allure of quick pleasure.

Practical steps to combat the attention crisis

What steps can corporate executives take to address this attention issue and reclaim their ability to concentrate?

1. Digital detox periods: Designate specified hours during the day to turn off all electronics. This is setting boundaries that let your brain recover from constant stimulation rather than giving up technology completely. Deeper thought and long-term attention can grow with even an hour of disconnection.

   2. Deep work blocks: Allocate specific time slots for "deep work." This is the period when you should devote all of your attention to important duties. Make sure that during those two or four hours, there are no outside distractions of any kind—not even emails or notifications—just you and the work at hand.

   3. Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your daily routine can assist in teaching your brain to withstand the allure of distractions. Leaders such as Ray Dalio have long acknowledged the benefits of meditation in improving focus, making better decisions, and managing emotions. The mental muscle needed for sustained attention can be developed in as little as 10 to 20 minutes per day.

   4. Disable notifications: Our brains are primarily trained to concentrate on the short term by notifications. Disable any pointless notifications on your gadgets. The person will find a way to get in touch with you if the matter is really urgent. You can recover your focus by cutting down on the amount of distractions.

   5. Embrace boredom: It may seem strange, but creativity and sustained attention depend on being bored. How recently did you give yourself permission to be bored? When boredom creeps in, resist the urge to grab your phone and spend some time with it instead. Silent contemplation produced some of the greatest ideas in corporate history.

Consider the case of Sara Blakely. Sara, the American who founded Spanx, is a self-made billionaire. She was rated as the 93rd most powerful woman in the world by Forbes and included in Time magazine's annual "Time 100" list of the 100 most influential persons in the world. How did she get over there? She claims that one of the most effective strategies she had to propel her company into the stratosphere was "daydreaming."

6. Use long-term goals to train the brain: Make long-term objectives and divide them into doable activities. This aids in retraining your brain to prioritize long-term goals above short-term satisfaction. You can interrupt the dopamine loop by reiterating the link between consistent effort and long-term benefit.

From dopamine addiction to long-term leadership

In the end, the leaders who ascend to the top will not be those who can react to every email in record time or look through the most newsfeeds in a day. The leaders who can pull back from the allure of quick satisfaction and instead concentrate on the things that really count will be the ones who really succeed. They are the ones who will realize that, in the end, thinking deeply is more important than reacting quickly. INQ

Who has not dreamed of making money while they sleep? They still-debatably truthful idea of passive income, where you can earn money without active effort, seems too good to be true. However, passive income can be accumulated without spending a considerable amount of money if you follow the right strategies. This list, it possible to achieve passive income.

1. Sell Digital Products

A simple way to create a stream of passive income is by making your digital products. Be it an eBook, a template, printables, or online courses, digital products let you package your expertise or talents into something that can be sold over and over again. Why It Works: Thankfully once you create the product, you can sell it over and over with almost no extra effort. No inventory, shipping, or manufacturing cost to worry about.

How to Get Started: Choose a subject you are either knowledgeable or experienced in. Design an easy product in Canva Promote your product using social media, blog, call the email list, etc.

2. Affiliate Marketing

This is called affiliate marketing and it is when you promote someone else's product and earn a commission for every sell & sale that comes from your referral. It is an excellent method to earn passive income if you already have a plateform like blogging, social following or simply a good email list and also can be achieved through niche sites. How Affiliate Marketing Works: There is no initial outlay for products and services you do not sell. You just apply to promote and get a cut of the sales. Choose a niche that you like Join Amazon Associate or browse to different brands' affiliate programs Write content, e.g., blogs, YouTube videos or social media posts that promote affiliate products and include your unique affiliate links.

3. Start a YouTube Channel or Podcast

YouTube & Podcasting Passive Income through Ad revenue and Sponsorships Building an audience takes time, but as soon you create a content it can keep bringing in money for month or even years to come. Why It Works: Content on these platforms can make money for years after being published. Monetization: Advertising, Sponsored content and Affiliate link How to Get Started: Start with something you are passionate about and that has an audience (e.g. business advice, life hacks or industry trends) Publish consistent content and grow an audience Make money with Youtube Sponsored Ads or Podcast sponsors

4. License Your Expertise with Online Courses

You can make a course on anything you are an expert at. finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, personal development, or any other topic, and sell it via learning packages like Thinkific. Why It Works: Online courses are a high-value product and can produce passive income not requiring you to teach each time. If so, create the course and sell it forever. How to Get Started: Create a syllabus on a subject you have mastered Instructed Lessons — make a film or record it (even on your phone or laptop) Start Planning your Course > Publish it online and Sell.

5. Self-Publish a Book or eBook

You can publish an eBook or paperback easily through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and if you enjoy writing, this could be passive income. This requires a lot of effort upfront for researching and designing the book, but after that many copies can be sold all over the world with minimal additional work. How It Works: Barriers to entry are few, and all you need is access to a global market without the help of traditional publishers. And, you could make royalties on every sale perpetually after the writing is done. How to Get Started: you should write a book or an e-book on your favorite subject Create a cover with Canva Amazon or any other self-publishing platform, to have your book published.

At the end of the day, the secret sauce to creating a passive income business with no money is using what you are already good at and then playing on this. Whether it be building digital products, affiliate linking— or just sharing your knowledge in the form of systems and value through courses and content, there are so many ways to start streaming passive income into your life without risking thousands upfront.

FAQs

1. What is passive income?

Passive income is income that comes from working your tail off at first and then continuing to make money with minimal effort involved. Income from investments, digital products, rental properties, etc.

2. Can I start a passive income business with no money?

Yes! Blogging, affiliate marketing, and digital product creation are just three popular avenues for passive income that can be started nearly cost-free.

3. How long does it take to start earning passive income?

Seriously it all depends on the business modality! Whilst some streams, such as affiliate marketing could take a few months to build up (as explained by the dropshipping example above), others, such as creating an online course may take much longer to set up but provide passive income once established.

4. What skills do I need to start a passive income business?

For the majority of passive incomes, you need some pretty fundamental digital skills — content creation, marketing, and SEO. These are things that can be learned over time and with practice, but until you have these mastered – your success rate will probably continue to dwindle.

It takes habit to become more productive instead than magic.

It all begins, in my opinion, with how you begin each day. Your morning routine has the power to either make or shatter your daily productivity.

I've discovered that successful people have specific morning routines. These are straightforward chores that establish the tone for a productive day rather than intricate routines.

Let's get started and examine these ten morning routines that you should adopt if you want to increase your productivity.

1) Rise and shine early

The majority of accomplished people would tell you that setting an early alarm is the first step toward their productivity.

Getting up early allows you to start your day with a head start on everything else. You have unhindered time to concentrate on your work, establish your objectives, and begin making progress toward them.

It's not about giving oneself a bad hour as punishment. It involves setting apart some quiet, concentrated time so you can focus on your tasks without being distracted.

Try it out. Try setting your alarm clock just a little earlier and seeing how much more you can get done before everyone else gets up.

2) Jumpstart your day with exercise

I can't emphasize enough how much my productivity has increased since I started working out first thing in the morning.

While it may not sound tempting to everyone, exercising in the morning really helps to get your day going. I saw a marked improvement in my energy and focus throughout the day when I started adding a 30-minute jog to my morning regimen.

Your endorphin levels are raised by exercise, which makes you feel more awake and aware. Additionally, it makes you feel accomplished early in the day, which sets a pleasant tone for the remainder of it.

Cardiovascular exercise need not be strenuous. Even a little yoga practice or brisk walk might be quite beneficial. All you require is an exercise regimen that increases heart rate and blood flow.

3) Hydrate before you caffeinate

Even while it might be tempting to grab a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, water is actually what your body needs. Your body is normally dehydrated in the morning after 7-8 hours of sleep.

Water helps your body rehydrate and speeds up your metabolism, giving you a more productive start to the day. It also maintains your brain functioning at its peak and helps with digestion.

However, coffee really has the opposite effect of dehydration. So, sip on a glass or two of water before reaching for the coffee. How much more awake you feel may surprise you.

4) Plan your day

Lack of knowledge about what needs to be done is one of the biggest productivity killers. A to-do list may seem archaic, but believe me when I say that it changes everything.

I set aside some time each morning to write down the things I have to get done that day. It helps me efficiently manage my time and provides me with a clear schedule for the day.

Be honest with yourself about your daily goals as you're making your list. Set work priorities according to their significance and urgency. Making a strategy lowers the likelihood that you will become distracted by unimportant chores and helps you maintain concentration.

5) Practice mindfulness

It's simple to forget to take a moment to stop and simply breathe in our hectic life. Developing a mindful morning routine might help you remain composed and peaceful throughout the day.

It can help to clear your mind and get you ready for the activities ahead to take some time to be present, whether that is through yoga, meditation, or just sitting quietly with a cup of tea.

This need not take very long. Practicing mindfulness for even five minutes can have a significant impact on your focus and mood throughout the day. Try it out and observe how it impacts your output.

6) Express gratitude

Gratitude at the beginning of the day can make a big difference in your attitude and level of productivity.

Every morning, I take a time to write down three things I’m grateful for. They don't need to be substantial items. Sometimes all you need is a nice, warm cup of coffee or a restful night's sleep.

Recognizing the positive aspects of my life is a tiny but effective way for me to start each day with gratitude. It helps me to stay grounded and puts any obstacles I may encounter in perspective.

Experiencing gratitude not only fosters positivity but also increases drive, enabling you to tackle your duties with a more positive outlook.

7) Limit distractions

In the era of smartphones, many of us grab our gadgets first thing in the morning. This is something I used to do as well.

Scrolling through social media or emails first thing in the morning can quickly result in an hour of wasted time and unneeded stress in the head. It's a behavior that can lead to reactivity throughout the remainder of the day.

I therefore deliberately chose to store my phone in a different room before going to bed. I no longer waste my mornings getting lost in a sea of notifications; instead, I work on meaningful projects.

Save your morning hours. Instead of letting yourself get lost in the digital world, use it to concentrate on your daily objectives. You productivity levels will thank you.

8) Embrace the silence

We frequently equate busyness and noise with productivity. However, there is something to the idea that quiet has power.

You can think more creatively and clearly when you start your day in a calm place. It enables you to focus on your ideas and thoughts without the typical outside interruptions.

Give it a shot. Silence yourself for the first few minutes of the day. You may find it strange at first, but eventually you'll discover how this quiet time may improve your productivity and focus.

9) Eat a healthy breakfast

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," as the adage goes. And this is absolutely true in terms of productivity.

A healthy, well-balanced breakfast gives your body the energy it needs to perform at its peak throughout the day. It assists in preserving stable blood sugar levels, so averting energy slumps later in the day.

Therefore, choose a cereal that is strong in protein and fiber instead of sugary cereals. Your body will appreciate it, as will your level of productivity.

10) Consistency is key

The most important thing is to be consistent with your morning routine, regardless of what you decide to include.

These behaviors won't immediately pay off. It requires patience and consistent work. However, if you follow these routines every day, they will eventually change your life and increase your productivity.

Thus, resolve to make these routines an indisputable part of your morning routine. You'll be shocked at how much more output you are capable of.

Significant habits that reflect a weak mindset

Ever ponder why some people seem to have an easy time reaching their objectives while others find it difficult? Often, it's all about the mindset. You could be prevented from realizing your maximum potential by certain habits. These include settling for less, comparing oneself to others, doubting oneself, avoiding problems, and placing the blame elsewhere. You can cultivate a more resilient and driven attitude by identifying and changing these habits. These are five behaviors that indicate a poor mentality and how they hinder your advancement.

Staying in your comfort zone

This behavior entails avoiding novel and difficult circumstances just because they seem risky or tough. For example, you might routinely pass up work tasks that could teach you new abilities in favor of simpler assignments that simply require the knowledge you already possess. Likewise, you may avoid trying out new hobbies or abilities due to your fear of failing. But failing to step outside of your comfort zone can keep you from evolving. For both personal and professional development, it is imperative to embrace challenges and acknowledge that failure is an inevitable part of the learning process. You lose out on worthwhile experiences that could greatly advance your development and broaden your horizons when you turn off new opportunities.

Negative self-talk

Self-doubt is the result of self-criticism, often known as negative self-talk. You can think, "I'm not good enough," "I've failed," or "I'll never succeed," as opposed to, "I can improve with practice." This kind of thinking can depress you and reduce your likelihood of taking on new projects or overcoming obstacles. It can prevent you from realizing your full potential since it feels like a critical inner voice that saps your self-esteem and convinces you that you are incapable of accomplishing your objectives.

Comparison with others

It's critical to keep in mind that each person is different and grows at their own rate. Comparing yourself to others on a regular basis can lead to feelings of inadequacy since it concentrates on what others have or do. Rather than recognizing your own accomplishments and assets, you could obsess over how you fall short of expectations. Because you're less inclined to celebrate your own victories and strive toward your own objectives and more likely to focus on others' accomplishments, this tendency might cause feelings of insecurity and decreased motivation.

Settling for mediocrity

Choosing to settle for mediocrity is giving in to anything that is merely passable or mediocre rather than striving for greater or more fulfilling outcomes. You're settling for mediocrity, for instance, if you're dissatisfied at work but don't try to get a better one or better your circumstances. This behavior entails giving up on improving things or setting more ambitious objectives. When you don't strive for growth, you pass up possibilities to develop and discover more satisfying endeavors.

​Blaming external factors

When something goes wrong, assigning blame to outside forces involves blaming it on circumstances outside your control rather than considering what you could have done better. For instance, you can attribute your failure to achieve a goal to misfortune or the errors of others. This behavior prevents you from growing and learning from your errors. Assuming accountability and concentrating on improving yourself enable you to manage issues and advance.

Getting carried away by emotions

We should strive for balance in our lives, whether it be in our thoughts or our feelings, if we want to succeed. On the other hand, those who are quickly overwhelmed by their feelings typically have a fragile mentality. Their inability to maintain balance in their lives has an impact on several facets of their lives.

Getting easily influenced by others

Weakly motivated individuals are susceptible to outside influence. So much so that, when swayed by others, they seldom hesitate to act in an extreme way that could potentially be harmful to them.

Not setting boundaries

Whether in the personal or professional domain, it is imperative to establish boundaries in one's life. This helps maintain healthy relationships and keeps your life free of unnecessary stress. It's also a respectful and self-care gesture.

Getting easily demotivated

Winning or losing doesn't always important in life because you'll still learn from your mistakes. But those who are easily demotivated by others, self-doubt, or fear of failing all seem to have one thing in common: a fragile mentality. This keeps people from developing personally throughout life.

Not taking up challenges

Even though everyone has experienced dread of the unknown and uncertainty in life, the majority of individuals are able to see the wider picture and take a risk. On the other hand, those with a weak mentality frequently find obstacles intimidating. They fear the consequences and failing at life rather than taking them head-on. They avoid taking on new difficulties to such an extent that it impedes their overall development.

Living in fear of the unknown

Whether in your personal or professional life, having a persistent fear of change or challenges is a sign of a fragile mentality. Positive outlooks on life characterize those with strong mindsets. Even under strain, they maintain balance in all facets of their lives, including their relationships and their employment. They think that having a growth mentality is important and they are usually grinning.