The Art of Focus

Ever heard of The Art of Manliness? 👨🏻

It’s mainly a website and podcast these days. Back in 2013 it was already pulling in more than $400,000 a year in revenue (source), and now it likely earns millions each year.

One thing about them I find fascinating: they built their YouTube channel to 1.2 million subscribers and then pretty much abandoned it so they could focus on other projects.

Words from founder Brett McKay in a 2017 video…

So I had all these irons in the fire. I was working on the book, working on [an online course], had the podcast going… also writing text articles… managing The Art of Manliness store, as well as managing just the day-to-day business… so something had to give and it was videos.

Imagine having worked your ass off to build a successful YouTube channel and then quitting it.

That’s the kind of tough decision A-players make, while lesser entrepreneurs stretch themselves thin trying to keep every plate spinning (I speak from painful personal experience here 😩)

Reminds me of something Tim Ferriss once wrote:

Oftentimes, in order to do the big things, you have to let the small bad things happen. This is a skill we want to cultivate.

What bad things do you need to let happen?