I'm writing this email at 14:42 BST.

These are the first words I've written today outside of an email to my accountant.

The only other "productive" thing I've done today is share a pre-recorded video in GM+ for the ACCER Model Builders program (you can get access to that here).

After I've written and scheduled this email, I'm heading to the gym, then the store, then the dog gets walked.

There was a time when this "lack of action" would send me into a spiral.

The anxiety would hit and I'd desperately try and make up the time I'd "lost".

I'd sit at my desk in a desperate attempt to produce something, anything.

I'd pull late hours to write a new email sequence, ad, sales page, cold outreach, or anything tangible so I could feel like something had been achieved.

So I would have something I could point to and say "look, I did that so I didn't waste the day".

At the end of it, I'd have something like a sales page, but I wasn't any closer to hitting my goals.

We're all trained - first through school, then through work - that you're not productive unless you have something to show for your effort...

... A piece of homework...
... A presentation...
... A report...

If you don't have something tangible, then you've wasted the day, right?

You've achieved nothing.

Wrong.

Very fucking wrong.

This might be the first thing I've produced today, but it's not been an unproductive day.

I've recently spoken to some cool people who are running really successful, useful, and (to their clients) helpful high-ticket offers.

I realised I need to reorganise and start promoting my own.

But, I need to do it the right way. So, rather than sitting down to pen a new sales page, email promo, ad, or something else, I've been working on research.

I've spent the entire morning...

... watching videos of people further down the path to learn how they talk about the problems they solve...
... combing through forums, communities, and social media to find common problems and desired solutions within my ICP...
... analysing competing offers in the space to help reorganise my own beliefs and opinions on what is reasonable, fair, and useful...

I haven't written anything down about this yet, and so have nothing to show.

However, it's been an insanely productive morning.

I now have a better grounding and understanding of the path I want to take with my consulting offers, who they're for, and the transformation they'll help achieve.

When at the gym and walking the dog, I'll turn the thoughts and learnings over to find what I think will work best for me.

And then, tomorrow, I'll sit down and churn out a V1 plan of a new approacg to my consulting offers.

I've got nothing to show for my work today, but it's been far from a waste.

Long story short, don't mistake being busy with being productive.

That's an employee approach, and a mistake if you're running your own offers.

Sometimes being less busy so you can identify the right path is the better choice.

As long as you're moving forward in some way - action, learnings, plans - you've been productive and should act as if you've achieved something.

Speak soon,

Pete "back and biceps day" Boyle.