This newsletter is the result of years of research and practice of deep work—a journey that has completely transformed my financial well-being, mental and physical health, and relationships with my spouse, family, and friends. It also helped me discover my ikigai—a sense of purpose.
I made it my mission to help as many people as possible transform how they work so they can not only earn more but also live better.
The Start of the Journey
Back in 2013, while building my first startup, I stumbled upon Remote by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, founders of 37Signals. As someone who values personal space and hates commuting, the idea of working from anywhere resonated deeply. I started experimenting with working from home, gradually transitioning from a couple of days a week to a full-time arrangement. Working remotely has been my default way ever since.
Anyone who works from home knows that remote work has its challenges, and the biggest one, in my experience, is the ability to focus. Focus is the cornerstone of success in virtually any endeavor—it’s what separates the best from the mediocre. Yet, sustaining focus for extended periods is incredibly difficult. And I learned this the hard way.
The Hard Lesson
For years, I thought I was focused, but in reality, I wasn’t. I juggled multiple projects, multitasked excessively, worked 14+ hours a day (often seven days a week), and distracted myself with social media. While I looked busy, I wasted a lot of time and achieved very little. This also took a toll on my health and relationships.
By 2020, I found myself in a quarter-life crisis, which also overlapped with the pandemic. One morning in the early summer of that year, I realized I no longer wanted to continue my decade-long career in web design and development. I needed a major change—a 180-degree shift in both my career and life.
A Turning Point
At the time, the stock market was booming. Investing wasn’t new to me—I’d been investing for years with decent success—but it suddenly became a passion. I started sharing my insights on Twitter, where the FinTwit community was rapidly growing, particularly about early-stage tech companies, and soon launched a Substack newsletter focused on deep dives into these businesses.
To my surprise, the newsletter gained traction, attracting thousands of subscribers, including paying ones. What began as a hobby turned into real, demanding work. Writing high-quality analysis, especially in investing, requires intense focus and concentration—something that was several times harder amidst the pandemic news and a volatile stock market.
That’s when I discovered Deep Work by Cal Newport, a book I highly recommend to anyone new to the idea of deep work. Cal defines deep work as “the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task.” Inspired by his insights, I started applying the concepts to my daily life and continued exploring the science of focus.
The Transformation
Gradually, my ability to concentrate started to improve, and so did the quality of my work. This did not go unnoticed. Soon, I landed an $80,000+ per year ghostwriting job in the investing niche. The demands of this job required me to refine my approach to focus even further.
Over two years, through relentless practice and iteration, I developed a set of deep work protocols—tools and routines that help me get into a state of focus faster and stay there longer.
These protocols have allowed me to:
Work fewer hours while producing higher-quality output;
Balance two demanding jobs while earning six figures;
Spend more time with family and prioritize my health.
I even came up with a formula that sums up this approach:
Quality Work Produced in Deep Work State = Fewer Hours Needed to Complete The Actual Work = More Time That Can Be Spend On Other Work = Greater Earnings
This formula has changed my life. It enabled me to launch a video editing side business alongside my ghostwriting job, which grew into a $70,000 per year income stream.
Why Deep Work Matters
Deep work isn’t just about earning more money. It’s about reclaiming your time, improving your health, and creating a competitive edge in a world where distractions rule. Research shows that the average attention span has dropped by 33% since 2000, and the constant bombardment of notifications, social media, and multitasking only makes it harder to focus.
The ability to focus and perform at the highest level is akin to having a special power. But here’s the good news: focus is a skill anyone can learn. By mastering it, you can outperform 95% of people and achieve extraordinary results.
The Deep Work Protocols
I developed a series of deep work protocols to supercharge my focus so that I can cope with two demanding jobs and still have time for myself and others around me.
These protocols are based on scientific research and personal experimentation. They fall into three phases:
Prep Phase: Your morning routine, designed to set the tone for a productive day
Deep Work Phase: The period of intense, focused work
Wind Down Phase: Recovery routines to recharge and sustain long-term performance
Take any of these protocols, experiment with them, find what works for you, and practice consistently. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with discipline and patience, you’ll see life-changing results. Taking action is the key. If you deliberately practice deep work for a sustained period of time, the chances of mastering it increase exponentially. Start small and start now.
Besides, your brain loves consistency. It will appreciate all these routines and new habits. And trust me, it will pay off big.
Who This Newsletter is For
I created this newsletter for every remote worker, creator, or someone who feels overworked but underproductive. It will save you months of research and trial and error by distilling the best practices for achieving deep focus.
Time and attention are our most valuable assets. You’ll take back control of both by mastering deep work without sacrificing your returns.
Let’s transform how you work together.