I’ve just started using Kortex and am so happy with it. I’m still trying to organise my brain but it’s a great help.
I’ve always struggled with deep work. But I’ve noticed that the more pressure and time constraints I have, the more productive I am. For instance, if I have 3-4 hours, I procrastinate more than when I have only one hour.
I think you’ll be blown away with the next big updates (after mobile!) We have a very cool idea in mind.
I’m the exact same. If I have an hour (like one REAL hour with something to do after) i just get into it super easy and the ideas just come… most of the time haha
And nice, let me know how the blocks go. They work for me (i don’t physically time them, i just have a time when i usually eat and stop then at like 8:30am)
Started substack because I wanted to write a bit more. And, with a lot of my focus going into kortex, I don’t want to have too many things to promote. So, with substack, I can have one simple offer to promote under my own business rather than like 3 courses and a bunch of free guides. Then i can promote kortex the rest of the time.
So excited to see you shift to Substack! Double exciting to see your buddy Justin Welch jump to Substack too and feature you in his next essay. I am aware that you worked on Kortex for a long time, and your timing is terrific to bring out the version you have now, just as my Substack is taking off. I appreciate the team you've put together to work directly with me and our community of Gifted Professionals and Communicators. I'm so energized to be growing with you at the same time you are experiencing breakthroughs.
Thank you Georgia! I think it was a good move too. Justin is such a good guy, love him. We’re competing to an extent (for fun) but will have some guest articles/collabs on each others pages.
Grateful to have you on the Kortex side of things as well :)
Routines like these aim to optimize the self for performance, but from a heliogenetic lens, that’s still orbiting the same sun of industrial thinking—productivity as virtue, output as identity.
What if deep work wasn’t about squeezing more from the mind, but about realigning it with the rhythms of life? Not blocking distractions to extract focus, but creating spaciousness to receive insight—like plants tuning to light, not fighting shadows.
The real shift isn’t waking up earlier or batching tasks. It’s waking up to the idea that you are not a machine. You are part of an ecology. And your attention is sunlight—where you cast it, things grow.
As you say.I recently shipped NetCal, an Al-powered, no-frills calorie-deficit tracker. It converts a quick food photo into an instant calorie count and displays your live net-calorie wheel and streak calendar. Designed for individuals with ADHD (the founder of the company who requires instant logging or it simply doesn't happen), it's built to be user-friendly, requiring only 5 seconds of input. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netcal/id6744673488
I am working my way through the one person business course and 2 hour writer course for a third time. Loving it and looking forward to my full implementation. Thank you Dan!
I love this. I have one project I’m working on. I spend 90 min a day working on it, first thing in the morning after my meditation and movement practice. My afternoons are more open for me to do the rest, including play. I feel heard.
Not chasing hacks but trying to protect my focus and get clear on what actually moves things forward.
People tell me I’m all over the place, but I know I’m not. I’m someone with a lot of ideas who’s learning how to line them up and do the work that matters.
There’s something addicting about editing; 30tab rabbit holes; doom scrolling; preparing to help someone; etc…
It’s amazing how mysterious it was, to first realize that I can edit a video for HOURS compared to my 30 min of doom scrolling-which I would eventually get bored of.
Leveraging the addiction is an interesting way to think about it, seems wrong
Dan, your physiognomy recalls Soda Pop whereas your ecorche some demotic Greek god. That’s why I read and enact your writings as opposed to those of your coevals.
Appreciate you addressing the big question currently for me: how do i wish to spend my days and how to therefore structure them so i dont burn out with curiosity fatigue, consuming early in the day, having too many ideas, being excited for them, not acting on them, because like after a sugar rush i come crashing down, getting seemingly more tired over time.
I get to honor the silent morning with focus, even if its just 30min to start with.
Thanks for your clarity! It's a great sign post of where i get to start exploring!
That was a great post, as always.
I’ve just started using Kortex and am so happy with it. I’m still trying to organise my brain but it’s a great help.
I’ve always struggled with deep work. But I’ve noticed that the more pressure and time constraints I have, the more productive I am. For instance, if I have 3-4 hours, I procrastinate more than when I have only one hour.
Glad you’re enjoying Kortex :)
I think you’ll be blown away with the next big updates (after mobile!) We have a very cool idea in mind.
I’m the exact same. If I have an hour (like one REAL hour with something to do after) i just get into it super easy and the ideas just come… most of the time haha
I can’t wait for the updates.
Jumping to a nice song and shaking it off before the deep work session helps my creative juice flow.
Another banger post, Dan.
I got something new to apply (Which is shocking considering I consume so much of your content).
Thanks for reading my friend - what was the new thing to apply?
I'm gonna act like I'm not starstruck and answer like a normal human.😅
I'll start timing my important tasks for 1-2 hour blocks instead of just working as long as I can.
Also, why did you start Substack ?
Hahaha I appreciate you
And nice, let me know how the blocks go. They work for me (i don’t physically time them, i just have a time when i usually eat and stop then at like 8:30am)
Started substack because I wanted to write a bit more. And, with a lot of my focus going into kortex, I don’t want to have too many things to promote. So, with substack, I can have one simple offer to promote under my own business rather than like 3 courses and a bunch of free guides. Then i can promote kortex the rest of the time.
Will do. DMs?
Oh, sounds good. Love Kortex, BTW.
So excited to see you shift to Substack! Double exciting to see your buddy Justin Welch jump to Substack too and feature you in his next essay. I am aware that you worked on Kortex for a long time, and your timing is terrific to bring out the version you have now, just as my Substack is taking off. I appreciate the team you've put together to work directly with me and our community of Gifted Professionals and Communicators. I'm so energized to be growing with you at the same time you are experiencing breakthroughs.
Thank you Georgia! I think it was a good move too. Justin is such a good guy, love him. We’re competing to an extent (for fun) but will have some guest articles/collabs on each others pages.
Grateful to have you on the Kortex side of things as well :)
Routines like these aim to optimize the self for performance, but from a heliogenetic lens, that’s still orbiting the same sun of industrial thinking—productivity as virtue, output as identity.
What if deep work wasn’t about squeezing more from the mind, but about realigning it with the rhythms of life? Not blocking distractions to extract focus, but creating spaciousness to receive insight—like plants tuning to light, not fighting shadows.
The real shift isn’t waking up earlier or batching tasks. It’s waking up to the idea that you are not a machine. You are part of an ecology. And your attention is sunlight—where you cast it, things grow.
As you say.I recently shipped NetCal, an Al-powered, no-frills calorie-deficit tracker. It converts a quick food photo into an instant calorie count and displays your live net-calorie wheel and streak calendar. Designed for individuals with ADHD (the founder of the company who requires instant logging or it simply doesn't happen), it's built to be user-friendly, requiring only 5 seconds of input. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netcal/id6744673488
I am working my way through the one person business course and 2 hour writer course for a third time. Loving it and looking forward to my full implementation. Thank you Dan!
Hey! I have published once a week for nearly two years largely at your encouragement and direction. Thanks Dan!!
I love this. I have one project I’m working on. I spend 90 min a day working on it, first thing in the morning after my meditation and movement practice. My afternoons are more open for me to do the rest, including play. I feel heard.
What an amazing post. This was a necessary read for me. Thank you!
@dan koe, this is exactly what I needed this morning. Thank you!
I've been working on this exact thing.
Not chasing hacks but trying to protect my focus and get clear on what actually moves things forward.
People tell me I’m all over the place, but I know I’m not. I’m someone with a lot of ideas who’s learning how to line them up and do the work that matters.
This post hit. Appreciate it.
Love your analogy with the brain's performance and RAM. I am probably not alone in saying my brain has way too many tabs open most of the week!
The amount of value that you give is so enormous, dan
There’s something addicting about editing; 30tab rabbit holes; doom scrolling; preparing to help someone; etc…
It’s amazing how mysterious it was, to first realize that I can edit a video for HOURS compared to my 30 min of doom scrolling-which I would eventually get bored of.
Leveraging the addiction is an interesting way to think about it, seems wrong
Dan, your physiognomy recalls Soda Pop whereas your ecorche some demotic Greek god. That’s why I read and enact your writings as opposed to those of your coevals.
Appreciate you addressing the big question currently for me: how do i wish to spend my days and how to therefore structure them so i dont burn out with curiosity fatigue, consuming early in the day, having too many ideas, being excited for them, not acting on them, because like after a sugar rush i come crashing down, getting seemingly more tired over time.
I get to honor the silent morning with focus, even if its just 30min to start with.
Thanks for your clarity! It's a great sign post of where i get to start exploring!