Finding Filters

Hello, builder! 👋

Today, let’s talk about the power of filters to find focus.

Why are goals important? Sure, they give us direction, but they also do something more—they filter out distractions, leaving us with a clear focus. Goals act like filters, helping us cut through the noise and find the signal.

But goals aren’t the only filter we can use. Let’s look at three other powerful filters: philosophies, principles, and playbooks.

1. Philosophies

Philosophies are high-level frameworks for how we approach different areas of life. Take my leadership philosophy, for example. I focus on setting clear constraints (objective, timeline), empowering the team, and offering support in consistent, straightforward ways. I also have philosophies around how I eat and exercise, manage my money, and consume information.

Philosophies are like the top of a funnel—they’re broad and help start the filtering process. They give you guidelines that begin to sort through the noise.

How do you create your own philosophies?

Start by asking yourself what matters to you most in a particular area—whether it’s leadership, health, or productivity. What are the core beliefs that guide your decisions? Write these down as your foundational philosophies.

Keep it broad—philosophies don’t have to be detailed, but they should reflect your overarching approach. For example:

• Leadership: “I empower my team by giving clear constraints and trusting them to deliver.”
• Health: “I prioritize consistent, sustainable exercise and whole foods to maintain balance.”
• Information: “I focus on consuming content that challenges me to grow, not just confirms my biases.”

2. Principles

Principles are more specific—they’re timeless guidelines that apply across situations. One of my core principles is “Fewest Changes,” meaning I aim to solve problems with the fewest possible changes. This reduces complexity, limits variables, and minimizes risk. When I approach a problem, I instinctively reach for this principle—it’s my go-to mental model for solutions.

For each of my five core values, I have five principles. They rarely change but are regularly used. Think of principles as the next level of the funnel, narrowing the focus even more.

How do you create your own principles?

Look at the decisions you make regularly in work, relationships, or life. What approaches do you consistently rely on?

These are your guiding principles. They don’t need to be numerous—just solid enough to act as a filter. Here’s how to think about it:

• Start with your core values. What are the core truths you believe in?
• Ask how you apply those values in specific situations.
• Example: If “simplicity” is a value, a principle might be: “Solve problems with the fewest possible changes.”

3. Playbooks

Playbooks are where things get tactical. They’re systems that help you manage your work and sharpen your focus. For example, I adopted Cal Newport’s “Slow Productivity” approach: I limit myself to three active projects at a time. Any new project goes into a “holding tank” until one of the three is completed.

Playbooks sit at the bottom of the funnel. With the right philosophies and principles in place, playbooks help turn those concepts into actionable tasks. They distill everything down into steps you can follow, keeping your focus where it needs to be.

How do you create your own playbooks?

Playbooks are all about taking action. Once you’ve identified your philosophies and principles, it’s time to create systems that turn those into practical steps.

Ask yourself: how can you consistently apply these ideas to your daily work or life? Some ideas to start with:

• Limit your active projects to a specific number, like three, and put any new projects on hold until one is finished.
• Set a routine for decision-making (e.g., a checklist or a system of evaluating pros and cons before choosing a path).
• Use time-blocking to create structure in your day and focus on high-priority tasks without distraction.

Philosophies, principles, and playbooks—these three layers act as filters that help you cut through the noise and stay focused on what matters most.

The best part? You can craft each tailored to your unique goals and values.

So start now…

Define your philosophies to set the foundation. Clarify your principles to guide your decisions. Build your playbooks to take action with purpose.

In a world full of distractions, the power to filter is the power to thrive.