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How I manage multiple interests
Full-guide to making progress in skills, habits, and hobbies without burning out.
Most people believe a jack of all trades is a master of none.
But this is wrong.
Here’s the plot twist:
A jack of all trades isn’t a master of none. He’s a master of many – starting with one.
Let me explain.
The problem with multiple passions
A buddy of mine asked:
Is it even possible to get good in multiple things and if not, how do you decide on which one to choose?
The short answer is yes.
You can achieve as many goals as you want—using the right approach.
How many times have you tried to learn code, design, fitness, AND improve speaking at the same time?
I’ve lost count.
But the result is always the same – frustration with slow progress and burnout.
Do you relate?
The myth of multitasking
Some of the most brilliant minds in history, Leonardo Da Vinci and Ben Franklin had one thing in common:
They were master generalists.
Building multiple skills in art, science, engineering, and more.
But when you try to do it all at once, you get nowhere.
Focus is doing less but better.
Don’t get me wrong.
I’m not saying multiple passions are a flaw.
They’re a gift.
Because the real issue isn’t having many interests.
It’s a lack of focus.
Take it from me.
I’ve always had a journal full of interests and struggled to turn them into anything meaningful.
But once I learned how to focus, I was able to accomplish some of my biggest goals by age 30:
Strength training: I went from a low-confidence weakling to building a lean, athletic physique.
Communication: I overcame social anxiety to meet my wife and become a confident father.
Coding: I went from broke personal trainer to landing a tech job with 3x the income and more free time.
Nutrition: I was a stressed, overweight dad after my job hunt. But then, I lost 20 pounds of fat and put an end to the “dad bod.”
Finance: I went from living with debt in the hood to owning a 1-acre property in the countryside with both vehicles and a student loan paid off.
Marketing: I replaced addiction to social media and video games with gamified self-discipline, allowing me to build a side hustle I enjoy.
I’m not saying this to brag, but to remind you that there’s hope for you.
It’s never too late to start.
The new path to multi-mastery
So how do you master multiple things without losing your mind?
It’s simple (but not easy).
Focus on one thing at a time.
Each new skill or habit you learn compounds into the next like a confidence snowball.
Confidence compounds with consistency.
You don’t need to choose between your passions—you need to approach them in the right order.
Before you begin, I recommend CAT Conditions to be successful:
Curiosity - an obsession for something you’ve always gone back to as a kid.
Ability - the thing you do easily when others find it difficult.
Tolerance - interests you’re willing to stick with even when you hit The Dip of Death.
What is the Dip of Death?
In Seth Godin’s book, The Dip, he describes it as:
The hard part where progress feels non-existent and it’s easier to quit, but high long-term rewards come from pushing through it.
Process for pursuing one interest at a time without burning out.
Now let’s get into the approach:
1) Choose your best weapon
Start by choosing the interest that makes the next ones easier.
Think of it as leverage.
For me, meditation was a game changer—it helped me make clear decisions without stressing over little things.
Instead of burning out, I learned to recognize when I was slipping into old habits.
My goals felt more effortless to achieve.
For you, pick what’s most relevant right now.
(Keep CAT conditions in mind)
2) Pick a Skill-Stack timeline
Earlier, I explained the benefit of one thing, but I’m sure you’re still gonna pick at least 3 to work on.
I get it.
Use this timeline for whichever makes sense based on one skill, habit, or interest.
• One skill that makes you money: Focus for 6-12 months to get good, whether it’s coding, copywriting, or any skill that has real-world value.
• One habit that makes you better at everything else: Commit for 3-6 months till it becomes second nature. This could be meditation, exercise, or a better diet.
• One interest that keeps you energized: Explore for 1-3 months to see if it’s worth long-term effort or just a fleeting curiosity (like music, art, or a new hobby).
Remember, you’re better off choosing one and picking a timeline before you focus on another.
Results of one dedicated goal vs. many
3) Set your difficulty level
Don’t expect to hit every goal daily.
We don’t want perfection, we want progress.
So when you set your goal, include these thresholds to help you stay consistent and motivated:
Minimal effort
Ideal target
Stretch goal
Here’s why these work.
A minimal effort makes it too easy NOT to do it. I don’t care how busy you are. Anyone can meditate for 2 minutes, there are no excuses.
Your ideal target, for example, could be 10 minutes. Your perception of that when your car breaks down or your kid gets sick makes it feel like 10 hours.
The result? You skip it.
The minimal effort is an insurance policy to help you avoid the chaos of life and the Dip of Death.
And on days you’re feeling fired up, go for the stretch goal like a 20-minute+ meditation session.
Just don’t overdo it and burn out. Use stretch goals lightly.
4) Dabbling - play without pressure
What about your other interests?
Do you have to ignore them completely?
Not at all.
This is where Dabbling comes in.
Set aside 1-2 hours each week (or daily) to play with your other passions, without structure.
This is your creative sandbox.
Don’t expect mastery here—just have fun and explore.
This keeps your energy high and prevents burnout while you dedicate most of your energy to your main goal.
Example:
My ultimate focused workday schedule:
10-minute morning meditation
2 hours of deep work - code
Break + stand up meeting
20-35 minutes training
90-minute deep work
First meal break
Learning time
Admin
PlayYou can't go wrong doing 2 days of "normal" people work in 3-5 hours.
— Brand Marz 🐉 (@BrandMarz)
3:30 PM • Sep 26, 2024
After about 3 pm on weekdays and most afternoons on weekends, I can play.
So choose a routine that works around your life.
5) The Focus Fix Toolkit
I used to be addicted to social media.
But after nearly 2 decades, I’ve overcome it.
Along the way, I’ve developed a toolkit from years of experimentation.
If you’re interested you can grab your copy of The Focus Fix here.
It’s a proven guide to help you:
Eliminate distractions
Reclaim 5-10 hours of your time each week
And finally, start making real progress toward your interests
Many creators and parents have seen results within days.
Check it out here if you want to rewire your brain and take control of your life from screens.
Everything starts with focus
Achieving multiple goals is completely possible.
But only when you master the art of focus.
When you learn to manage your energy and approach your passions with the right mindset, you feel limitless.
TL;DR
The 5-step simplified and gamified system for mastering multiple interests in 6-12 months
Choose your best weapon
Pick a Skill-Stack timeline
Set your daily difficulty level
Dabbling - play without pressure
The Focus Fix - Anti-Distraction Toolkit
Let me know if you found value in this guide. I reply to every message!
Stay focused,
Brand Marz.
P.S.
Free guides like this are quickly forgotten, especially if you’re in a dopamine hole.
That’s why I developed The Focus Fix specifically for creators and parents like us, who get stuck and distracted easily.
Right now, you have three options:
Continue looking for free information online.
Bookmark or print this guide to reference at all times.
Download the Focus Fix and commit to using it for 10 days.
I recommend #3 (big surprise lol), so you can focus on one thing and break the cycle of digital dopamine.
Here are some results so far:
See you on the inside!
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