What if one simple question could transform everything that you do: your work, your focus, your results?

In the late ’90s, the Australian rowing team faced a challenge that many of us can relate to. Hard work wasn’t enough. They needed a breakthrough. By asking themselves one very simple question before every decision, they were able to achieve Olympic gold at the 2000 Olympics. Today I’m going to show you how that same question can create laser focus in your business.

Most entrepreneurs are climbing ladders as fast as they can. They’re working harder than ever. But many of those ladders are leaning against the wrong wall. Let me show you how to make sure every minute of effort is moving you in the right direction.

All Work Works, But Direction Matters

Let me start with something powerful that I really want to emphasize. All work works. There’s no such thing as wasted effort. Every line of code you write, every project you attempt, every skill you learn, it’s all working on you, making you better, stronger, more experienced.

But here’s the crucial part. All work works, but direction matters. Before you get too far along climbing the ladder, you need to make sure your ladder is leaned against the right wall.

Let me tell you a story about this Australian rowing team. They won the gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. They transformed their entire program with one simple question: “Will it make the boat go faster?”

That was their question. Every decision they made, from their training schedule to their diet, from their equipment to their social plans, everything was filtered through that single question. If the answer was no, they didn’t do it. If the answer was yes, they did it, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable it might be.

Finding Your “Make the Boat Faster” Question

This is where so many of us get stuck. We’re working hard, but we haven’t defined our Olympic gold medal moment. So let’s fix that right now.

Here’s what I want you to do:

  1. Take 30 minutes of uninterrupted time.
  2. Picture yourself three years from now. What does success look like, specifically?
  3. Once you have that clear vision, it’s time to create your road map. Work backward from your three-year vision:
    • Where do you need to be in one year to be on track for three years?
    • For that one year, what are the four major milestones that need to happen? Think of one for each quarter.
    • What needs to happen each month to hit those quarterly goals?
    • What needs to happen each week to hit that monthly goal?
    • Finally, what needs to happen today to hit that weekly goal?

Now you have your own version of “Will it make the boat faster?” Every opportunity, every project, every commitment needs to be filtered through your question. Maybe it’s as simple as, “Will this move me toward my three-year vision?”

When you’re clear on where you’re going, saying no becomes easier. Decisions become clearer. Focus becomes natural. Distractions become obvious with that three-year vision.

Turning Vision Into Action

You might feel overwhelmed thinking about all the steps ahead. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to have it all figured out right now. You need to start with the end in mind, your three-year vision, and work backwards. Every action you take today will feel purposeful and aligned.

Once you have your three-year vision, you need to actually set up your annual plan.

Year One: Identify the milestone you need to hit for the very first year. That should directly connect to your three-year goal.

Quarters: Break that first year goal down into three-month chunks. Actually, all you need is three quarterly goals, because the last quarter is going to be the same as your year one goal. What absolutely must happen this quarter?

Monthly Targets: What specific projects move you toward the goal? What has to happen this month in order to hit your quarterly goal?

Weekly Actions: What are the specific tasks that need to happen this week in order to hit your monthly goal? Schedule those things like important meetings.

Daily Decisions: Look at each and every task through your version of “Will this make the boat go faster?” If it doesn’t contribute to your vision, it’s a distraction.

The Power of Intentional Recreation

At first glance, “Will it make the boat go faster?” sounds like a rule for nonstop hustle. But here’s what a lot of people miss. Even Olympic athletes schedule recovery time. They know that rest is as intentional as training, because it prepares them for the next race.

In fact, just this weekend I spent hours playing video games with my youngest daughter. On the surface, it might not seem like the best use of my time. But here’s the thing: being a present father makes my boat go faster. It strengthens the relationships that matter most to me and gives me the mental clarity I need to perform at my best.

Were there other productive things I could have been doing? Sure. But this wasn’t just recreation. This was intentional time with my daughter. She wanted to play, and these moments matter. They won’t last forever.

Focus isn’t about working every second of every day. It’s about being intentional with every second.

This brings me to a crucial point about focus. It’s not about working every available minute, but it is about being intentional with every available minute, including your downtime.

Think of your schedule like an Olympic athlete’s training program. They don’t train 24/7. They have scheduled recovery periods. They make time for family and mental health. But none of it is random and none of it is “just whenever I feel like it.”

Schedule your recreation time just like you do for your work. Block out family time. Plan your downtime. Protect your recovery periods. Make them non-negotiable.

Why? Because random recreation becomes procrastination. But scheduled recreation becomes rejuvenation.

Will playing video games with your kid make the boat go faster? Maybe not directly. But being a present parent, maintaining strong family relationships, and giving your mind time to recover makes you stronger for the journey.

What to Remember

Here’s what’s powerful about this approach: it gives you permission to focus. When you know exactly where you’re going and you know exactly what needs to happen to get you there, you can confidently say no to things that just don’t serve that purpose.

  1. All work works. You’re always learning, always growing, always building.
  2. But intentional work works better.
  3. Your ladder needs to be against the right wall.
  4. Create your very own “Will this make the boat go faster?” question. For example: “Will this make my business better?” or “Will this make my life better?” or “Will this help me reach my three-year goal?”

Once you have that question, you can use it as a compass to guide every decision. When you’re clear on where you’re going, the distractions will fall away and focus becomes natural.

Take that 30 minutes today. Map out your three-year vision and work backward. Focus isn’t just about doing more things. It’s about doing the right things with absolute clarity of purpose.

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