No productivity hack beats knowing exactly how you work.
I have never struggled with discipline or focus.
What throws me off is not knowing where I’m going or why I’m doing something.
When I don’t have that clarity, even simple tasks feel heavy.
When you don’t know what drives you, everything feels like friction.
When you do, execution feels almost effortless.
That’s what your Work North Star is for.
Just a clear, honest map of how you operate: so your systems, team, and habits don’t fight who you are.
Here’s what goes in it:
What energizes you right now?
– Deep focus
– Real problems
– Building with autonomy and heart
It’s easy to copy what others are doing online. But before you adopt someone else’s playbook, ask:
What’s energizing me right now?
Too many people chase tactics without checking if they fit how they’re wired.
Start with what gives you energy. Build from there.
What drains you
→ Constant Slack pings
→ Projects with no clear why
→ Environments that don’t reward your working style
This is your anti-operating manual.
List the things that quietly kill your momentum so that you can design around them.
When you’re at your best
→ Time of day
→ Energy triggers (movement, music, no meetings)
→ Mindset conditions (clarity, ownership, deep work)
The real game is building around when you’re actually effective.
How do you reset when you’re off-track
→ Close the loop (one deep clean, one hard stop, one “done” task)
→ Go analog (walk, journal, voice note)
→ Ask: “What matters right now?”
The goal is not to avoid getting off-track; it’s to recover with intention.
What success looks like in this season of your life
This is your internal compass.
“Success is building something real without losing myself in the process.”
“Success is earning through alignment.”
“Success is working with people I respect on things that matter.”
Without this filter, you’ll say yes to everything.
And burn out doing things that don’t move the needle.
Why this matters:
You can build a system.
You can build a brand.
You can build a business.
But if it doesn’t match how you’re built, it’ll drain you.
We don’t need more tools. We need more self-awareness.
Build that first.
Then let your systems follow.
— Kanishka
How did you like today's edition?
see ya next Tuesday!!!!