Happy Saturday, friend!

We’re back again with another edition of Productivity + Habits + Fun

😃 Fun Fact of the Week

Three Musketeers candy bars used to come in three different flavors!

The nougat used to have these flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Due to sugar rationing during WWII, vanilla and strawberry were dropped. Now, there are more than a dozen flavors to choose from!

Click the photo if you’re interested in learning more about the history of the candy.

🐦 Tweet of the Week

This is the cure to the Sunday scaries.

Please go check out Brian’s page!

💪 Featured Productivity Tip

Eliminate analysis paralysis.

What happens when you have too many options?

You have to take time to decide.

You may make a pro and con list.

You may immediately remove some the choices you immediately dislike.

But be honest: this takes a lot of time, and you may not really make a decision.

Think of this mountain of choices as an illusion.

Does it really matter which ice cream flavor you choose?

Instead of getting stuck trying to make a choice, limit them:

• Meal prep a few days in advance

• For dinner, keep it simple: chicken or fish? Rotate 3 or 4 different sides.

• Keep a narrow work wardrobe so you can grab whichever is first on the rack in the mornings

• Have two pairs of shoes to go with that wardrobe

By keeping your options down, you can make quicker decisions.

You’ll also have more mental energy available when a really important choice arrives.

🕰️ The Daily Routines of Famous Creatives

Ludwig Von Beethoven: slept from 9:30pm to 6am, 6 hours of creative work in a single block, 1 hour of exercise in the afternoon

Thomas Mann: slept from 12am to 8am, 7 hours of creative work with a half hour break for lunch, afternoon nap for one hour, afternoon snack, and 1 hour for “administrative” work

William Styron: slept from 3am to 12pm, 3 hours of creative work in a single block, 1 hour of “administrative” work, the rest of his day was for eating and leisure activities

As you can see, there's no one-size-fits all approach to structuring your day.

These folks found their way to get the most gains for what worked for them.

Can you say the same about your day?

If you think you can do better, but you don't know how to start, the first step is simple:

Reply to this email, and I'll see how I can help you.

🏢 Top Reasons People Begin A Business (By State In The US)

All good reasons!

I couldn’t find an explanation for “Best Avenue For Ideas,” so that one’s unclear to me.

What do you think?

🤔 Decision-making Idea

Naïve Cynicism: We tend to believe that we have a truly objective view on reality, and other people’s views are inherently egocentric

In other words, when we see someone doing something good, we assume it must be for some self-enhancing purpose.

Example: A local wealthy family creates an endowment that sets aside money every year for scholarships to the local university. They get a building named after them as gesture from the university. Naïve cynicism would respond with, “They only donated so much money to get their name on that building.”

When you find yourself slipping into naïve cynicism, take a moment to consider that the other person is genuinely trying to do a god thing.

And look for the far-reaching good beyond the current act you’re witnessing.

🧠 Quote of the Week

What I think:

This quote is pretty straightforward.

Robert believes in taking bold action - in going where others are afraid to go.

It makes me think of famous explorers who discover new land or scientists pushed the frontier in their field.

People like Leif Erikson, Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein.

For me, I’m building a personal brand, growing an audience, and working to make this my career.

None of the people I met before beginning my journey are doing this.

I’m betting on my future.

What about you?

Thank you so much for spending some of you precious time with me. 🙂

I’m always looking to improve, so hit “reply” and let me know what you think!

Have an awesome week.

Sincerely,

Steven Sanders

PS - I hope to see you on Twitter and Instagram!