When I was a kid, I said things like, “I won’t forget,” or “When I’m a dad, I won’t get mad.” Or…”I’m bored.”But as you get older, and life puts you in various, unforeseen situations, it’s easy to get blindsided and react in a way you hoped you wouldn’t.I think about this a lot when I consider what’s changed between turn 20 and turn 40. And there’s a common theme that has cropped up: pruning.Letting go of what doesn’t work. Of where you used to spend your energy. About making more space in your life for the things that matter.And I thought that there was no better person to bring on to talk about this than my friend, fellow freelancer, and fellow father, Austin L. Church. He’s a deep thinker, committed family man, and wants to help people.Looking to prune what’s stealing your energy? Take the<a href="https://streamlined.fm/overwhelm"> Business Overwhelm Diagnostic</a>.Top Takeaways<ul><li>Fluff vs. value in business books — many books stretch one idea into 300 pages, but the best insights are usually old, durable ideas worth revisiting.</li><li>Growth by subtraction — focus and pruning beat doing “all the things.” Fractured attention leads to mediocre results.</li><li>Attention as water — what you focus on grows. Stop “watering” indignation and instead nurture gratitude, creativity, and presence.</li><li>Values over virality — not all success is worth emulating. If someone’s optimizing for attention or wealth at all costs, that doesn’t mean you should.</li><li>Parenting parallels — kids remember how you respond more than what you say. Choosing patience, presence, and love shapes both them and you.</li><li>“These are the good old days” — a simple mindset shift that makes it easier to stay present with family and avoid regrets later.</li></ul>Links<ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7369359701664227329/">Austin’s post on pruning</a></li><li><a href="https://freelancecake.com/">Austin L. Church — Freelance Cake</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=free+money+austin+l.+church&tag=revengofthene-20">Austin’s Book: Free Money</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=buy+back+your+time+dan+martell&tag=revengofthene-20">Buy Back Your Time — Dan Martell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=good+strategy+bad+strategy+richard+rumelt&tag=revengofthene-20">Good Strategy Bad Strategy — Richard Rumelt</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=essentialism+greg+mckeown&tag=revengofthene-20">Essentialism — Greg McKeown</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dieter_rams">Dieter Rams — Principles Of Good Design</a></li></ul>What do you think? Send your feedback to<a href="http://streamlinedfeedback.com/"> streamlinedfeedback.com</a>
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