Are You Present-Focused or Future-Focused?
Issue #130: Why your time focus may matter more than introversion or extroversion. Podcast on building "Good Habits". Three Underrated Traits.
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Welcome to Learn + Grow, where you will learn tips and tools that will help you be 3% more peaceful + productive in just 3 minutes a week.
Key Learnings:
The overlooked spectrum of time focus: present vs. future
How your environment, mindset, and even stress levels shape your focus
A simple mindset shift to balance joy and ambition
🎓 Learn
A few years ago, I was in Bali, having coffee with a guy I’d just met.
He was a kitesurfing instructor — tan, barefoot, and glowing with life.
He told me his whole schedule depended on the wind.
“If it’s windy, I kite. If it’s calm, I chill.”
No five-year plan. No productivity hacks. Just… now.
I remember feeling both envious and confused.
My calendar was packed. My head was full of goals.
I was building something big, and every day had a purpose.
But in that moment, I realized — we were living on different timelines.
He was tuned into the present.
I was tuned into the future.
That memory stuck with me — and it all clicked when I read Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers.
Let’s Break It Down
Everyone talks about being introverted or extroverted.
But there's another lens that might be even more powerful:
Are you present-focused or future-focused?
Understanding this changed the way I look at myself — and others.
Present-focused people:
Pursue pleasure, excitement, and novelty
Focus on immediate gratification
Especially appreciate life, nature, and the people around them
Are playful, impulsive, and sensual
Avoid anything boring, difficult, or repetitive
Get fully immersed in the moment and lose track of time
Are better at helping others than helping themselves
Future-focused people:
Delay gratification
Are driven with self‑discipline because they vividly see their future goals
Tend to live in their minds, picturing other selves, scenarios, and possible futures
Especially love their work
Exercise, invest, and go for preventative health exams
Are better at helping themselves, but worse at helping others
Are more likely to be successful in their careers, but often at the expense of personal relationships, which require a present focus
Both types have their strengths — and blind spots.
Why This Happens
Your time focus isn’t fixed. It’s shaped by:
Your environment:
People in unstable conditions often become present-focused — because the future feels uncertain.
People in colder climates often develop a future focus — they have to plan ahead for survival.
Your attention:
If you ask a present-focused person to map out their dream career and steps to get there — boom, they shift to future-focused.
If you ask a future-focused person to notice every sound and sensation around them — boom, present-focused.
Your values:
Falling in love or making a meaningful promise? You’re pulled into the now.
Feeling ambitious and driven? You’re propelled toward the future.
Your spiritual practice:
Almost every spiritual tradition encourages us to return to the “here and now.”
Living in the present is central to meditation, mindfulness, and awareness practices.
But here’s the thing: As a high-achiever type, being present-focused is really challenging for me. My mind naturally drifts to what’s next.
How I Use This
Understanding time focus has been a game-changer for me.
It explains why I sometimes act “out of character.”
When I’m stressed or lost, I lean into present-focused thinking. I ground myself. I slow down. I try to feel now.
When I’m excited, peaceful, or full of energy, I shift into future-focused thinking. I make plans. I dream. I visualize.
When I’m procrastinating or being undisciplined? I’ve lost sight of my future.
When I feel disconnected or robotic? I’m too deep in future-mode.
When emotions are high, I balance them out by slowing down and focusing on the moment.
When life feels calm and steady, I zoom out and build for what’s next.
That balance keeps me sane. It keeps me growing. And it keeps me peaceful.
Final Thought
Next time you’re judging someone — or yourself — try asking:
Are you present-focused or future-focused?
Because the real wisdom?
Is learning when to switch.
🚀 Growth Tip
We all know and love James Clear. I recently listened to his old interview on The Peter Attia Drive — and wow, it’s packed with gems on habits, behavior change, and why we struggle with doing what’s good for our future selves.
So many practical tips, especially around instant vs. delayed gratification (super relevant to the present vs. future mindset).
Highly recommend giving it a listen.
🤩 Inspiration
Here are three qualities that have nothing to do with talent or intelligence, but. can make a dramatic impact on your results:
From Sahil Bloom — and they’ve stuck with me:
Cheerful – Positive energy is a magnet.
Accountable – You take full ownership.
Adaptable – You bend, but don’t break.
No special talent required. Just mindset.
👋 Until next time, Anil / CEO and Co-Founder of Multidots, Multicollab, and Dotstore.
May the Peaceful Growth be with you! 🪴
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