I'm The Real Jason Duncan, back with another edition of Beyond the Grind – showing entrepreneurs how to stop being slaves to their own businesses and start building assets that run without them. 🚀

We've been focusing on implementation – Mastering Systems (Stage 4) and Creating Passive Profits (Stage 5). (see the last edition for more info on the entire XOS™ Method)

But there's a hidden problem that sabotages even the best systems.

You think you're stressed because you have too much work. That's not the real problem.

The real culprit is something called open cycles – unfinished mental tasks that drain your energy even when you're not actively working on them.

The Open Cycles Problem

Most entrepreneurs think stress comes from having too much to do. 

That's not accurate.

Stress is primarily caused by having too many open cycles running simultaneously in your brain.

“So what is an open cycle, Jason?” 

I’m glad you asked. 

An open cycle is anything that needs to be done – whether you’ve started it or not – but haven't finished. Things like tasks, emails, projects, and decisions that need to be made. 

Put simply, an open cycle is anything you have to do or that needs to be done.

Every unfinished item runs like a background app in your brain, consuming energy and draining your mental capacity.

Think of it like this: your brain keeps a mental "book" of everything incomplete. 

The more unfinished items you have, the thicker this mental book becomes. Your subconscious mind constantly references this book, trying to track and manage all these incomplete tasks.

The result? You feel overwhelmed and stressed – even when you're not actively working on any of them.

I learned this the hard way in 2019. 

I was running my lighting company while dealing with partner conflicts, declining sales, and attempting to start multiple other businesses simultaneously.

This created dozens of specific incomplete tasks: unfinished partner negotiations, incomplete sales proposals, half-written business plans, pending vendor decisions, unresolved customer issues.

I thought I was just "busy." 

Actually, I was mentally exhausted from my brain constantly trying to process this massive list of unfinished business.

The breakthrough came when I realized that managing all these incomplete cycles was impossible. 

But managing my focus? That was everything.

Why Time Management Fails

You get 168 hours per week. Period. That number never changes.

Time management assumes you can somehow manipulate this fixed resource. You can't.

The only resource you can actually manage is your focus.

Your brain filters information through something called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) based on what you focus on. 

When you constantly jump between tasks (context switching), you lose up to 25 minutes returning to your original focus after each interruption.

Most entrepreneurs unknowingly destroy their own productivity through constant context switching. 

They check email, then jump to a sales call, then review financials, then handle a customer issue – all within an hour.

Each switch costs them focus, energy, and effectiveness.

The 10-Block Solution

Here's the tactical system that eliminates context switching and buys back your time: the 10-Block Weekly Scheduling Method.

This method divides your five-day workweek into 10 distinct blocks – Morning and Afternoon for each day.

How to Implement the 10-Block Method:

Step 1: Complete the Open Cycles Inventory  –  List every single open cycle in your business and personal life. Everything that's started but not finished. This includes:

• Unfinished projects

• Pending decisions

• Half-completed tasks

• Emails requiring responses

• Conversations that need follow-up

Step 2: Categorize Your Regular Tasks  –  Catalog all your daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities. Group similar activities together:

• Sales activities (calls, proposals, follow-ups)

• Administrative work (email, scheduling, paperwork)

• Strategic planning (vision, goals, analysis)

• Team management (meetings, coaching, reviews)

Step 3: Draw Your 10 Blocks  –  Create a visual schedule showing Monday through Friday, divided into AM and PM blocks.

Step 4: Assign Tasks Strategically  –  Place similar tasks in the same blocks to prevent context switching. For example:

• Monday AM: Sales calls and prospect follow-up

• Monday PM: Administrative work and email processing

• Tuesday AM: Strategic planning and analysis

• Tuesday PM: Team meetings and management

Step 5: Implement DND Periods  –  Block two to four periods per week as "Do Not Disturb" time. During these focus blocks:

• Turn off phone notifications

• Close email applications

• Work on your highest-value activities

• Allow your RAS to concentrate completely

The Results

One client implemented this system and found an extra 8 hours in his week simply by focusing his tasks into specific blocks. He wasn't working less – he was working more efficiently.

Another client reduced his work week from 65 hours to 45 hours while increasing revenue by 30%. 

The secret? He stopped context switching and started focus batching.

This is how you buy back time by using your focus efficiently. It's the definition of leveraging resources for time.

Implementation Results

The 10-Block Method directly impacts your Load/Margin equation from Margin Theory:

Reduced Load: Fewer open cycles mean less mental burden. 

Increased Power: Better focus means higher effectiveness per hour worked. 

Greater Margin: More mental space for growth, innovation, and strategic thinking.

When you manage focus instead of time, you naturally create the margin necessary for business independence.

This system works because it aligns with how your brain actually functions rather than fighting against it.

Ready to implement focus management and reclaim your week? Download the free 10-Block Weekly Scheduling Method guide at therealjasonduncan.com/10block

Words of Wisdom

"The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing." – Proverb 20:4

Mental strength and focus management aren't built when things are easy. 

They're developed in the preparation seasons. If you fail to implement systems now, you'll have nothing when you need freedom later.

Your Next Move

If you're an established business owner doing $3M+ in revenue or at least $300K in EBITDA and you want to use proven systems to reduce stress and create business independence, this is your opportunity.

I'm hosting a private training called "What to Fix Before You Exit". We'll use diagnostic tools to identify critical gaps in your business systems and team structure.

Register at whattofixbeforeyouexit.com.

Until next time...

Go beyond the grind,
The Real Jason Duncan 🚀