🎙️ What if your “focus” is just busyness in disguise?

David Wood has coached high performers for decades, but even he once fell into the trap of constant motion with zero momentum. In his third appearance on The 7 Hats, David reveals how founders can stop reacting, start focusing, and turn their work into a game worth winning.

From the pickleball court to the boardroom, David shows how discipline, gamification, and ruthless clarity can double the output of what matters while cutting your stress in half.

Whether you are juggling a million priorities, stuck in the 80/20 guessing game, or secretly afraid to slow down, this conversation will change the way you work, decide, and breathe.

🎩 Summary

This is not another productivity hack. It is a survival system for high achievers.

David breaks down the four levels of gamifying your focus, from your annual "game" to the next 25 minutes, so you can work on what moves the needle instead of just moving. We talk about why most "focus" is actually avoidance, how to identify what really matters, and why containers, constraints, and no-go lists might be the most liberating tools you will ever use.

Along the way, David shares why community has replaced money as his top priority, how pickleball taught him more about mastery than squash ever did, and why speaking up for what you want, even after hearing "no," is the ultimate growth rep.

🎩 Hats Covered

• 🎩 1: The Soul
• 🎩 4: The Entrepreneur
• 🎩 7: The Seeker

💡 Key Takeaways

• 🎩 4: Motion is not momentum. Without a container, you are just kicking the ball around.
• 🎩 1: Saying "no" to the wrong things is saying "yes" to your sanity.
• 🎩 4: Gamify your focus at four levels: year, week, day, 25 minutes.
• 🎩 7: Mastery in sport or business comes from deliberate practice, not random reps.
• 🎩 1: Speaking up, even after a "no," grows you more than the outcome does.
• 🎩 4: If you are still reacting to everything, you are not leading.

👤 Guest Bio

David Wood is a high-performance coach and the founder of Focus.ceo, helping business owners and executives achieve more of what matters in less time. A former consulting actuary to Fortune 100 companies, David blends systems thinking with deep emotional intelligence, guiding clients to clarity, courage, and freedom. He is the author of Mouse in the Room and a former state-level squash player now aiming for the senior pro pickleball circuit.

⏱️ Timestamps

• 00:02 – Why community now outranks money for David
• 00:08 – Pickleball, mastery, and translating sport to business
• 00:15 – The power of focus and the problem with "being busy"
• 00:20 – The four levels of gamification: from annual game to 25 minutes
• 00:28 – Why most "focus" is avoidance in disguise
• 00:33 – The 80/20 problem and deciding what matters
• 00:40 – How to stop reacting and start leading your calendar
• 00:45 – Speaking up after "no" and finding the third option in conflict
• 00:52 – Free tools and sliding-scale coaching for founders

✅ Actionables

• Choose your "game" for the next 12 months and what you will not do.
• Set weekly and daily targets before the week starts.
• Gamify your work into 25-minute sprints with specific outcomes.
• Identify your top marketing method and go all in.
• Speak up for what you want, even when it is edgy.

🔥 Quotes

"Without a game, focus is just wishful thinking."
"Motion without momentum is the fastest way to burn out."
"You cannot do everything. And if you try, you will not do anything well."
"Speaking up is a win, even when the answer is no."
"Gamification turns work into something you can actually win at."

🔗 Links

• Focus.ceo – Free Business Assessment
• Mouse in the Room by David Wood

🎁 Special Offer for The 7 Hats Listeners

David is offering a free 10-minute business assessment to help you pinpoint your biggest opportunities and focus areas. The assessment covers productivity, lead generation, conversion, hiring, and more. It will give you a clear view of your strengths and the areas that are costing you time, money, and energy.

After completing the assessment, you can request a complimentary strategy call with David. On this call, he will walk you through a custom plan based on your results. If you mention The 7 Hats podcast when booking, David will also offer a sliding-scale coaching option for those who are not yet in a position to pay full coaching rates.

To get started, visit focus.ceo/quiz. Complete the assessment, select the option for a strategy call, and mention The 7 Hats in your submission.

If you are ready to stop spinning and start winning at what matters most, this is your chance to work directly with David.

🎩 Subscribe, share, and let’s keep growing together.