Minute With Mallon: The Brain Trick That Keeps You Focused!
Welcome to Minute with Mallon!
Something I Taught:
New Year's is on the way! So make sure you apply this in order to start 2026 with success! 🎆
I was working with a younger client today and we were setting up some goals for him to accomplish so that he goes into the new year in the very best possible way.
We spent about an hour together. He was very motivated about the direction that he is now going.
But in the last minute or so I warned him about something that could possibly happen that would get him off track.
There's a thing called the Reticular Activating System.
Your Reticular Activating System — or RAS — is the part of your brain that decides what gets your attention. It filters the noise and focuses on what matters most. And the way it learns what matters is simple: whatever you think about, talk about, and look at the most.
That’s why reading your goals out loud each morning is so powerful. You’re training your RAS to pay attention to opportunities, ideas, and people that will help you achieve them. You stay focused. You drift less. You see things you once missed.
If you don’t give your RAS direction every day, it will default to reacting to whatever chaos shows up. But when you guide it on purpose, you move through your day with intention instead of distraction. It’s one of the simplest ways to stay on track — and one of the most effective.
🔥 So this week, as we get ready to go into the new year, choose one goal you really want to accomplish — just one — and read it out loud every single morning. Train your RAS to focus on what matters most, and watch how quickly your mind starts finding the path forward.
And then, just for kicks and accountability - send it to me: Robert@RobertMallon.com
I would absolutely LOVE to see what you come up with!!!
Easy. Simple. Life-changing.
Something to Ponder:
“Unspoken expectations are just preloaded disappointments.”
Something I Learned:
In the book Essentialism by Greg McKeown, he talks about the fact that if we don't prioritize our own life, someone else will.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned — and I teach it to clients constantly — is that life and other people are always ready to hand you their agenda if you don’t create your own. If you don’t set your priorities, someone else’s priorities will flow into the empty space. That’s how good, capable people wake up feeling overwhelmed, resentful, and exhausted. Not because they’re undisciplined… but because they never decided what really mattered on a daily, weekly, and lifetime.
Some facts:
You can’t live a meaningful life if you’re constantly reacting.
Every “yes” has an invisible “no” attached. (think that through!)
Clarity is power. When you define what matters most, decisions get easier and stress goes down.
Call to Action:
This week, write down the three things that matter most in your life and your work — and protect them fiercely. If a request doesn’t align with them, practice saying “not right now.” Or as I've taught in previous newsletters, "I'm not saying no to you, I'm saying yes to me."
P.S. I’m known for helping business leaders cut through the chaos and take back control of their time, their teams, and their lives. Clarifying what truly matters — like we talked about above — is a big part of that work. If you need help, I’m here for you.
Something I Saw:
Eight Sushi Lounge in Downtown Atlanta
Thank you for being here and letting me speak into your life each week. As Christmas approaches, my prayer is that your home is filled with peace, your heart with gratitude, and your days with the hope this season brings. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Hope you have an incredible week!
Robert
