The Thesis
We understand compound interest when it comes to money. A 7% annual return doubles your investment in 10 years.
But we fail to apply the same logic to attention.
Your ability to focus deeply is a form of cognitive capital. And like financial capital, it compounds.
The Math
Consider two knowledge workers:
Worker A: Fragments attention across Slack, email, and open tabs. Achieves 2 hours of actual deep work per day.
Worker B: Protects attention ruthlessly. Achieves 4 hours of deep work per day.
Over a 5-year period:
- Worker A: 2,500 hours of deep work
- Worker B: 5,000 hours of deep work
But it’s worse than that. Deep work compounds—each hour of focused learning builds on the last. Worker B isn’t just 2x ahead. They’re exponentially ahead.
The Investment Strategy
Asset Allocation
Treat your daily attention like a portfolio:
| Time Block | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Deep Work | 4 hours (40%) |
| Shallow Work | 3 hours (30%) |
| Recovery | 2 hours (20%) |
| Buffer | 1 hour (10%) |
Risk Management
Identify your “attention shorts”—activities that drain focus without producing value:
- Infinite scroll social media
- Reactive email checking
- Open-office interruptions
- Context switching
Dividend Reinvestment
Every skill you develop through deep work increases your earning capacity. Reinvest that increased capacity back into more deep work.
Classification Note
This transmission is marked EYES ONLY due to its competitive implications. Do not share externally.