This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.

This episode is the latest installment in our monthly PM Talks series, where Patrick Rhone and I dive deep into ideas that shape how we manage time, energy, and focus. This month, we explored a topic that sneaks into our workflows and sustains our best efforts when used wisely—momentum.

Momentum isn’t just a starting gun. It’s a rhythm, a flow, a throughline. In this episode, we break down what momentum looks like at different stages of a project or practice, how to recognize its many disguises, and ways to harness it without burning out or blowing past friction points that deserve your attention.

Six Discussion Points:

• Why starting with a satisfying, low-friction task can set the tone for your entire day
• The difference between “Gomentum,” “Slowmentum,” and everyday momentum
• How to align your energy and environment to keep momentum going
• What friction can teach us—and how to treat it as a signal rather than a stop sign
• The dual role of a creator: sustaining promotion while starting the next meaningful thing
• How to tell if a diversion is worth following or just a cleverly disguised distraction

Three Connection Points:

• Patrick Rhone’s Website
• Watch a sneak peek of my conversation on The Science of Revenge with James Kimmel Jr.
• Listen to APC Episode 586: Nir Eyal Talks About Becoming Indistractable and Managing Distractions

We left a lot on the table this time—and that’s intentional. Next month, we’ll be diving into the idea of sustainability, how it differs from consistency, and why it’s essential for any lasting creative or productive work. If you’ve got thoughts, comments, or suggestions for season three, drop them wherever you listen or find me online. Until then, keep the momentum going.

If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.