Welcome to Fuel & Focus

Hey there,

I'm Brian — a brand marketer who's spent 17 years writing online and the last decade building across industries that most people think have nothing in common: healthcare, college athletics, home services.

What I learned? The frameworks that actually work aren't industry-specific. They're builder-specific.

Whether you're building a brand in your 9-5, launching something meaningful on the side, or just trying to show up fully for what matters — the core challenge is the same: How do you maintain velocity when complexity increases?

This newsletter is for ambitious people who refuse to choose between shipping consistently and staying energized while doing it.

Let's get started.

Building isn't about having perfect conditions

I've had a tumultuous year. Unexpected job shifts. Health concerns. Issues out of my control.

But through it, I've been able to work fractional roles while building something of my own, regain my physical and mental health, and protect what matters most.

Here's what I learned: The people who thrive during transitions aren't the ones with perfect plans. They're the ones who can build momentum from uncertainty.

I've seen this across every industry I've worked in. The leaders who stay energetic aren't the ones who avoid obstacles — they're the ones who get good at building while the ground is shifting.

The takeaway: Your next breakthrough is hiding in your current complexity. Start building from where you are, not where you think you should be.

I was always a person with a clear path, a clear roadmap. The last few years threw curveballs. I came out stronger and more focused on what actually matters.

The Velocity Maintenance System

Whether I'm working with a healthcare team or helping a consultant scale their brand, I use the same three questions when things feel overwhelming:

1. What's the one thing that creates momentum?
(Not what's urgent — what moves everything forward)

2. How can I simplify this by 50%?
(Strip away everything that's "nice to have")

3. What would "showing up fully" look like here?
(Present energy beats perfect strategy)

I've used this across startups, billion-dollar organizations, and home service companies. It works because it focuses on sustainable progress, not just productivity.

Your turn: Pick one area — your brand, your project, your life — that feels stuck.

Run it through those three questions. What shifts?

What I'm working on: AI for context switching

I'm experimenting with AI to speed up the mental transition when jumping between projects, clients, or work and family time.

Current test: Using Claude to create "context bridges" — quick summaries that help my brain switch gears instead of carrying stress from one thing to the next.

Early insight: The goal isn't to eliminate complexity. It's to navigate it with more presence.

More on this as I learn.

Read: "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz
Best book on building when you don't know what you're doing

Try: The "2-Minute Presence Reset"
Before switching tasks, take 2 minutes to consciously close the previous thing and set intention for the next

Listen: "Acquired" podcast
Deep dives on company building and strategy. I can’t believe I am yearning ofr more after 4-5 hour podcast episodes!

Quote: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards." — Steve Jobs

Next week: Another framework. 😉

Until then, work hard on what matters. Ship smart. Stay human.

And hit reply — let me know what you're building right now.

Brian

P.S. — If this resonated, forward it to another ambitious builder. They'll thank you for it