“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…”
— Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV)
It’s a verse I find myself returning to again and again — especially on days when my to-do list is long, my energy is low, and distractions seem endless.
There’s no small print here. No conditions. No “when you feel inspired” or “when everything is perfectly aligned.” Just this: whatever is in front of you — give it your full might.
And yet, in today’s world, that’s harder than ever, isn’t it?
Emails ping. Notifications buzz. Messages pour in. Even in moments meant for focused work, our attention is pulled in a hundred directions.
Maybe you’ve felt it too: the frustration of an entire afternoon spent “working” — but somehow with nothing of real value to show for it.
In one of our shareable quotes at The Plenipotent Company, I put it this way:
“You don’t need more time. You need more intensity. A well-deployed hour of deep work is worth a full week of scattered efforts.”
How true that is. And how freeing!
The goal isn’t to cram more into your schedule. It’s to approach the work that matters most — with the kind of focus, depth, and strategy that actually moves things forward.
It reminds me of something a friend once shared about his experience at a family vacation — a simple story that’s stayed with me ever since.
They were at the beach, and there were two boys digging holes in the sand. One had a tiny plastic shovel. The other? His hands.
The first boy — methodical and focused — pressed his little shovel deep into the sand, carving smooth, strong sides. His hole grew steadily — deeper, clearer with each scoop.
The second boy was all enthusiasm but no plan. He kept scooping with his hands, darting between spots, starting new holes every few minutes — but never going deep.
By the end of the afternoon, boy number one had a deep, impressive pit that drew admiring glances from passersby. The second boy had… well, a bunch of shallow ditches.
Digging deep in one place builds something that lasts. Scattered effort only leaves shallow ditches. Share on XIsn’t that how many of us work?
We’re busy — sometimes frantically so. But if our efforts are scattered, shallow, and reactive, we never go deep enough to create something that lasts.
Jesus modeled something very different.
Consider this: despite having only three short years of public ministry, Jesus changed the course of history.
How?
Not by frenzied activity — but by intentionality.
He often withdrew to quiet places to pray. He gave undivided attention to people — even in crowds. And when He spoke or acted, there was a depth and power that came from time spent in focused communion with His Father.
In today’s language, we might call that “deep work.”
Scripture tells us:
“Be still, and know that I am God…”
— Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
Stillness isn’t wasted time. It’s what anchors us — so that when we do act, we act with clarity, purpose, and power.
The same applies to your career, your calling, your creative work.
You don’t need more tasks. You need more intentional focus on the things that really matter.
Multitasking might feel productive, but it’s an illusion. Real momentum comes from singular, sustained focus. Share on XAt the end of the day, how far you go isn’t determined by how many opportunities you’re given — but by how you show up to the ones you already have.
And that’s where mastering deep work and strategic effort becomes life-changing.
So what does that look like practically?
Here are a few key principles we’ve embraced — ones you can begin applying right away:
1. Identify what matters most.
Not all work is equal. Some tasks move the needle. Others don’t.
Each week, ask yourself:
- What are the 1-3 things that, if done well, will make the biggest difference?
- What can I let go of, defer, or delegate to make room for those?
When you align your effort with impact, everything changes.
2. Protect your deep work time.
You can’t do deep work in five-minute bursts between emails. You need blocks of focused, uninterrupted time.
That might mean:
- Turning off notifications
- Closing your email tab
- Letting others know you’re unavailable for an hour or two
It may feel uncomfortable at first — but over time, it becomes a powerful habit.
3. Approach each task with “all your might.”
Remember Ecclesiastes 9:10?
When you do sit down to work — whether it’s writing, designing, solving problems, serving clients — give it your full focus and care.
Half-hearted effort produces half-hearted results.
But deep, wholehearted work? That builds excellence and trust.
4. Work from a place of rest, not frenzy.
This is key — and often counter-cultural.
Deep work doesn’t mean frantic hustle. It means focused, peaceful effort rooted in rest.
Jesus worked hard — but never in a way that felt hurried or scattered. He modeled margin, Sabbath, and rhythm.
The same is true for us.
When we build margin into our lives, we work better. And when we take time to be still, our work flows from a deeper place.
5. Evaluate and refine your effort.
At the end of each week, reflect:
- What work made the biggest difference?
- What felt shallow or reactive?
- How can I improve my focus next week?
This simple habit of reflection can dramatically sharpen how you spend your time.
Of course, none of this means you’ll always get it right.
I certainly don’t! There are weeks when my good intentions unravel — when urgent emails pull me off course, or when I say yes to too many small tasks and lose sight of the bigger picture.
And you know what? That’s okay.
Grace meets us here too. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. It’s learning, little by little, to live and work in a way that honors both God and the people we serve.
Excellence isn’t about perfection — it’s about focused, faithful effort over time. Share on XPaul reminds us:
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…”
— Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)
Not frantically seizing every opportunity — but making the most of the ones we have, through wisdom and focus.
That’s the heart of strategic effort.
Let me ask you:
- What’s one area of your work where you could go deeper instead of broader?
- What “busy work” could you release to make space for what matters?
- When this week will you set aside time for focused, distraction-free effort?
Remember: you don’t need more time. You need more intensity — and more clarity about where to direct it.
If you’re looking for a simple starting point, here’s a quick checklist:
1. Clarify your “big three.”
Each week, define 1-3 priorities that will move your work forward.
When you name your priorities and protect your focus, your time starts working for you — not against you. Share on X2. Block deep work time.
Set aside at least 2-3 blocks of uninterrupted time per week.
3. Turn off distractions.
Silence notifications. Close extra tabs. Be fully present.
4. Work from rest.
Honor Sabbath. Build margin. Let stillness fuel your effort.
5. Reflect and refine.
At the end of each week, review what worked — and adjust as needed.
Friend, if you’ve been feeling scattered, stuck, or simply overwhelmed — know this: you are not alone.
Modern life pulls at our attention in ways few generations have faced.
But here’s hope: you are not powerless.
Through small, faithful choices, you can begin reclaiming depth in your work. You can move from scattered effort to strategic impact.
And when you do — not only will your work become more meaningful, but your soul will also flourish.
Because you were not created for endless busyness.
You were created to bring excellence, beauty, and value — through work done with “all your might.”
So let’s begin — not with guilt, but with grace. Not with pressure, but with purpose.
One focused hour at a time. One small win at a time.
And over time, the results — in your career, your calling, your life — will speak for themselves.