Let’s be honest. It’s been a particularly slow time for everyone. Deals have been slow across the market this year, leading to lower deal flow. Countless hours are spent absorbing information to try to get a better idea of what’s going on. We’re trying to consume and learn as much information as we can in order for us to prepare for our NEXT BIG MOVE, whether that’s our next investment, next business decision, or even if we should adopt that pet our kids have been asking for. We’re all waiting to strike when the time is right. 

As investors, we like to do our due diligence. We want to get as much information as possible before making a decision, but there is a time between doing the due diligence we often take for granted. These are moments when we take a break. Take a breather. We’re supposed to take breaks from work to be productive, but the value of these breaks is not so much the break itself but “HOW” we are taking them. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t scroll through my social media feed and enjoy the occasional funny dog video. While I get a quick chuckle, the reality is that mindlessly scrolling isn’t helpful. It’s only distracting us briefly so we can get a quick dopamine hit before diving back into work. 

A much more effective way to take these breaks is simpler than we think. It’s much more effective to be BORED. 

Boredom typically has a negative connotation of being associated with laziness or unproductivity, but in reality, it is the foundational aspect of creativity and growth. 

Redefining Boredom in an Overstimulated Society:

When we’re bored, our minds are free from the constraints of focused tasks, allowing for new ideas and making connections. This activates our brain’s default mode network (associated with daydreaming, imagination, and consolidating memories), often leading to the discovery of new perspectives and solutions. 

Constant engagement without breaks leads to a decrease in attention span and productivity. This continuous stimulation, along with frequent task-switching, fragments our attention and hinders deep focus.

When we’re not constantly bombarded with stimuli, we have the chance to process thoughts and emotions in a more reflective manner, giving us the opportunity for introspection.

We Started Selling More Car Wash Memberships Out of Boredom

Our go-to pitch, now responsible for our 95% YTD growth in car wash memberships, came from a moment of boredom. Our managing partner, Dan Handford, likes to take daily moments of solace with no distractions to reflect. This is his intentional time to think. This particular example was because we weren’t selling as many memberships as we’d hoped when we first acquired our car washes, and we couldn’t figure out why. 

Our memberships were priced correctly in the market. We were in stellar locations. We had the best equipment and materials to provide high-quality washes, but we couldn’t understand why more people weren’t buying memberships.

While he was reflecting, it clicked. He thought about his own reasoning on why he goes to car washes. He then thought about why other people go to car washes. Dan realized that it’s not just because people want to wash their cars. People go to car washes because of the feeling they get after they exit the wash. People feel good! And people want to feel good!

This epiphany from a moment of boredom created our five-phase pitch process to get people feeling good and excited to buy one of our memberships. This moment was a huge catalyst for our membership growth across our entire portfolio.

Embrace Boredom

To make connections and find solutions like our car wash pitch, we need to disengage from work or distractions. 

While all this sounds simple, boredom in this day and age is not a natural state to be in. We need to treat boredom the same way we treat our muscles in the gym. We need to give ourselves more boredom reps and make space for daydreaming in our lives. 

Here are a few ways to practice boredom. 

1. No more listening to audiobooks and podcasts while driving or walking—let your mind wander. 

2. Reflect when you come up with your best ideas, and keep that time sacred.

3. Increase your capacity to be bored by controlling your environment and silence distractions. 

Three Ways to Make Our Smartphones Dumber

Smartphones are great. They allow us to connect with people in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. However, our smartphones are also a key distraction that does not allow us to truly be bored. Here are some tips to help reduce that distraction. 

1. Turn your phone to grayscale mode. While our phones are beautiful pieces of technology, the apps and colors were purposefully created to grab our attention and use our phones more. Turning your phone to grayscale mode instantly makes it uglier to look at. This simple change makes the screen less enticing, reducing the urge to check apps or browse through content constantly. This will minimize digital distractions.

2. Turn off all notifications. While this might be a simple task, my mind ends up finding ways to defend my phone. I think, “What if I miss this family member’s birthday?” or “How will I know if people like my new Facebook post?” When notifications are on, they’re impossible to ignore. All they’re doing is distracting you and causing you to lose focus on what you were originally doing. This change shifts your interaction from reactive to intentional, creating a more serene and controlled digital experience. You choose when to engage with your phone, leading to a more mindful and satisfying use. 

3. Delete your social media apps and only use them via a web browser. I’m not saying that all social media is bad. Social media is a powerful way to connect with others, but too much social media can be detrimental and distract us from our goals. By deleting the apps and going to Instagram.com or Facebook.com, you’re making it more inconvenient to use. It’s not as easy to use as the app, which makes your time more intentional. This encourages a more conscious and controlled use of social media.

Conclusion

The journey towards embracing boredom and reaping its benefits is not just about doing less; it’s about creating a space for our minds to breathe, think, and innovate. It’s about understanding that the potential for creativity and growth lies in the stillness of boredom. As we navigate our digitally saturated lives, let us remember that boredom is a superpower. It can transform our work, creativity, and well-being and potentially influence our next big move.