📖 Read Time: 4 minutes
📩 What you’ll get out of this newsletter: a director's mindset, the power of micro-goals, and a reality check for your attention.
When life is chaotic, the first thing to go is your focus.
You’ve got emails piling up, seemingly unlimited errands to run, surprise meetings popping up, and maybe even a dog puking on the rug. Deep work? Feels like a myth some Linkedin thought leader invented.
And yet, I’ve got friends who somehow thrive in the middle of it all. No drama, no burnout, no complaining... just pure flow.
Today we’re talking to one of them: Cole Walliser.
Maybe you’ve seen him at the Grammys, the Oscars, or just showing up on your feed with his luscious locks. He’s the guy behind the GlamBot, that super slick slow-motion camera that captures A-listers in all their red carpet glory. And with over 22.5 million followers, Cole’s built a presence that’s as magnetic as it is intentional.
Because that’s the thing... Cole didn’t just ride a wave. He designed it. Carving his own niche in the process and becoming "THE red carpet guy".
Behind the glitz and glamour he works with clarity, focus, and a kind of creative discipline that would put most film directors and CEO's to shame... which is exactly the reason he's here so let's get into it...
(watch Cole do his thing on the red carpet with a little up and coming artist named Taylor Swift)
Genius Hotline: Cole Walliser and how a genius stays focused.
Hi Everyone! Cole here, thank you for spending a few minutes of your day, learning about my day. Life on set as a director sometimes goes your way, sometimes ends up a disaster, but it’s your job to keep everything on the rails and moving forward. I hope your day today finds a little bit of movie magic!
❤ Cole (@colewalliser)
1. Treat your time like a director treats a shoot.
I don’t show up to set hoping for the best. I plan every shot, schedule every scene, and expect interruptions... then make space for magic within that frame.
Your day should be no different. Know your key scenes. Build the schedule. Expect disruptions. Keep rolling.
2. Get clear on your “one thing” each day.
Life throws a lot at you. My trick? I anchor each day to one outcome. A single task that, if done, makes everything else feel lighter.
Ask yourself every morning: What’s the one thing I need to nail today?
3. Use micro-goals to shrink the overwhelm.
Overwhelm is often a scope problem. “Finish the project” feels impossible. But “write the first 3 bullet points” feels doable.
Micro-goals keep your brain on task and prevent that “I’ll just scroll for a sec” spiral.
4. Don’t wait for calm to find focus.
This is the myth. The calendar won’t clear up. Life won’t pause. Focus isn’t found in stillness, it’s forged in motion.
Get good at starting messy. That’s where the edge is.
🧠 Your Genius Takeaways
Direct your week like a film set: Lock in your "must-shoot" scenes first.
Start with clarity, not calm: Ask “What’s my scene today?” — then own it.
Focus is a muscle: Build it with sprints (25 mins on, 5 mins off — dance break optional but recommended).
Let chaos cameo: Don’t fight distractions — write them into the script.
Tiny wins, big day: Small goals are how you move the plot forward.
Some final thoughts...
Focus doesn’t come from calm. It comes from clarity.
Cole doesn’t wait for life to slow down before he creates. He treats his time like a film set: planned, flexible, and always moving forward. He doesn’t resist the chaos. He works with it.
If you’re waiting for the perfect week, the quiet calendar, the “right time” to start your thing... you’ll be waiting a long time.
The people doing the most? They’ve just learned to roll camera anyway.
Get clear. Start messy. Keep going.
— Alex (@heyalexfriedman)
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