Protect Your Heading

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In This Edition of Remarkable Monday

• Stay on Course

• The 1-in-60 Rule

• How to Filter Out the Noise (Without Missing the S …

• Stories You Should Know

Stay on Course

For overachievers with a PhD in overthinking like us, we can’t afford to pay attention to every whim of the news cycle. We get too invested. We analyze, dissect, and chase down rabbit holes that leave us more overwhelmed than informed.

Half the battle isn’t just staying focused—it’s knowing what to focus on.

Some distractions are obvious time-wasters, but the real danger? The things that feel productive but are actually pulling us just one degree off course. And that tiny deviation? Over time, it can completely derail where we’re supposed to go.

Let me explain.

The 1-in-60 Rule

Pilots live by something called the 1-in-60 rule. It states that if a plane’s heading is just one degree off, after flying 60 miles, it will be one mile off course. That might not sound like much, but imagine you’re flying cross-country—or worse, across an ocean.

Just one degree off for long enough, and you won’t land where you intended—you’ll end up where you were expended.

Because here’s the truth: if you don’t set your own direction, something—or someone—else will.

• That podcast you listened to that made you question your entire career overnight?

• That deep dive into a trending topic that ate your afternoon (and added nothing to your life)?

• That email thread you got sucked into that wasn’t even your problem to solve?

It happens to the best of us. But the key to staying on course isn’t about ignoring everything—it’s about installing filters so you don’t lose your heading.

How to Filter Out the Noise (Without Missing the Signal)

We can’t control how much noise is out there, but we can decide what earns our attention. Three rules I live by:

1. Set Your True North.
Be crystal clear on where you’re going. If you don’t define your destination, everything will seem equally important—and that’s a recipe for getting lost.

2. Ruthlessly Filter Information.
Not every headline, email, or “urgent” task deserves your attention. Ask yourself: does this help me move toward my goal, or is it just a distraction disguised as productivity?

3. Course-Correct Often.
Even the best pilots get off course—it’s why they constantly adjust. Every few weeks, step back and ask: Am I still heading where I want to go? Or do I need to recalibrate?

Stories You Should Know

If you want to see what this looks like in action, check out these two stories of people who filtered out the noise, stayed locked in on their goals, and built something great.

📌 How Hilton’s CMO Builds Brand Loyalty in a Distracted World
👉 Read the interview with Mark Weinstein

In a time when customers are bombarded with choices, Hilton stays top of mind by doubling down on what matters. Mark Weinstein shares how they build lasting relationships in an era of endless distractions.

📌 How Adrian Per Built a Creative Empire with $13 to His Name
👉 Read the story of Adrian Per

Adrian Per had almost no money in his bank account and zero safety net. But instead of chasing every opportunity, he focused. That discipline turned him into one of today’s top creative entrepreneurs.

If you are reading this far…

I hope this message finds you well. I’m sharing from my heart in hopes that you will be inspired to unearth and live out your God-given purpose. Hopefully, something I said resonated. I would love to hear from you if so. Please feel free to reach out to me on social media. FYI: I’m mostly active on Instagram these days. If you were forwarded this message, you can subscribe here to receive thoughts like this directly in your inbox. And don’t forget to check out the latest episode of my podcast, ConvoRoom with Mark Allen Patterson.

See you next week,