Hello Reader,

Tomorrow is May the 4th. A day when memes and marketing collide to turn Jedi wisdom into digestible pop culture bites.

But some of that wisdom is worth lingering on.

Like this:

Qui-Gon didn’t chase the seat at the table. He didn’t care about the Jedi Council’s absolutes. He cared about what the Force was saying — not what the system insisted.

He listened. He waited. He trusted the beat between thoughts, the space between actions. That’s what made him dangerous — even to Darth Sidious, who feared his ability to shape the future through presence and patience.

In The Productivity Diet, I talk about reverence for Qui-Gon. How he didn’t just act with intention — he aligned with something larger. He wasn't always right. But he was grounded.

That’s something I’m continuing to work on. I’ve learned that the impulse to go — to do — to decide — is often louder than the quiet truth just underneath.

And yet, it’s in that pause — that beat — where real clarity begins.

Look

You’ve already seen the line about focus earlier in this email — but hearing it spoken by Qui-Gon himself? That hits differently.

This 35-second clip pulls together a few of his most grounded teachings. No fanfare. No theatrics. Just calm, clear conviction. It’s a reminder that wisdom doesn’t always shout. Watch it here.​

Listen

Qui-Gon didn’t rush. He trusted the moment. And when he acted, it was with clarity and calm. That’s something worth sitting with… literally. This playlist channels that steady energy in musical form.
​Listen here.​

Learn

One of the most overlooked tools in our productiveness kit is the beat—the intentional pause before jumping into action. Before you move into action, take a breath. This short reflection I wrote a few years ago unpacks the value of creating a beat between intention and action. Read it here.​

The Final Flicker

A Jedi doesn't rush into battle. They pause. Listen. Feel.

The same goes for you. That pause — that moment before reacting, responding, or reaching — is where everything starts to align.

And while it may not feel productive in the usual sense, it’s in that space where productiveness truly begins.

See you later,
Mike

P.S. The READY Retreat Series is built on this very idea. Slowing down. Taking a beat. Listening before leaping. If you’re ready to explore what it means to work with your time — instead of racing against it — then you’re ready for the retreat. It starts soon and the $50 off discount ends May 4th. Click here to sign up and claim your discount.​

Thanks for reading. Your time is valuable, and I don’t take it for granted. In a world pulling us in all directions, thanks for choosing The Lantern.

Productivityist Productivity Services Inc. | 1411 Haultain Street, Victoria, BC V8R 2J6
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