1.3 Friction Protocol

You’ve got Energy. You’ve got Momentum.
Now we kill the stuff that keeps dragging you back to zero.
Friction = invisible drag. founders who run these systems 3x/week report 50–70% fewer “stuck” moments and way less self-sabotage.
2-Tab Lock in 60 seconds Still not moving at all? Build Momentum First → Momentum Protocol
Section 3/3 Friction Protocol
For right-now problems: procrastination, doom scroll, overwhelm.
  • “Status is scattered across tools.”
  • “Phone nukes my focus every 10 minutes.”
  • “Mornings start with ‘what now?’”
  • "End of day is another never ending to do list re organized...again"
Cinematic close-up of a laptop screen showing exactly two browser tabs open and one main app window. All other apps closed. A man wearing a fitted shirt sits focused in front of the screen. The environment is dark and masculine with subtle blue and red rim lighting. The overall aesthetic is minimal and disciplined, emphasizing a tech vibe. The image should be ultra-sharp, in 8K resolution, with high contrast and zero grain.
1 – 2-TAB / 1-APP LOCK

What it solves: Tool thrash → context switching → decision fatigue.

Time: 60 sec setup | Boost: up to 20–30% more usable focus

How to run it:

  • For deep work: max 2 tabs, 1 primary app
  • Close everything else — email, news, socials
  • If you open a 3rd tab/app, you must close one. No exceptions.

Why it works:
Elite output requires tight focus.
Fewer exits = fewer context switches = more force on the one thing that matters.
(Stack with Domino Technique!)

Metric: Interruptions ≤ 2/hour; two clean blocks/day.

Guardrail: No email/news/socials during the block; calendar-label these as FOCUS.

A realistic high-resolution photo of a modern workspace, featuring a man sitting at a clean desk, deeply focused on work with a laptop. The background shows a dresser across the room with a smartphone placed on it, creating a sense of distance. The room is well-lit with natural light coming in from a window, highlighting the minimalist decor and bold colors. The overall composition should convey a productive atmosphere, emphasizing the man's concentration and the phone's placement.
PHONE IN EXILE

What it solves: Dopamine hijack that kills entry into flow.

Time: 15 sec | Boost: -70% random interruptions

How to run it:

  • Put your phone in another room or behind you, out of reach
  • Turn sound + vibration off
  • Allow max 1 check-in per 60–90 minute work block

Why it works:
Standing up to grab your phone adds friction to the wrong behavior.
High performers make distraction annoying and focus effortless.

Metric: Phone pickups ≤ 2/hour; average block length 25–52 min.

Night-time cinematic shot of a desk prepped for tomorrow. The scene features a laptop open displaying a document titled 'Start Here' or the first line written. A notebook and pen are neatly placed beside it, with a pair of headphones and a bottle of water arranged thoughtfully on the desk. The lighting includes a warm desk lamp enhancing the overall ambiance, mixed with cool blue and red rim lighting. This creates an intentional and organized workspace. The image should be ultra-sharp 8K, with zero grain, f
PRE-LOADED WORKSPACE (NIGHT BEFORE)

What it solves: Ambiguous starts → drift → late decisions

Time: 3 min at night | Boost: lethal mornings

How to run it (night before):

  • At the end of your day, when you’ve got the most information about what actually mattered: Open tomorrow’s main task file At the top, write: “When I sit down tomorrow, I start by doing: ____.”
  • Lay out everything you need: notebook, pen, headphones, water

Why it works:
Evening-you has the clearest data on what truly moves the needle.
Morning-you has the freshest brain for high-level execution. You remove “What should I do?” from the equation and wake up already aimed.


Metric: Start-of-day → meaningful work < 5 min (4/5 days).

Cinematic close-up of a notebook page titled ‘Kill List’ with three handwritten friction points. A man’s hand writing or checking one off. Clean dark workspace with subtle blue/red rim lighting. Masculine, organized, high-performance vibe. Extreme 8K sharpness, zero grain.
3-OBSTACLE KILL LIST

Solves: DANGEROUS Recurring drag that never gets permanently fixed.

Time: 5 min/week | Boost: compounding reduction in drag

How to run it (once a week):

  • Write: “What slowed me down this week?”
  • List 3 recurring friction points, e.g.:
    1. “Laptop always dead”
    2. “Don’t know what to do after lunch”
    3. “Staff Meeting takes too long”
    4. "Everyone does it wrong" ->System problem
  • For each, install one permanent fix:
    1. Second charger at desk
    2. Default: 10-min planning + 30-min easy task post-lunch
    3. Mute non-critical channels during deep work blocks
    4. Better Training guidelines, Better tools, Better culture

Why it works:
You stop firefighting and start upgrading the system.
Every week, you remove another 1% of drag.

Measurable Metric: Cumulative fixes ↑ weekly; visible cycle-time drop in 2–3 weeks

Guardrail: Fix one thing fully; don’t half-fix three.

Cinematic shot of a room divided visually into two areas: a focused workspace with a clean desk on the left and a separate chill zone with a chair or couch on the right. A man sits only in the work zone with disciplined posture, facing a computer screen. Blue and red rim lighting highlights the ‘work’ side, creating a dynamic contrast. The overall atmosphere features dark, masculine tones, evoking a sense of determination and focus. The image is ultra-realistic, rendered in 8K, with no grain.
WORK ZONE VS CHILL ZONE

Solves: Blurry environment → self-negotiation → slow starts.

Time: one-time setup | Boost: easier starts, less mental debate

How to run it:

  • Choose one spot = only work
  • Choose one spot = only chill (even if it’s the same room)
  • Rule: in the work spot, you never open socials/YouTube/entertainment. Ever.

Why it works:
Your brain starts associating that physical spot with “we work here.” Sitting down becomes a trigger for execution, not a negotiation.

Metric: Compliance streak > 7 days.

💥 FRICTION — Bottlenecks Stack

You just surfaced the drag around Friction — but that’s only part of the breakdown.

  • Energy: No clean start, no attention
  • Momentum: Work in motion... stalls mid-flight
If it feels like your team has the intent but never gets the action — this is why

Want to clear the runway for real output?

Ultra-cinematic portrait of a founder/operator sitting at a desk in a dark room lit with subtle blue/red rim lighting. A clean systems dashboard hologram softly illuminates his face, representing Energy, Momentum, and Friction protocols. He looks focused, calm, and powerful, analyzing bottlenecks. No magic, no neon — just tech-inspired light reflections. High-performance photography, 8K realism, crisp edges, zero grain.
Unlock Energy

🧠 “I’m not sitting in Notion all day. My team lives in Slack, calls, and bouncing tasks — how does this even apply?”

Exactly. The drag isn’t your tools — it’s what happens between tasks. (This isn't about organizing more — it's about escaping drag loops for good)

That’s why we built the Weekly Rhythm Sprint to install friction fixes that work in the mess.(Without adding tools or hours)

✅ We tailor install steps by role — from ICs to leads
✅ We run your first week with you — nothing left to guess
✅ Everyone joins two short huddles — blockers cleared, decisions made
✅ You’ll reclaim attention, reduce noise, and ship faster in 7 days

A small startup team gathered around a whiteboard and a laptop displaying a Notion board. The founder is actively drawing or dragging sticky tasks labeled WIP, Blocked, Next, Owner, Deadline while the team engages in discussion, pointing at the board. The scene captures warm, collaborative startup energy, with team members dressed in casual clothing, reflecting a modern minimalist office vibe with standing desks. Soft warm light illuminates the space, accented by subtle blue and red highlights to convey a s
👥 RUN IT WITH YOUR TEAM (7-DAY SPRINT — $1K) (Invite Only)