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Why We Stopped Building Things That Last—and How It’s Costing Us

Why We Stopped Building Things That Last—and How It’s Costing Us

How the shift from purposeful design to disposable distraction has left us empty

Geoffrey Griffin
May 09, 2025

Focused Content

Today in The Focused Fool:

Hey brother,

In today’s Focused Fool, we’re asking a hard question:
Why does some work leave us proud… and other work just leaves us empty?

In Focused Purpose, we dive into what it means to build things that last—and what we’ve lost by chasing fast, cheap, and flashy instead of meaningful, durable, and soul-satisfying. It’s not just about construction. It’s about life.

In Focused Action, we’re continuing our theme of Emotional Control with a practical step: Identify your top 3 emotional triggers and ask—what’s really behind them? (Hint: It’s probably not what you think.)

In Focused Wonder, spark connection by asking your kids (or your partner): How do you like to be celebrated on special occasions? You might be surprised by the answers.

And in Focused Motion, a clip from Chris Williamson reminds us that even “just a little” alcohol might be costing us more than we think—especially our clarity, consistency, and motivation.

Let’s build something better.

Focused Purpose

You ever finish a project and feel… nothing?

No pride. No satisfaction. Just a quiet voice in your head that says, “This wasn’t built to last.”

It’s not because you didn’t work hard.
It’s because deep down, you know the choices were made for speed, not soul. For flash, not function. For now, not forever.

Today’s article is a reflection on what we’ve lost in the rush to build faster, cheaper, newer—and what we might gain if we start building with care again.

👉 Read: Why We Stopped Building Things That Last—And What It’s Costing Us

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Focused Action

Every month, The Focused Fool brings you a series of Focused Actions—practical, bite-sized steps designed to help you grow as a father, husband, and man. Each month follows a specific theme, broken down into 12 structured actions (3 per week) that build on each other over the course of the month.

These actions are designed to be simple, achievable, and impactful, helping you establish new habits, strengthen relationships, and refine your personal leadership. Whether you follow the entire series or just a few steps, each action is a stepping stone toward becoming the man you want to be.

This month’s theme: Emotional Control: Managing anger, frustration, and stress to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting instinctively.

Name the Trigger

Action: Identify your top 3 recurring triggers (e.g., feeling disrespected, ignored, rushed).
Prompt: What’s underneath each? (fear, ego, fatigue?)

Focused Wonder

Focused questions designed to spark meaningful dialogue—whether at the dinner table, during a car ride, or at bedtime. Use these questions to build trust, curiosity, and laughter in your relationships.