Founders
8 Dec 2025
Steven Bartlett is not successful because he is busy. He is successful because he is intentional. He did not just start a podcast; he built The Diary Of A CEO as a system for learning from world class thinkers every week, then sharing those lessons at scale. He did not just back “cool start ups”; through Flight Story and Flight Fund he invests in companies like Huel, ZOE, Whoop and PerfectTed that help people live better, feel better and grow. That is intentional living in public view.
Behind this is a very specific way of using the brain. When you decide what you want and keep bringing your attention back to it, regions in the prefrontal cortex fire up. They help you plan, break big goals into smaller steps, hold them in mind and resist distractions that pull you away. Another area, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, supports commitment, helping you stay locked on to a chosen goal instead of bouncing to the next shiny idea.
Psychology research also shows that people who turn vague wishes into simple “if this happens, then I will do that” plans are far more likely to follow through. These plans train your brain to notice key moments and act faster when they appear. Over time, this kind of intention setting shapes what you see, what you say yes to and what quietly drops away.
Look at Steven’s world through that lens. His podcast conversations feed his learning and network. Flight Story helps brands and founders grow. His stakes in products around health, performance and creativity all sit inside the same story: backing people and tools that stretch human potential. This is not random hustle, it is a repeating pattern of conscious choices.
In simple terms, it is a living “if then” script. If a project helps people grow, think and perform at a higher level, then he leans in. If it does not, he lets it pass. You can apply the same lens to your day without a fund, a studio or a TV crew.
Start with one North Star: write a single clear sentence about what you are building over the next 12 months. Turn it into “if then” plans: “If it is 7.30 a.m., then I write for 20 minutes.” “If I feel the urge to scroll, then I open my notes and capture one idea.” “If a new opportunity appears, then I ask whether it serves my North Star before I say yes.” Guard your inputs: choose podcasts, books, people and platforms that feed the person you are becoming, the way Steven guards his cap table.
You do not need his profile to live with that level of intention. You need one honest intention, a brain that knows where to point itself, and daily “if then” choices that match the life you say you want.
What is the one intention you are ready to turn into a real plan today?
