Surviving the sprint: What to do when things get busy.

You know what's wild? The last-ever Monday in February 2025 has arrived. I don't know about you, but this year is flying by for me.

And for good reason! Already this year, Stephanie and I have left our full-time jobs, gotten Maker Division off the ground, and started making some huge improvements to the curriculum and community.

And somehow, between everything, I've managed to carve out time for kids (my girls are into Minecraft right now and I'm stoked), start a daily walk habit, and kick off a branding project for a killer client.

I'm in full sprint mode… and it feels good.

That being said, I'm no advocate for hustle culture. But having the grit and fortitude to see a sprint through to the end is an admirable quality. One that many of us share: I see you, night owls and early birds.

But sprinting (or being busy in general) has an unfortunate side effect.

When you allocate your time, attention, and energy to one thing, you're taking it away from others. It's the finite nature of the minutes and seconds on the clock. Starve the wrong things for too long, and you could wind up in a tough spot.

Here's the good news: you can choose what to bomb.

It's a concept I love from a book called Finish by Jon Acuff: It's an act of being intentional about what is sacrificed while sprinting.

Onboarding a new client project? Maybe laundry is cleaned, but not folded. Kids kicking off a new soccer season? Maybe it's the wrong time to learn After Effects. Trying to lose some weight? Maybe that season of Severance can wait until next month (just kidding, that's crazy).

During this sprint, I set my woodworking tools down. My file hygiene resorted to a dump folder aptly named “Chaos” on my desktop.  A few blocks fell out of my personal food pyramid. I've got carpet that's dying to be replaced and a text message from an old friend that is rapidly collecting digital dust (sorry, Joe).

But my kids are happy. Division members are thriving. I'm doing the best work of my career right now. I'm rediscovering my creative spark. And I'm putting food on the table. Sometimes the coffee table. But… still counts.

As I near the end of this sprint, I'm tired. But it's a good tired.  It's the feeling you get on the last leg of a race well run, where every step counted but you avoided injury. You're simultaneously ready to rest and excited for the next race.

That's where I'm at now - and it's largely because I was intentional about what I chose to bomb. Had I tried to do it all–or be it all–I would be burnt out, exhausted, or worse.

So if you're in a busy time, or are gearing up for a sprint, give yourself some grace. Allow yourself to intentionally bomb a few things and avoid the guilt lurking around the mental corner.

Do what matters and you'll do enough. And remember, in the end, it doesn't matter how much you get done… you are enough as you are.

OK. I'm going to get back to it. I hope your week greets you with inspiration, balance, and fresh coffee (even you, tea drinkers).

Talk soon!

Ben Burns

Co-Founder, Maker Division

P.S.I intended to write about how and when to ask for a client testimonial… even when you're busy. That's the funny thing about writing: usually what you need to say somehow finds its way out.

Still want that tip? Let's play a game. We're at 2,835 subscribers right now. If we can get to 3,000 before the end of the week, I'll send an extra email this week that lays out that system in granular detail, including an email template you can save and reuse later.

Here's a signup link you can share with anyone who might be interested.

Jon Acuff

On the Bookshelf

I can't get enough of Jon's work. As a perennial starter, I am thrilled to recommend his book Finish for your reading (or listening) pleasure. Acuff's writing is funny, approachable, and wise. Reading this book feels like chatting with a buddy instead of suffering through homework. 10/10

Get Your Copy

Cleon Peterson

Artist We Love

Cleon's bold, high-contrast work is striking, fascinating, and intentionally disturbing. His pieces portray the darkest, most violent parts of humanity, but does so with jarringly simple forms… which somehow makes the conflict seem insignificant. Unfortunately, his home was destroyed in the LA fires, so go show a fellow creative some support.

CHECK OUT his instagram

Parra for Cuva

Now Playing

This one is new to me, but I have it on repeat right now. If somewhat ethereal soft house music mixed with chanting and played live overlooking the gorgeous Cañon del Sumidero in Mexico sounds good… you're gonna love this.

GIVE it A LISTEN

Creative success doesn't have to be a solo act. It can be built on collaboration, momentum, and knowing how to rally the right people.
And no one embodies that better than Branden Lower. A powerhouse in branding and brand strategy, Branden is the kind of guy who doesn’t just get the job done… he brings others along for the ride.

Inside the Division, Branden has been a connector, pulling members into his client projects and proving that great work happens when talented creatives join forces. Whether it’s tackling a high-stakes branding sprint or crafting a strategy that cuts through the noise, Branden knows how to align his team behind a client’s mission—and deliver results that matter.

And let’s be real: he works hard. Branden isn’t here to coast. He’s pushing himself, his craft, and his collaborators forward, one project at a time. If you’ve had the chance to work alongside him, you already know: he’s the kind of leader who makes everyone better. Members like Branden make the Division what it is. Here’s to more collaborations, more momentum, and more big wins ahead.

Branden Lower

Accelerator Win

In collaboration with a member, I’ve closed $44k worth of deals. The accelerator program is filled with countless individuals that are always encouraging and lifting each other up. Sometimes they become wind in your sails, offering advice… and sometimes, they can become the sails themselves, joining alongside as a collaborator in the work itself.

And the beautiful thing about this group is that it’s an enormous talent pool of creatives that are like-minded, skilled, and diverse, offering just about every creative service imaginable.