An 8-Week Intervention for the Chronically Overwhelmed
RUTHLESS clarity: Declutter your life
an 8-week email course designed to help you achieve crystal-clear certainty about your goals, desires, and energy allocation faster than you can say "I'll start tomorrow.”
It's a complete recalibration of how you make decisions, set boundaries, and channel your creative energy.
The great burnout catastrophe of your current life
Remember when you first started your creative career? That sparkly, magical feeling where ideas flew at you like you were some kind of inspiration magnet? When you'd wake up at 3 AM and think, "YES! I MUST WRITE THIS DOWN IMMEDIATELY!" instead of "WHY AM I AWAKE CALCULATING HOW MUCH MONEY I NEED TO WIPE MYSELF OFF THE INTERNET AND DISAPPEAR FOREVER?"
Yeah, about that.
Now your relationship with your work resembles that phase of a rom-com where the main characters can't stand each other, except there's no charming reconciliation montage on the horizon. Just you, staring into the void, wondering when exactly your passion project(s) transformed into a soul-sucking obligation that makes filling out tax forms seem thrilling by comparison.
Your inner monologue has become an endless loop of "everything is fine" while your browser history tells a different story: "how to know if you're having a midlife crisis but you’re 30," "is burnout real or am I just lazy," and "can you sell a business you secretly hate for actual money."
You're technically successful! People might even envy you! But inside? You're running on fumes so toxic they should come with a warning label from the EPA (RIP, EPA, we hardly knew ye).
Your creative well is bone dry.
The worst part? You can't even complain because on paper, everything looks… OK. Enough-ish money (though you could stand to make more), enough-ish followers, enough-ish freedom because at least you don’t have to go sit at a desk in a freezing office building for 60 hours a week. So instead, you fantasize about catching just enough of a non-fatal illness to go “offline” for long enough of a genuine break but not long enough to seriously worry anyone.
(We've all been there. The bar is literally underground at this point.)
This isn't garden-variety exhaustion, my crispy friend. It's a clarity crisis of epic proportions — the kind that happens when you've lost sight of what matters because you're drowning in what doesn't.
And no amount of lavender essential oil or "self-care Sunday" bubble baths or honestly, sabbatical time, will fix this particular flavor of existential dread.
It's 11:43 PM on a Tuesday. But here you are again — staring at your screen, seventeen browser tabs open (one of which is definitely that article on "How to Focus" that you haven't actually read), Notion pages multiplying like digital rabbits, three different planners abandoned on your desk, and that expensive journal you bought last month still pristine because you're "waiting for the right moment" to start.
The right moment, apparently, involves perfect lighting, the exact right pen, and possibly a personality transplant.
Your body aches from hunching over your laptop for hours. Your eyes burn. Your brain feels like someone replaced it with television static. You've been "working" all day, but if someone asked what you actually accomplished, you'd stare at them with the confusion of a golden retriever trying to understand quantum physics.
Tomorrow, you'll wake up and do it all again. You'll avoid client calls because you've fallen behind. You'll procrastinate on your most important work because you can't decide where to start. You'll say yes to things you don't want to do because setting boundaries feels impossible when you're not even clear on what matters.
The worst part? Deep down, you know you're capable of so much more. You can feel it. That potential humming beneath your skin, desperate to be channeled into something meaningful. But without clarity, it remains just that—potential. Unrealized. Wasted. Like buying fancy workout clothes and never actually going to the gym, except the gym is your career and the fancy clothes are your dreams.
How many more days, weeks, months will pass this way before something changes? How many more planners will you buy? How many more productivity apps will you download?
How many more vision boards will you create before accepting that the problem isn't your tools — it's your clarity?
As a creative soul with multiple passions and talents, you deserve the freedom to pursue what lights you up without drowning in overwhelm. Imagine starting your day with crystal-clear certainty about what matters most.
Your workspace — physical, mental, and digital — feels spacious, organized according to your unique thought patterns, not some productivity guru's one-size-fits-none system.
Every decision feels obvious instead of agonizing. In fact, you barely have to think about what comes next because you’re so clear.
When opportunities arise, you instantly know whether they're aligned or distractions
(and you know how to spin something that could be a distraction into a worthwhile opportunity)
You effortlessly prioritize tasks that align with your true goals. You say no without guilt or hesitation and yes with conviction.
Your creative energy flows because it's channeled deliberately instead of scattered in a thousand directions like a toddler with a handful of glitter.
Your income grows because you're focusing on high-impact work instead of busy-work.
You spend time doing things you genuinely enjoy — yes, your work, but also hobbies! Friend time! Research as leisure!
This is what life feels like when you’re operating with Ruthless Clarity.
And it's available to you without having to move to a monastery, delete all your social media accounts, or finally become a morning person (because let's be real, that's never happening).
Before we go any further, let's shatter some myths that have kept you stuck in this clarity crisis, shall we?
"I need to find my niche/pick one thing to succeed."
You've been told repeatedly to "just pick one thing" more times than you've heard "drink more water" from wellness influencers. But when you do that, it feels like cutting off your limbs. Being multi-passionate isn't a curse — it's a superpower when channeled properly.
You don't need to abandon your diverse interests; you need a simple framework for harmonizing them into a coherent whole. You're not indecisive; you're Renaissance-brained in a specialist world… which is exactly why people want to pay you.
"I just need to find the right planner/app/tool and then I'll finally get organized."
External tools can't solve an internal clarity problem. Most productivity systems were designed by linear thinkers for linear thinkers — not for creative, multi-passionate individuals whose brains resemble a bowl of very intelligent and gorgeous spaghetti.
AND… a tool like Notion (love her) or a planner isn’t a system. It’s a container. While developing personal systems can really help you find more cognitive and intuitive space, most of the apps we use are kind of useless without systems that we create for ourselves to use them.
"If I was truly passionate about my work, I wouldn't struggle with focus and motivation."
Ah yes, the ol’ “if it’s feeling hard, I must be doing something wrong.” The truth? Passion and clarity are completely different things. Even when you're doing exactly what you're meant to do, you'll struggle without a clarity compass to guide your decisions.
Your passion isn't the problem — it's that you're trying to pursue too many varying passions simultaneously without a framework for prioritization. It's like trying to watch seven shows on seven different streaming services all at once and then wondering why you can't follow any of the plots and now have a migraine.
"I’m feeling blocked because I haven’t done enough shadow work / self-development work / asked my Tarot cards the right questions / meditated well enough.”
You’re never blocked. But when you’re in the depths of overwhelm, it can feel like you’re a hollowed out husk floating in a void of nothingness. Your input sensors are fried from overuse. It’s kind of like when you burn your tongue and frizzle your tastebuds off. You don’t, like, eat harder when that happens. You patiently wait for your tastebuds to recover… and lo, in a few days you can taste every note in your favorite glass of red.
The key to navigating the burnout void is to not push yourself to “heal faster” out of it, but to remove the overwhelming inputs so your creativity and intuition can replenish themselves naturally.
INTRODUCING
RUTHLESS CLARITY:
an 8-week Energetic revolution
RUTHLESS CLARITY is an 8-week email course designed to help you achieve crystal-clear certainty about your goals, desires, and energy allocation faster than you can say "I'll start tomorrow.”
It's a complete recalibration of how you make decisions, set boundaries, and channel your creative energy.
Delivered in weekly emails directly to your inbox (because we both know if we gave you everything at once, you'd immediately get overwhelmed, skim-read it all at 2 AM, and never implement a thing), RUTHLESS guides you from burnout and overwhelm to a place of unshakable knowing about what matters most to you. By the end, decisions that once paralyzed you will feel effortless and obvious.
Think Kim Cattrall energy: "I don't want to be in a situation for even an hour where I'm not enjoying myself. I want to choose who I spend time with personally and professionally. It's my life."
That's the RUTHLESS difference. It's not about being a jerk; it's about being crystal clear about what matters and what doesn't.
week 1
The Clarity Crisis & External Energetic Creep
Diagnose how external influences have hijacked your internal compass (like a GPS recalculating in circles because someone else programmed your destination)
Trace "shoulds" back to their origins and evict them from your mental real estate
Begin the 11-Minute Morning Practice that reconnects you with your intuition without requiring you to become a morning person
Start tracking overwhelm patterns to identify where your energy is leaking faster than my enthusiasm for video calls after 3 PM
week 2
Burnout Intervention – Clearing the Fog
Implement the Digital Detox and Low-Information Diet that creates immediate mental space without requiring you to move to a cabin in the woods
Address physical recovery essentials that support clarity (turns out your brain doesn't work well when you're surviving on cold brew, adderall, and anxiety)
Navigate the Overwhelm Void without falling into despair or impulse-purchasing another planner
Establish sustainable practices that prevent future burnout because we're going for lasting change, not a temporary clarity vacation ✌️
week 3
Desire Hoarding Intervention
Differentiate between authentic desires and collected possibilities (just because you saved that pottery class to your bookmarks doesn't mean you actually want to become Rachel Saunders, as cool as she is)
Identify intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivations to recognize what truly drives you versus what you think should drive you
Run "Doorknob Test" experiments on desires to see which ones are real and which are just shiny distractions
Release desires not aligned with core values without guilt or FOMO (your mental space is prime real estate—stop letting random desires crash on your couch rent-free)
week 4
Ruthless Elimination
Apply the Ruthless DDD Task Framework to liberate hours of your time each week (like finding money in old coat pockets, but it's your time, and it's awesome)
Conduct a Calendar Audit that reveals where your time is best spent but where you’re actually spending your time now
The life-saving trick to getting into “deep work” mode without having to block off 4-hour chunks on your calendar to protect your creative energy from the constant interruptions that make you want to throw your phone into the sea
Using the Mr. Rodgers Cardigan Method to create true mental boundaries between work and life
week 5
What Actually Matters – Building Your Clarity Compass
Conduct Values Archaeology to uncover what truly matters beneath the noise and cultural programming
The simple cheatsheet to help guide instant decision-making without the existential crisis
Implement the Strategic Move-In-Silence Protocol to reduce validation-seeking behavior (no more posting about your plans before you've even started)
Track energy patterns that reveal your unique creative rhythms (because despite what hustle culture says, you're not a robot with consistent daily output!)
week 6
From Clarity to Action
Identify the First Domino actions with highest impact in your work (hint: it's rarely the one you're procrastinating on)
Build momentum through small wins that compound over time like compound interest
Create Commitment Contracts that ensure follow-through without requiring superhuman willpower (or honestly, much willpower at all)
week 7
The Magnetic Effect
Use the Jealousy Map to identify true desires hidden in envy (that person you're Instagram-stalking is actually giving you valuable information)
Embrace "unbranding" for magnetic authenticity in your work instead of trying to fit your multi-passionate self into a neat little box
Develop your Opportunity Filter to evaluate incoming requests without defaulting to people-pleasing or FOMO-based decisions
week 8
Ruthless Clarity for Life
Establish personal Clarity Check-In rituals that maintain your focus without becoming another abandoned practice
Create Energy Protection Protocols for inevitable overwhelm moments because life happens, and sometimes it happens aggressively
Design environments that reinforce clarity without constant willpower (your space should work for you, not against you)
Set long-term vision with your clarity compass as guide, ensuring you're building a future you actually want, not one you think you should want
Each week includes
Strategic Frameworks that make decision-making obvious instead of overwhelming, like having a cheat code for adulting
Custom GPTs designed specifically for your clarity journey (think of them as your personal clarity assistants without the creepy AI overlord vibes)
Simple (Optional) Daily Practices that realign your energy without adding more to your plate because the last thing you need is another 17-step morning routine
Guided Exercises to strengthen your internal compass without requiring you to journal for hours or interpret your dreams
Zero busy work. Not interested in that!
WHY IT WORKS:
THE RUTHLESS DIFFERENCE (BECAUSE, LET'S BE REAL, YOU'VE TRIED EVERYTHING)
RUTHLESS is different because it's not about pushing harder — it's about eliminating what doesn't matter so you can fully commit to what does.
The Email Format Is Intentional:
Unlike courses you've purchased and never completed, RUTHLESS arrives in manageable weekly doses, preventing the overwhelm that leads to abandonment.
It's Not One-Size-Fits-All:
RUTHLESS acknowledges that your brain might work differently, and that’s not a weakness. We're not trying to reprogram your brain; we're helping it function at its best while still being uniquely, gloriously yours.
It's Not Just About Productivity: RUTHLESS addresses the whole picture — your energy, your values, your environment, and your unique creative process. Because you're a human being, not a productivity machine, despite what hustle culture would have you believe.
It's Built For Implementation:
Each week builds on the previous, creating sustainable change rather than temporary motivation. It's the difference between a crash diet and learning to cook nutritious meals you actually enjoy.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ACHIEVE RUTHLESS CLARITY?
For Creatives
Crystal clarity on which projects deserve your limited energy. Your new problem: deciding which of your completed projects to release first.
Confidence to charge what your work is worth without apology, which means you’re suddenly managing a full calendar of high-paying clients
A sustainable creative practice that accommodates your needs
The ability to say no without guilt and yes with conviction, and yeah, people may be slightly intimidated by your newfound boundaries. So what, who cares?
For Entrepreneurs
Freedom from the "always available" trap (now you’re going to have to decide what to do with your newfound free time)
Clear boundaries that clients respect, and dare I say, admire?
You start turning away clients who aren't aligned even when they wave money at you
The security of working less while earning more, which might get awkward when you start explaining to your workaholic friends that no, you're not secretly working on weekends
For Multi-Passionate People
A framework for knowing which projects to focus on when
Permission to embrace your range as a strength, not a liability
Integration of your diverse interests into a coherent whole, which helps others see the connections that now seem obvious to you
Recognition as a valuable generalist, not a scattered dabbler. Prepare to turn down speaking opportunities because you can't be everywhere at once 🙂
what would it be worth to:
Finally hit “PUBLISH” on the projects that matter most to you?
Jump out of bed in the morning with crystal clarity and excitement about what comes next, instead of hollow dread?
Work fewer hours, get more done, eliminate unnecessary costs, and make more money?
Be overflowing with creative ideas, and motivated enough to not just start them but see them through?
Move decisively and deliberately without second-guessing yourself?
That's the RUTHLESS difference.
We designed RUTHLESS after years of teaching 1:1 clients these frameworks and watching their lives completely transform.
So, we know who this works best for:
You have more ideas than you could possibly execute if you lived to be 247 years old
You've purchased at least three planners in the past year but haven't stuck with any of them
You frequently feel like you're working hard but not making meaningful progress, like running on a possessed Peloton treadmill that's secretly set to "hamster wheel"
You struggle to choose between multiple passions that all feel important, a Sophie’s Choice of passions if you will
You know you're capable of the elusive ✨more ✨ but can't seem to channel your potential effectively
At the end of the day, you're exhausted from constantly context-switching between different projects but feel like you’ve got even more things on your to-do list than you did when you sat down to your desk
OMG I'm ready to get started already,
just tell me how to get it!
When you join RUTHLESS CLARITY, you'll get:
Its everything you need to move on from overwhelm and find your own ruthless clarity in a low-pressure package for just:
$399
Already a North Node member? Email us for your discount code :)
A note from michelle
I’m a millennial — of course I've felt the crushing weight of too many things, too many commitments, and too many expectations (most of them self-imposed, tbh).
And I’ve ping-ponged to the opposite end of the spectrum, eliminating all but the “essential needle-moving tasks,” and realized… that didn’t really light me up, either. (where’s the fun! where’s the magic!)
RUTHLESS emerged from my own decades-long pas de deux with clarity. It's the framework I wish someone had handed me years ago instead of another planner, another app, another manifestation practice, another divination tool to outsource my choices to.
I’ve learned the hard way if you don't get ruthlessly clear about your values, your energy, your desires, your choices, someone else will choose for you. That's how it works — highest acuity wins. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather be the one deciding what matters in my own life than handing it over to whoever shouts the loudest.
OH, and being ruthlessly clear about what matters to you is like, really fun? It’s just easy! It makes life better. It makes you more flexible, more agile, more resilient, more attuned to the subtle fields.
It’s a practice you can take with you wherever you go.
This is the framework that continues to save my creative life, my work, and quite possibly my sanity.
If you're ready to stop the overwhelm and start living with ruthless clarity, I'm ready to show you the ropes ❤️
get the first email in your inbox today
There's no better feeling than the swaggy confidence you feel all the time when you're operating with ruthless clarity. It's like after holding your breath, praying for answers, you finally just… know what to do. (And the thing is you do know what to do, deep down. You just need a map to remember how to get back there)