Protecting Attention: The Quiet Leadership Advantage
What I learned about slowing down, thinking deeply, and reclaiming focus
2026 starts tomorrow. And many leaders are already feeling the pressure.
I recently interviewed Phil Hess, CEO of reMarkable for Authority Magazine. Somewhere between our conversation and actually using the Paper Pro tablet, I noticed something unsettling about myself:
I had forgotten what uninterrupted thought feels like.
No notifications. No tabs multiplying in the background.
No pressure to react instead of reflect. Just handwriting.
Silence.
And the relief of finishing a thought before the next one barged in.
I didn’t expect a piece of hardware to change how I think. But here we are.
Phil said something that stuck with me:
“Attention is the single most valuable asset for a knowledge worker.”
He’s right. And most of us are hemorrhaging it daily.
In a world obsessed with speed, scale, and AI, the real leadership advantage may be far quieter: The ability to protect attention long enough to think clearly.
I’ve interviewed hundreds of founders, executives, and innovators over the years, and one pattern keeps repeating itself:
The leaders who are winning aren’t the most optimized. They’re the most intentional.
Using the reMarkable device reminded me that slowing down isn’t a step backward. It’s a strategic move. Writing by hand created friction, and that friction created clarity.
Not everything needs to be optimized. Some things just need to be protected.
“To know that you do not know is the best.
To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.”
- Tao Te Ching
Before the new year begins, here’s the question I’m sitting with:
Where in my life does attention deserve better boundaries?
If this reflection resonates, I went deeper in my full conversation with Phil Hess.
I’ve shared my full interview exploring how distraction-free tools like reMarkable are shaping the next wave of leadership and deep work. You can read it here: Phil Hess of reMarkable on Why Protecting Attention Is the New Leadership Advantage
Savio P. Clemente is a journalist, keynote and TEDx speaker, and creator of Adaptive Resilience Leadership for high performers. A two-time cancer survivor and board-certified wellness coach (NBC-HWC, ACC), he rebuilt his life after a life-saving stem cell transplant — what doctors call a medical rebirth. Savio has interviewed 2,000+ leaders on global stages about resilience, mindset, and human performance. Through his best-selling book and high-impact keynotes, he helps leaders turn adversity into strategic advantage. 🔗 saviopclemente.com ↗