Algorithms to make you more effective
What can we learn from computing to make ourselves better?
Your focus and how to protect it
Earlier on in my career, I was under the impression that success was strongly tied to saying yes.
That quick favor? No problem. That interesting idea that someone just mentioned to me in the kitchen? I should probably prototype that. Jumping on that call to a client? Why not.
Always saying yes is how I thought I could be most helpful and how I could open myself up to the most opportunity. I mean, there’s even a very funny book about it.
Well, unfortunately saying yes all of the time, even with good intention and kindness, is a path towards being extremely nice but ultimately ineffective.
Being effective, on the other hand, involves two strands of management of the self:
- Being able to organize my time and my mind so that I have the best chance of being as productive as possible.
- Saying yes to the most impactful pieces of work and politely refusing those that are not.
We’ll get on to exploring the types of things that you should be spending your time on shortly, but first, let’s zoom in a little more into how you spend your time.
