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If you're busy, you're doing something wrong (2011)

calnewport.com

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Re: If you're busy, you're doing something wrong (2011)

#3

Post by war1025 »

I think this might be somewhat tangential to what the article has to say, but I think there is a fair amount of mindset to the "busyness" thing.

Some people seem to think that "busyness is next to godliness", so they make sure never to let anyone see them idle. They don't so much focus on what they are doing, just that they are doing something.

I've always taken the opposite approach. I go out of my way to make it look like I'm never busy. "Make it look easy." It's just a different sort of personality quirk.

It's fun to come across people from the other camp. We find each other very peculiar... :)

Re: If you're busy, you're doing something wrong (2011)

#4

Post by james_s_tayler »

dsaavy wrote: post #2

Key factors that separated the elite players from the average: - one morning and one night period of very deliberate practice - an extra hour of sleep - leisure time was rated as more relaxing

But but but... When I do one morning and one night period of very deliberate practice I wind up getting one hour LESS sleep

:(

Re: If you're busy, you're doing something wrong (2011)

#6

Post by mrmonkeyman »

james_s_tayler wrote: post #4
dsaavy wrote: post #2

Key factors that separated the elite players from the average: - one morning and one night period of very deliberate practice - an extra hour of sleep - leisure time was rated as more relaxing

But but but... When I do one morning and one night period of very deliberate practice I wind up getting one hour LESS sleep :(

Are you working, at all?

Stop doing that. It takes up time.

Re: If you're busy, you're doing something wrong (2011)

#7

Post by buster »

I'd think the key point here is focus. Short periods of very focused work is much better then a whole day of unfocused work. I guess that's true. And since you can't work hard and focused for eight hours, the elite players split it up in two time periods with some relaxation in between.

Re: If you're busy, you're doing something wrong (2011)

#9

Post by caseymarquis »

Seems like a bit of a tail wagging the dog situation. How do we know the more relaxed/organized schedule leads to success, and not that success leads to a more relaxed/organized schedule?

This reminds me of some other advice I remember reading: No level of hard work or organization will substitute for talent and opportunity, and nearly all success stories to the contrary are missing key facts. ie Myth: Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Reality: Michael Jordan was put onto the junior team with players his own age/size so he could get more play time, instead of being prematurely promoted to the highest level of play. Myth: Bill Gates is a college drop out who found success in a technical field purely based on personal merit. Reality: Gates' private high school gave him more access to computers than Harvard, and continuing at Harvard would have been a waste of time given his level of experience in the field.

The lesson is that you need to figure out what you're good at and where you have opportunity, and then work hard in those areas. Just working hard is a recipe for failure for most people.

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