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

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

#61

Post by rusk »

war1025 wrote: post #3

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 l…

I think its borne of insecurity - if you cant be good at your job at least look like yoy care about your job

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

#62

Post by rusk »

ianmcgowan wrote: post #37
war1025 wrote: post #3

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 l…

You are the embodiment of one of my favorite words. Sprezzatura "a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it" and also more briefly "studied carelessness". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprezzatura

Nice word!

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

#63

Post by nereye »

close04 wrote: post #54
hadlock wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bill Gates' parents were board members at other companies with moderate influence in the local Seattle business community. There is a good chance that he would have been more successful than most people at even just selling office supplies due to his connections. It's not like he grew up in the rough part of town and got in to Harvard through a hardship scholarship.

Indeed it was Bill Gates' mother, Mary, who had the clout to introduce Bill to IBM's the president, chairman and CEO John Opel while both serving on the board of United Way of America. This paved the way for Microsoft's deal with IBM. I've heard so many way below average dropouts from nameless universities or high-schools justify their "performance" by mentioning how Bill Gates was also a dropout without realizing th…

To see the full cartoon: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/the-wireless/373065/the-pencilswo...

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

#64

Post by jonathanstrange »

caseymarquis wrote: post #9

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…

There is a false dichotomy here. Talented people who have seized the right opportunity can get overwhelmed or disorganized like everyone else. I've always assumed that all those tips for getting organized, getting this done, etc., are primarily intended for talented people who otherwise already know what they're doing.

> No level of hard work or organization will substitute for talent and opportunity

I find that very doubtful. A certain level of talent is needed, there is no doubt about that. Beyond that level, though, it seems to me that focus and continuous dedication (aka, hard work) in combination with being at the right place with right people at the right time are the most decisive success factors in any endeavour. Bill Gates is the perfect example. He has been working like crazy in his early years, was basically on the job all the time.

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

#65

Post by tonyedgecombe »

juanuys wrote: post #31
hanoz wrote: post #30

Good job the violinist works in the music industry not the software industry, or he might find after all his sessions of focused deliberate practice that now no-one wants to hear the violin anymore, and he must in future focus his efforts on the upcoming disciplines of both xylophone and clarinet.

And then he finds that the xylophone works in hall A and not hall B, and for the latter he has to get a slightly newer xylophone with more keys. Oh, and he has to learn a new scale invented by the xylophone's makers.

All the while taking instruction from someone who would struggle to knock out a few notes on a ukulele.

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

#66

Post by senderista »

hadlock wrote: post #47
darawk wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. In what sense is that a myth? He is a college dropout. Lots of people had access to computers at that time. True, not ever…

Bill Gates' parents were board members at other companies with moderate influence in the local Seattle business community. There is a good chance that he would have been more successful than most people at even just selling office supplies due to his connections. It's not like he grew up in the rough part of town and got in to Harvard through a hardship scholarship.

Bill Gates was both extremely privileged and an intellectual prodigy.

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

#67

Post by mysticmode »

deepGem wrote: post #55
caseymarquis wrote: post #9

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…

"Just working hard is a recipe for failure for most people." It is quite impossible to just work hard unless you are forced to. I mean there has to be some spark, some excitement about the work you are doing. Which typically means you have some inkling to do take on this task, which you may not be good at but with hard work you will make progress and eventually good at the task, and this self fulfilling cycle continu…

You put it nicely and this is exactly what I've been thinking. As you said there has to be some spark within you to do that stuff that you are wanting to do. Rest of the part is about enjoying the process of doing that.

I personally believe that there is no clear-cut rule or path for success and it differs from person to person. So, this way - I wonder how people could come up with such an outrageous article saying that x will lead you to success if you do it this way?!

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

#68

Post by tiborsaas »

taneq wrote: post #26
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

Well crap, I’d better start rating my leisure time as more relaxing.

no no no, make the more relaxing, changing the scale to 11 won't help :)

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

#69

Post by username90 »

MaximumYComb wrote: post #45
james_s_tayler wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I think there's a certain degree of privilege that helps with success. Someone born into money that gives them more time to pursue interests is going to have certain advantages.

Both groups spent the same amount of time though, the difference was how they spent the time.

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

#70

Post by rsecora »

username90 wrote: post #69
MaximumYComb wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there's a certain degree of privilege that helps with success. Someone born into money that gives them more time to pursue interests is going to have certain advantages.

Both groups spent the same amount of time though, the difference was how they spent the time.

Maybe the difference is one of the groups is talented, so the gap in time amounts for the talent. Not the other way around as the article suggests.

The two groups are not comparable, because the talent is a non-negligible difference, so the experiment is flawed (few samples, different groups....)

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