Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018) • Hacker News Board

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#51

Post by 300bps » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:47 PM UTC

bearer_token wrote: post #48

One tactic I've learned is to set aside time to focus on relaxation. Ambitious people assume intention should be applied towards productivity, but relaxation is required for us to function at high capacity. Do not assume idle or distracted time is rejuvenating. Plan it. I've found that you can't rush relaxation, but you can enjoy higher quality relaxation. Watching youtube videos, reading reddit, or playing a videoga…

One tactic I've learned is to set aside time to focus on relaxation.

I got the exact opposite advice from "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1319.The_War_of_Art

The entire book is how to overcome what he calls "resistance" which is what prevents you from getting creative work done. He says the belief that you need relaxation is false and just another way your mind keeps you from what you need to get done.

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#52

Post by bearer_token » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:47 PM UTC

> A wasted day may lead to a wasted life

This smacks of anxiety and FOMO. Thinking like this would drive me absolutely paranoid. Life is much more stochastic than this.

Yes, it is likely that in retrospect a few select hours of work may have unlocked huge value. You don't know which hours in advance. It is highly unlikely that one missed day will derail your life.

It's highly more likely that a wasted day was necessary to recover from a lingering illness, fatigue, or stress. It's OK to have an impromptu sabbath.

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#53

Post by gallegojaime » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:48 PM UTC

bearer_token wrote: post #48

One tactic I've learned is to set aside time to focus on relaxation. Ambitious people assume intention should be applied towards productivity, but relaxation is required for us to function at high capacity. Do not assume idle or distracted time is rejuvenating. Plan it. I've found that you can't rush relaxation, but you can enjoy higher quality relaxation. Watching youtube videos, reading reddit, or playing a videoga…

This is likely to be true for many. it's a counterintuitive concept but "planned leisure" and "unplanned leisure" often differ in quality a lot.

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#54

Post by bearer_token » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:49 PM UTC

300bps wrote: post #51

bearer_token wrote: post #48

One tactic I've learned is to set aside time to focus on relaxation. Ambitious people assume intention should be applied towards productivity, but relaxation is required for us to function at high capacity. Do not assume idle or distracted time is rejuvenating. Plan it. I've found that you can't rush relaxation, but you can enjoy higher quality relaxation. Watching youtube videos, reading reddit, or playing a videoga…

One tactic I've learned is to set aside time to focus on relaxation. I got the exact opposite advice from "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1319.The_War_of_Art The entire book is how to overcome what he calls "resistance" which is what prevents you from getting creative work done. He says the belief that you need relaxation is false and just another way your mind keeps you fro…

Interesting. I tend to structure my day around goals and work so much that I don't leave enough time for relaxation.

I likely mistakenly assume most HNers are overly ambitious, perfectionist, neurotic types like myself.

I have no trouble getting started, I have trouble stopping.

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#55

Post by thobrnst1837 » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:52 PM UTC

throwaway72873 wrote: post #32

mam2 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both are orthognal. Prentending the contrary is just a way to find pride in deciding to be a geek who has no sex.

It is 2019, you do not need a relationship to have a sex.

You do if you're under 35, male and ~<70th percentile in attractiveness. Which is a massive proportion of the tech world.

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#56

Post by asdfasgasdgasdg » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:53 PM UTC

arez wrote: post #44

One aspect nobody mentioned so far is, why do I have to focus so much on my dreams and "work on the next rocket to mars"? Why isn't it okay anymore to just do my job, have friends and watch movies? Why does everyone has to be an entrepreneur and do a successful side-project? Why can't I just have a hobby that doesn't pay off at all, like playing an instrument alone in my room, without any pursue to ever play a concer…

The answer of course is that it's fine for you to do that. Just don't expect plaudits for your lifestyle. People are mostly inspired by the great, not the typical. If your lifestyle makes you happy, great, but external validation is one thing it's not likely to earn.

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#57

Post by chaboud » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:54 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #33

bluedino wrote: post #15

Focus, and persistence can be a double-edged sword. I've seen C and D-level developers create working systems-despite the fact that they are using the wrong tools, creating un-maintainable code, etc. The key is only letting things go sad far before the right people are brought in to "fix" things.

If it's stupid and works, it ain't stupid.

That depends on your definition of "works". In a team environment something that is stupid and is barely coughing blood is a tar pit of wasted effort that will ensnare team member after team member, like a repeating land mine. Odd dependencies, bad repeated patterns, and strange process/architectural workarounds will leave a team inefficient, entrenched, and broken.

It's why I'd rather have lazy stupid people than energetic stupid people. Energetic stupid people destroy organizational output. Lazy stupid people just keep a chair warm.

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#58

Post by iudqnolq » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:57 PM UTC

iudqnolq wrote: post #14

playing_colours wrote: post #9

“Anathem” by Neal Stephenson describes monastic communities dedicated to studying mathematics. I sometimes entertain an idea, if a similar monastic community can work in our world - assuming they would be less strict than in the book. Such isolated retreats would be beneficial for rebuilding focus, finding calm and comfort, without noisy distractions, so one could focus most of their time on studying mathematics. Def…

I've heard the Recurse Center is like that. > What we do. The Recurse Center is a self-directed, community-driven educational retreat for programmers in New York City. https://www.recurse.com/

Does anyone have any experience with them?

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#59

Post by save_ferris » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:57 PM UTC

arez wrote: post #44

One aspect nobody mentioned so far is, why do I have to focus so much on my dreams and "work on the next rocket to mars"? Why isn't it okay anymore to just do my job, have friends and watch movies? Why does everyone has to be an entrepreneur and do a successful side-project? Why can't I just have a hobby that doesn't pay off at all, like playing an instrument alone in my room, without any pursue to ever play a concer…

Because our society has an unhealthy obsession with wealth and status, and we’ve convinced ourselves that the only way to be happy in life is to amass both.

The irony is that some of the wealthiest people I’ve met seem the least happy and settled. It’s so strange.

The concept of having “enough” is fundamentally incompatible with the hyper-growth startup, social-media driven society that we’re creating. Because having enough means that you’re giving up on the rat race, at least to a degree.

Re: Focus has become more valuable than intelligence (2018)

#60

Post by matwood » Sun, Dec 29, 2019, 9:57 PM UTC

claar wrote: post #6

I agree that focus is rare and critical, but I take issue with the closing paragraphs that suggest prioritizing focus over relationships. What good is it to gain the whole world but have no one to enjoy it with? Of course this is simply another form of focus - choose which relationships to focus on. But putting intellectual pursuits above relationships is a lonely and foolish path, even if you achieve your dreams. If…

You're describing a prioritization problem, not a focus one. Prioritize the items in your life and then put the proper focus on them. Also, and this is a big one now, actually focus on those items. When you're cultivating a relationship with someone else, don't have your focus on your phone or work. This ties into the common phrase about being present.

Also, for me it was more important to understand what NOT to focus on. Figuring out that which truly does not matter and letting it go is one of the most freeing things I have done. It's also a skill/tactic I see at all levels of life. The big picture of your whole life, then there is your work life, then there are work problems, then in jiu jitsu, etc... And the funny part is that people know bike-shedding exists and still do it day after day.