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The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

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Re: The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

#21

Post by afarrell »

mpalmer wrote: post #17
singingboyo wrote: post #8

Sorry, but the font and vaguely bolding are very, very off-putting. Especially when all but the last letter are bolded, or you have a link that includes the space after it, things start feeling wrong, somehow. What I did read also had a lot of rambling. That's not necessarily a bad thing in general, as it's a valid style and probably easier to get out there than trying to compress and perfect, but I'm not sure it's g…

I don't know if it was very, very off-putting, but I agree that the length of the piece together with the bolding made it harder to engage with the ideas. If the author is open to advice, mine would be this: 1. Consider your audience How might an audience of knowledgeable adults read into a piece that visually emphasizes every idea or phrase the author has decided is important? Might they feel that the piece is conde…

I disagree with this as good advice. I think the post is at a point where any more self-editing would be navel-gazing. Instead, I’d advise first posting it to 1-3 editors whom you trust.

“Consider your audience” is good…but also not very actionable until you make your audience specific.

Re: The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

#22

Post by waynesonfire »

H8crilA wrote: post #15
nine_k wrote: post #6

The gist: «And the crux of it is the word could have, the standards we hold ourselves to. This mix of guilt, insecurity and unrealistic standards is a major loss of productivity, and a major source of unhappiness.» Embrace imperfection, because perfection is unattainable anyway.

Ahh, the obsession with Productivity. Productivity is only required if it is required. This reminds me of Little Prince meeting The Inventor, who tells him that he invented pills that completely eliminate the need for drinking. The Inventor is happy about saving up to 20 minutes of a person's life with their product. The Prince just thinks to themselves - "weird, if I had an extra 20 minutes I would happily stroll to…

completely agree, but unfortunately, Arbeit macht frei!

Re: The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

#23

Post by lhorie »

It strikes me as weird to address an issue of unrealistic standards by implementing a bunch of productivity systems (pomodoro, etc) and data collection schemes, since these systems are fallible, which feeds right back to the anxiety loop.

I feel like it's appropriate to bring up meditation, and specifically self-awareness. There's something about seeing yourself as a third party that helps put things into a larger context and helps us "let go".

Re: The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

#24

Post by sharkjacobs »

MauranKilom wrote: post #11

A few years ago, I made a new year's resolution to be more forgiving to myself. At the time, I would feel miserable at the end of the day for, say, not doing laundry even though I had resolved to do so. I would downright hate myself for not getting this simple task done despite having had the time. So, that year, whenever I would have such a thought, I'd tell myself that I forgive my past self. "It's ok!" And it has…

When I punish myself I find I shrink or cringe away from the subject of concern, rather than motivated to engage with it

Depression is the greatest enemy of doing anything, feeling bad is basically always a net negative on productivity

Re: The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

#25

Post by TeMPOraL »

H8crilA wrote: post #15
nine_k wrote: post #6

The gist: «And the crux of it is the word could have, the standards we hold ourselves to. This mix of guilt, insecurity and unrealistic standards is a major loss of productivity, and a major source of unhappiness.» Embrace imperfection, because perfection is unattainable anyway.

Ahh, the obsession with Productivity. Productivity is only required if it is required. This reminds me of Little Prince meeting The Inventor, who tells him that he invented pills that completely eliminate the need for drinking. The Inventor is happy about saving up to 20 minutes of a person's life with their product. The Prince just thinks to themselves - "weird, if I had an extra 20 minutes I would happily stroll to…

> What's wrong with being unproductive some of the time, or most of the time? I usually enjoy it a great deal.

"Productive" is a bit of an overloaded word. Myself, when I obsess over my productivity, it's really an obsession over being able to do the things that I set out to do. It's an obsession over being in full control of my own faculties. It has nothing to do with work and business per se.

Re: The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

#27

Post by H8crilA »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #25
H8crilA wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ahh, the obsession with Productivity. Productivity is only required if it is required. This reminds me of Little Prince meeting The Inventor, who tells him that he invented pills that completely eliminate the need for drinking. The Inventor is happy about saving up to 20 minutes of a person's life with their product. The Prince just thinks to themselves - "weird, if I had an extra 20 minutes I would happily stroll to…

> What's wrong with being unproductive some of the time, or most of the time? I usually enjoy it a great deal. "Productive" is a bit of an overloaded word. Myself, when I obsess over my productivity, it's really an obsession over being able to do the things that I set out to do. It's an obsession over being in full control of my own faculties. It has nothing to do with work and business per se.

Well, to be honest I don't think there is that much of a difference. Both in business/at work and in your private life you have to accept the "failure" of reducing your objectives. Then proceed to drink your water, slowly :).

Re: The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

#28

Post by mpalmer »

afarrell wrote: post #21
mpalmer wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if it was very, very off-putting, but I agree that the length of the piece together with the bolding made it harder to engage with the ideas. If the author is open to advice, mine would be this: 1. Consider your audience How might an audience of knowledgeable adults read into a piece that visually emphasizes every idea or phrase the author has decided is important? Might they feel that the piece is conde…

I disagree with this as good advice. I think the post is at a point where any more self-editing would be navel-gazing. Instead, I’d advise first posting it to 1-3 editors whom you trust. “Consider your audience” is good…but also not very actionable until you make your audience specific.

You're welcome to disagree, but what you're saying is pretty subjective. Self-editing is not "navel-gazing" if you do it right.

> but also not very actionable until you make your audience specific

He posted it to HN himself. Do I really need to be more specific?

Re: The goal of standards is to improve our future actions

#29

Post by Forge36 »

lhorie wrote: post #23

It strikes me as weird to address an issue of unrealistic standards by implementing a bunch of productivity systems (pomodoro, etc) and data collection schemes, since these systems are fallible, which feeds right back to the anxiety loop. I feel like it's appropriate to bring up meditation, and specifically self-awareness. There's something about seeing yourself as a third party that helps put things into a larger co…

It's good to have data. "I'm unproductive" vs "I choose to spend my time doing X". It's a lot easier to be more productive by "watching 15 minutes less of tv" when you know you watching 3 hours a night.

Pomodoro isn't a productivity system. It's "I'm going to focus for ~15 minutes", and that's much easier to do than "spend 8 hours working".

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