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How to Work Hard

paulgraham.com

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Re: How to Work Hard

#761

Post by pyrale »

TiberiusC wrote: post #722
kentosi wrote: post #720

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The parent's comment wan't implying that luck was everything, but to point out that luck is also an important factor. > There are three ingredients in great work: natural ability, practice, and effort. And luck, Paul. Don't forget luck. Hard work is only sustainable when you occasionally get that carrot at the end of the stick, before moving onto the next bit of hard work.

I think luck falls into the natural ability category.

I would suggest the opposite: natural ability falls in the luck category.

Re: How to Work Hard

#763

Post by ska »

xputer wrote: post #507
helen___keller wrote: post #162

When I was an undergrad at CMU, I learned how to work hard. Really hard. After having coasted through too-easy high school, I spent all day every day at CMU either programming, doing mathematics, or thinking about one of those things (to great effect: often the trick to prove a theorem would pop into my head while showering or while taking a walk). I would fall asleep while programming in the middle of the night, dre…

Very similar experience for me. I have a hard time spending time on hobbies at the moment, because it feels like I should put that time towards my PhD instead of "wasting my time and energy". Yet, I somehow have no problem spending hours every day on reddit, YouTube, hacker news etc. because I think I tricked my mind into believing that those things don't cost energy so it's ok. Unfortunately they don't really bring…

This is absolutely a common feeling in PhD programs - I think partially because it is a transition out of structured programs and a more nuanced idea of "done". I wouldn't beat yourself up about it, part of the process is learning for yourself how to deal with finding the right balance of focus and exploration.

Re: How to Work Hard

#764

Post by danielmarkbruce »

varispeed wrote: post #745
danielmarkbruce wrote: post #738

Is anyone else surprised there isn't more discussion of focus? I know many people (myself included) who work hard but on too many things simultaneously and the results aren't as good as folks who seem to just keep plodding along on one thing. Two of my friends who are extremely successful seem less interested in the field they are in, and while intelligent not outrageously so, and don't work super hard. But they just…

Sometimes I have an ability to hyper-focus on some task and make it in one or two days rather than weeks, but after that I feel so exhausted mentally, that I cannot do anything sensible for a week or two. What I am getting at, is that often it doesn't matter.

I'm not sure I follow - what doesn't matter?

Re: How to Work Hard

#765

Post by an_opabinia »

dharmaturtle wrote: post #757
an_opabinia wrote: post #753

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> On these days I'd typically try playing a video game (my hobby before college)… wasting time… hard work was not healthy It sounds like playing video games was your medicine, and denying it from yourself traded “wasting time” for something worse, like bad anxiety, which you don’t have to get into. It’s obnoxious that the Paul Graham culture targets video games. The alternative medicine is always worse. Of course, wh…

Do you think he writes essays to make money?

Yes, definitely, he is the template for the "thought leader" scheme.

Re: How to Work Hard

#766

Post by ska »

darkwizard42 wrote: post #618
helen___keller wrote: post #162

When I was an undergrad at CMU, I learned how to work hard. Really hard. After having coasted through too-easy high school, I spent all day every day at CMU either programming, doing mathematics, or thinking about one of those things (to great effect: often the trick to prove a theorem would pop into my head while showering or while taking a walk). I would fall asleep while programming in the middle of the night, dre…

As someone who also did their undergrad at CMU, I can confirm that it was the hardest I've ever worked (even considering my 10+ years of professional experience). It was burnout level with how many units you had to carry and how difficult some of the advanced math and CS classes became. We used to sit in the Tepper Faculty Lounge (always unlocked = free coffee) many nights from 10 PM - 4 AM to merely crank out a 6-qu…

Part of what makes programs like this work (there aren't a large number, but CMU is hardly alone) is the fact that it's a fixed time to create a pressure box in.

I know of an undergrad double honors program that was unreasonably proud of the fact that after inception it took something like a dozen (maybe fifteen?) years before anyone actually graduated from it; everyone dropped one or the other half to lighten the load. Trying to pitch something to almost-but-not-quite break you only works when there is a finish line.

Re: How to Work Hard

#767

Post by fellowniusmonk »

For people with my upbringing its even harder, because hard work often does not pay rewards, so you have to intentionally reject the feedback loop that nature and reality is throwing in your face.

There is a whole class of incredibly hard working people that never receive, are actively denied reward or are effectively punished for their hard work.

Hard work without dopamine reinforcement takes extreme mental toughness.

Re: How to Work Hard

#768

Post by prawn »

pjc50 wrote: post #36
Y_Y wrote: post #16

Doesn't this sound shit though? If Bill Gates is so smart why did he have to work so much? Did he like coding and management more than days off? If a life of hard work is needed to get you into heaven that's fine. Or if anything less would mean you and your dependants going hungry. But once your basic needs are met then it's irrational not to start spending time on all of the other things that life has to offer. I fe…

> It's like a cognitive defect, a disability except you're unable to not-do. He specifically trained himself to have leisure anxiety and advises other people to do this as well: >> The most basic level of which is simply to feel you should be working without anyone telling you to. Now, when I'm not working hard, alarm bells go off. It's certainly effective , but as you say, effective to what end?

I tend to agree, but I guess it depends on what you're replacing with work, and how you feel about the work. If you're replacing idle TV watching with a form of work you enjoy, great. If it's replacing time you might be watching specific shows with your partner/kids and with get-head-of-the-pack projects that stress you out, the trade-off will be far from universal.

But as usual, he's writing for a very specific group of people - young people with a strong urge to do late nights building something.

Re: How to Work Hard

#769

Post by hindsightbias »

Live-to-work or work-to-live.

There are probably few on HN (in the US) who don’t have either option. Figure it out now or let your boss decide for you.

And if you think you can do a startup and work-to-live, you’re an idiot. So start over now.

Re: How to Work Hard

#770

Post by flippinburgers »

WalterSear wrote: post #569
nonbirithm wrote: post #414

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel the same. I can hardly sit through an entire two-hour movie or play a video game without feeling like I should be doing something else. I cannot feel good about myself if I cannot sense that I'm making progress learning a skill, and am stuck for hours looking down at a blank page as a result. But what's dangerous for me is that this alarm system does not trigger consistently. I might spend too much time on HN,…

This is me. Though I didn't just learn this in my upbringing - I feel like my entire working life has been one of false promises and dehumanization, that has left me unable to enjoy anything. I'm 47 now, have worked at 6 failed startups in a row, and can't face work, or looking for a job. I used to blame social media and hacker news, but I now recognize that too much delayed gratification and overwork have had a much…

I am in a similar boat and the most painful part for me personally is trying to overcome the hurdle or stigma associated with being older but not having idyllic career beats to show off to potential employers.
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