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Someone close to me read this early in their career and it had a strong impact on him. I think its effect on his professional life was disastrous. He is a bril

by cowpig 5y ago

Someone close to me read this early in their career and it had a strong impact on him. I think its effect on his professional life was disastrous. He is a brilliant engineer whose work ethic is deplorable. He only gets things done if he's either entered a state of excitement about something, or in a state of panic. He's completely unreliable professionally, and notoriously difficult to work with. I am convinced that my friend would be much happier if he had never read this. Follow the author's advice at your own peril.

SomewhatLikely 5y ago
I also read this years ago and it has stuck with me to the point I even remembered the yellow background. However, despite being affected by the idea when I read it and still thinking back to it from time to time I can't say it has really shaped how I decide what to do next. For one thing, it still requires some internal motivation to practice because whatever the next task is will always be competing with just doing nothing productive at all. Unfortunately I don't have an answer to prescribe some better system.
user_7832 5y ago
> He is a brilliant engineer whose work ethic is deplorable. He only gets things done if he's either entered a state of excitement about something, or in a state of panic. He's completely unreliable professionally, and notoriously difficult to work with. Are you sure that your friend started acting this way after reading this, or were his actions much more noticeable so after reading? You describe being unable to work unless exited or panicking, neither of which is a common/normal or comfortable state to be living in during your 9-5. It doesn't sound like your friend is necessarily happy at this time, and at the risk of sounding like an armchair doctor I would highly recommend your friend to talk to a real doctor and ask about A(D)HD. The average person can stop procrastinating if they want to. The ADHD person will get stressed before they stop procrastinating, because their executive function is, well, not very functioning. (Do note that other conditions like ASD/C-PTSD etc can also show similar symptoms including executive dysfunction which is why a doctor is so important).

by cowpig 5y ago

SomewhatLikely 5y ago

I also read this years ago and it has stuck with me to the point I even remembered the yellow background. However, despite being affected by the idea when I read it and still thinking back to it from time to time I can't say it has really shaped how I decide what to do next. For one thing, it still requires some internal motivation to practice because whatever the next task is will always be competing with just doing nothing productive at all. Unfortunately I don't have an answer to prescribe some better system.

user_7832 5y ago

> He is a brilliant engineer whose work ethic is deplorable. He only gets things done if he's either entered a state of excitement about something, or in a state of panic. He's completely unreliable professionally, and notoriously difficult to work with. Are you sure that your friend started acting this way after reading this, or were his actions much more noticeable so after reading? You describe being unable to work unless exited or panicking, neither of which is a common/normal or comfortable state to be living in during your 9-5. It doesn't sound like your friend is necessarily happy at this time, and at the risk of sounding like an armchair doctor I would highly recommend your friend to talk to a real doctor and ask about A(D)HD. The average person can stop procrastinating if they want to. The ADHD person will get stressed before they stop procrastinating, because their executive function is, well, not very functioning. (Do note that other conditions like ASD/C-PTSD etc can also show similar symptoms including executive dysfunction which is why a doctor is so important).