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Ask HN: What productivity hacks did you bring from other industries to yours?
- 082349872349872 3y agoTheatre rehearsals for project planning and delivery: start with script readthroughs, move on to blocking with only the required actors, bring in the technical infra as it is built (integrating tech first without actors and later with), finally doing a few complete run throughs without a (paying) audience. Opening night="ship it!", and at the end of every run, tear it all down and start again from the top... cf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo-ha-kyū https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo-ha-kyū
- muzani 3y agoMise en place is a pretty cool technique. There's a good book in place for those outside the industry, Everything In Its Place, by Dan Charnas. Basically you make cleaning a habit and minimize movement. If you were chopping onions, you'd use multiple containers, one for input, one for output. Placement would be so that your hand doesn't have to cross in an inefficient manner. In software, it's probably things like keyboard shortcuts, and using some tools to store knowledge as opposed to keeping it all in your head. But keep the process clear and clean. The first thing to do is figuring out the first thing to do and not just doing it - actually do spike docs before (or while) diving in. Prepare things before you use them - have your onions chopped and ready to toss in when the order comes. Clean up when you're done (close your tabs). Communicate clearly. Don't wait for the other person to ask questions, give them the info they need to move in one go. Acknowledge when you receive a communication, as soon as possible (especially work remote).