5 ms·

Sacrifice

35 points by googletron 14y ago

Gallefray 14y ago
A pretty good approach. I need to start doing this. Thanks for posting! :3
andrewljohnson 14y ago
The dual todo list, plus long term list of projects/writings/ideas under separate headings is exactly what I do. It used to be a text file, now it's a google doc. I'll tend to manage my time by email a lot, but then if I get beyond inbox zero, I'll process certain things I'm lagging on into my todo list. A lot of my email also files into labels for certain business functions or partners/clients, skipping the inbox, but remaining unread so I can do it in blocks.
PaulHoule 14y ago
One thing you have to look at is synergy. Open source projects can be business projects.
- josscrowcroft 14y ago
  This was certainly the case for Open Exchange Rates [0] – it was a successful open source project for a year before life and commitments forced me to either shut it down or business it up. I took the latter path, and now it allows me to keep working on it full-time... but I did have to forcibly sacrifice (I say scupper) some other projects, which I have no doubt would have been equally successful. [0] https://openexchangerates.org https://openexchangerates.org
  - PaulHoule 14y ago
    Hey joss, I'm really interested in markets for data like the one you're running... Let's talk!
    - josscrowcroft 14y ago
      Hey Paul! Couldn't see an email address in your profile but you can reach me on joss@openexchangerates.org :)
thelarry 14y ago
I think something interesting and related is the ability to sacrifice personal activities for a project. I've tried working on projects with many friends that just could not sacrifice part of their weekends with their girlfriends to do work. Or they were "too tired" after their day job to work on side project but could play video games. Some people won't even sacrifice some sleep!
- aytekin 14y ago
  Sacrificing sleep is probably worst kind of sacrifice. When you do not get good sleep you are losing a lot of efficiency the next day. So, it is not worth it most of the time. But there are cases when you should lose sleep. If your service is down you must sacrifice sleep and keep going until it is fixed. I have done my share of that.
awaechter 14y ago
Interesting topic! From my own experience you indeed lose everything by not making clear cut choices. But "sacrifice" means you already consider the project you are giving up as a part of yourself. For me the best way to stay focused and in the same time not being frustrated is to set yourself deadlines on the projects you are on and avoid projecting yourself elsewhere until they are reached.

35 points by googletron 14y ago

A pretty good approach. I need to start doing this. Thanks for posting! :3

The dual todo list, plus long term list of projects/writings/ideas under separate headings is exactly what I do. It used to be a text file, now it's a google doc. I'll tend to manage my time by email a lot, but then if I get beyond inbox zero, I'll process certain things I'm lagging on into my todo list. A lot of my email also files into labels for certain business functions or partners/clients, skipping the inbox, but remaining unread so I can do it in blocks.

PaulHoule 14y ago

One thing you have to look at is synergy. Open source projects can be business projects.

josscrowcroft 14y ago
This was certainly the case for Open Exchange Rates [0] – it was a successful open source project for a year before life and commitments forced me to either shut it down or business it up. I took the latter path, and now it allows me to keep working on it full-time... but I did have to forcibly sacrifice (I say scupper) some other projects, which I have no doubt would have been equally successful. [0] https://openexchangerates.org https://openexchangerates.org
- PaulHoule 14y ago
  Hey joss, I'm really interested in markets for data like the one you're running... Let's talk!
  - josscrowcroft 14y ago
    Hey Paul! Couldn't see an email address in your profile but you can reach me on joss@openexchangerates.org :)

thelarry 14y ago

I think something interesting and related is the ability to sacrifice personal activities for a project. I've tried working on projects with many friends that just could not sacrifice part of their weekends with their girlfriends to do work. Or they were "too tired" after their day job to work on side project but could play video games. Some people won't even sacrifice some sleep!

aytekin 14y ago
Sacrificing sleep is probably worst kind of sacrifice. When you do not get good sleep you are losing a lot of efficiency the next day. So, it is not worth it most of the time. But there are cases when you should lose sleep. If your service is down you must sacrifice sleep and keep going until it is fixed. I have done my share of that.

awaechter 14y ago

Interesting topic! From my own experience you indeed lose everything by not making clear cut choices. But "sacrifice" means you already consider the project you are giving up as a part of yourself. For me the best way to stay focused and in the same time not being frustrated is to set yourself deadlines on the projects you are on and avoid projecting yourself elsewhere until they are reached.