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I've always admired people who get more done in less time. We're in hustle mode in our startup right now but I still try to block out time that feels wide open

by eah13 14y ago

I've always admired people who get more done in less time. We're in hustle mode in our startup right now but I still try to block out time that feels wide open to keep an eye on where we're headed and wind down a little. No use in racing ahead if it's a dead end road. To continue the vehicular metaphor, it feels like hustle culture advocates burying the needle in the red zone, even though that's the least efficient point on the power curve. And even though that's less a predictor of success than what direction you're headed in. There are absolutely times when you and your team need to live in the red zone of your tach. But really that's a temporary solution to being caught in the wrong gear. Amazing opportunity, can't upshift = gotta floor it anyways. But curves ahead = can't floor it. All depends. Hmm. That metaphor actually did OK.

purplelobster 14y ago
It's also better to drive slowly towards your goal than to speed in the wrong direction and never look at your map to get your bearings. After a few side projects that never went anywhere, I spend more time taking walks and just thinking about the direction I'm going and I'm spending less time doing unnecessary work as a result. Sometimes you need a break in able to come back to the project refreshed with a new outlook on things.
- eah13 14y ago
  I've also found walks to be super valuable. They're times where you can't get distracted because there's nothing else to do but think, like in the shower (which is why so many great ideas happen in each). They also get a little physical activity into your day which helps the brain work. When I take walks with my wife we have great convos that won't happen on the couch when we're exhausted. We walk this circular path around Duke's East campus, which is about 2 miles. Having a defined path like that helps too- you don't have to get distracted by where you're going or be temped to end it early.
endlessvoid94 14y ago
You've absolutely nailed it. I'm going to steal this metaphor in the future.

by eah13 14y ago

purplelobster 14y ago

It's also better to drive slowly towards your goal than to speed in the wrong direction and never look at your map to get your bearings. After a few side projects that never went anywhere, I spend more time taking walks and just thinking about the direction I'm going and I'm spending less time doing unnecessary work as a result. Sometimes you need a break in able to come back to the project refreshed with a new outlook on things.

eah13 14y ago
I've also found walks to be super valuable. They're times where you can't get distracted because there's nothing else to do but think, like in the shower (which is why so many great ideas happen in each). They also get a little physical activity into your day which helps the brain work. When I take walks with my wife we have great convos that won't happen on the couch when we're exhausted. We walk this circular path around Duke's East campus, which is about 2 miles. Having a defined path like that helps too- you don't have to get distracted by where you're going or be temped to end it early.

endlessvoid94 14y ago

You've absolutely nailed it. I'm going to steal this metaphor in the future.