Cal Newport discusses the mistakes made when pursuing hard goals and shares his reverse goal setting strategy. He also answers questions on preparing for change, scheduling free time, and avoiding doing too much. The podcast includes chapters on fitness plan analysis, building a side hustle, managing multiple jobs, and cultivating passion through discipline and curiosity. The hosts also discuss inviting big-time guests and mention Arnold Schwarzenegger's book.
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Quick takeaways
During a sabbatical, balance writing goals with advising responsibilities by allocating time and establishing a scheduling system.
Passion is not discovered but cultivated through discipline, curiosity, and exploring different avenues.
Deep dives
Balancing writing and advising during a sabbatical
During your sabbatical, it is important to balance your main goal of writing with your duties as a graduate student advisor. Allocate 75% of your sabbatical time to your backlog of papers, including revising and resubmitting manuscripts for publication. However, since you have a PhD student in their final year, it is necessary to be present for them. Set up a scheduling system to make the most of your abundant free time. For instance, have no meetings on Mondays and no appointments or professional meetings on Fridays. Reserve Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays afternoons for meetings and appointments, while dedicating the mornings to deep work sessions. Additionally, prioritize deep work on Mondays and Fridays, allowing for longer sessions and incorporating brainstorming activities. Make sure to end your day earlier to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Passion and Pursuit: The Importance of Having a Focus
In a podcast interview, the host and guest discussed the significance of having a passion to pursue in life. They emphasized that having a clear focus and pursuit can help prevent falling into detrimental habits and unfulfilling routines. However, it was noted that passion is not something that is discovered or identified in a single moment of self-reflection. Instead, passion is something that is cultivated over time through discipline and curiosity. By approaching different activities with discipline and being engaged in the world with curiosity, individuals can develop and grow their passion. This aligns with the idea that passion is not found, but rather developed through intentional and dedicated effort.
The Rock's Path to Passion
The interview highlighted the path of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as an example of how passion is not predetermined but unfolds through a series of experiences and opportunities. Johnson's career began in football, shifted towards wrestling, and then evolved into acting. His journey showcased the importance of pushing oneself with discipline and exploring different avenues to find a true passion. It emphasized that the pursuit of passion requires adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to take risks. Johnson's story emphasizes that the path to passion is rarely linear and that it is through curiosity, discipline, and open-mindedness that individuals discover and cultivate their unique passions.
Cultivating Passion: Curiosity and Discipline
The discussion highlighted the importance of cultivating passion through discipline and curiosity rather than simply searching for an existing passion. It highlighted the need to approach different activities with curiosity to explore and discover potential interests. By engaging in disciplined and intentional pursuit of these interests, individuals have the opportunity to develop passion over time. Passion is not a pre-existing condition, but rather a result of dedicated effort, adaptation, and ongoing curiosity. By embracing curiosity and discipline, people can uncover new passions and find fulfillment in their pursuits.
How you accomplish important goals: The type that can transform your life in remarkable ways? In this episode, Cal breaks down the common mistakes we make in pursuing hard goals and then details the reverse goal setting strategy he has found to work much more consistently.
Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo