Ep. 269: Don’t Get Started

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Oct 9, 2023

Delving into the unconventional idea that getting started is overrated, the discussion emphasizes the importance of thoughtful engagement over instant action. Learn how mastering email through single-threading can boost productivity, and explore the balance between social confidence and meaningful relationships. Insights on using YouTube for personal growth without distraction are shared, alongside reflections on the cultural implications of hustle. Finally, discover the significance of true friendships, especially for introverts, in today's social landscape.

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Episode notes

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Avoid Starting Too Early

Develop a strong conviction for pursuits before starting.
Deeply understand the field and how success works, which takes time.

insights

INSIGHT

Treat Your Mind Like a Garden

Our experience of the world is shaped by what we focus on.
Carefully curate your attention to cultivate a positive experience, like tending a garden.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Organize for Creativity

Embrace organizational productivity to enable creativity and relaxation.
Structure your work like an accountant to free your mind to think like an artist.

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Mastering Email Management Through Contextual Simplification

02:01 • 4min

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Navigating the Path to Meaningful Success

05:53 • 22min

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Navigating Life's Creativity and Healthcare

28:18 • 7min

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Navigating Social Confidence and Meaningful Connections

35:27 • 24min

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Navigating YouTube and Personal Growth

59:31 • 7min

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The Psychology of Productivity

01:06:37 • 10min

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Engaging Community and Insights Through Essays

Winifred Gallagher's "Ode to Focus" explores the power of attention and its impact on life experiences. The book is framed by Gallagher's personal journey with a serious cancer diagnosis, highlighting how she redirected her focus to what truly mattered. Gallagher emphasizes the importance of cultivating attention, drawing parallels between tending a garden and managing one's mental landscape. The book offers practical strategies for improving focus and reclaiming control over one's attention in a world of constant distractions. It's a compelling blend of personal narrative and insightful observations on the human mind.

#3883

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

The Art of the Start

Guy Kawasaki

In 'The Art of the Start,' Guy Kawasaki provides a detailed and practical guide for entrepreneurs and anyone starting a new venture. The book covers various aspects of startup formation, including defining positioning, creating a brand, raising capital, and managing growth. Kawasaki draws from his extensive experience at Apple and as the founder of Garage Technology Ventures to offer actionable advice and real-life examples. The book emphasizes the importance of taking action, making meaning, and adopting a problem-centric mindset. It also includes chapters on social media, crowdfunding, and cloud computing in the updated version, 'The Art of the Start 2. 0'

#1128

• Mentioned in 19 episodes

The happiness trap

Russ Harris

In 'The Happiness Trap', Dr. Russ Harris presents the insights and techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help readers escape the epidemic of stress, anxiety, and depression. The book focuses on accepting unhelpful thoughts rather than trying to control them, and it emphasizes the importance of clarifying values and developing mindfulness. It provides practical tools for reducing stress and worry, handling painful thoughts and feelings, breaking self-defeating habits, overcoming insecurity and self-doubt, and building better relationships and a fulfilling life.

#2126

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

Leisure the basis of culture

Josef Pieper

Josef Pieper's "Leisure: The Basis of Culture" is a profound exploration of the nature of leisure and its importance for human flourishing. Pieper argues that leisure, understood as a state of freedom from necessity, is essential for contemplation and the development of culture. He contrasts leisure with mere idleness or entertainment, emphasizing its role in fostering creativity, intellectual growth, and spiritual development. "Leisure" has had a significant impact on philosophical and theological thought. Pieper's work challenges readers to reconsider the value of contemplation and the importance of creating a society that fosters leisure. The book is a classic of philosophical and theological reflection.

#639

• Mentioned in 29 episodes

Daily Rituals

How Artists Work

Mason Currey

Daily Rituals: How Artists Work is a book that delves into the daily routines and working habits of more than 161 highly successful and creative individuals. The book, written by Mason Currey, provides insights into how these creatives structured their days to manage their work and personal lives. It includes profiles of famous figures such as Anthony Trollope, Karl Marx, Woody Allen, Agatha Christie, and many others, highlighting their unique routines, habits, and quirks. The book aims to show how grand creative visions are translated into small daily increments and how these routines influence the work itself. It also explores broader themes such as the balance between comfort and creativity, and the importance of forming good habits to free the mind for more interesting fields of action.

After an episode in which Cal reviewed ancient wisdom on cultivating a deeper life, he turns his attention back to more recent advice. Focusing on three of the more unconventional but unambiguously effective ideas that he has proposed in his twenty years of professional writing on these topics.

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

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Getting started is overrated [6:29]

- How can I become more confident in social settings? [36:15]

- Is it ok to be an ordinary person? [40:52]

- Is it important to have friends? [46:41]

- I took a pay cut to become a teacher again. How can I better organize my life to prioritize craft? [49:36]

- Is it ok to use YouTube to discover new ideas? [57:28]

Reader’s React: Is Productivity Natural? [1:05:04]

Links:

calnewport.com/dangerous-ideas-getting-started-is-overrated/

calnewport.com/treat-your-mind-as-you-would-a-private-garden/