
Curious Minds at Work CM 275: Mithu Storoni on Working Smarter
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Sep 22, 2024 Mithu Storoni, a knowledge worker focused on enhancing productivity through innovative solutions, dives into optimizing work habits. She compares brain function to a car engine, highlighting the importance of adapting work styles to align with our brain's natural rhythms. The discussion covers hyper efficiency, contrasting modern productivity with historical standards, and emphasizes the value of quality over quantity. Storoni offers strategies for overcoming mental fatigue and personalizing productivity to boost engagement and performance in today's fast-paced environment.
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Quality Over Quantity In Knowledge Work
- Hyper-efficiency means maximizing mental output quality per unit time rather than quantity.
- Excellent singular ideas trump many mediocre ones in knowledge work.
Work Follows Power-Law Rhythms
- Human work rhythms follow power-law patterns: intense short bouts then longer low-intensity periods.
- The brain's internal dynamics mirror these patterns, favoring variable intensity over continuous effort.
The Brain's 'Gear' Network
- The 'gear network' maps three mental states: slow, focused, and distracted/wired.
- Gear two is the sweet spot where prefrontal cortex engagement yields high-quality cognitive work.

