In this engaging discussion, Sam Corcos, CEO and co-founder of Levels, shares his unique perspective on life and work. He emphasizes the importance of intentionality, rejecting the cliché of constant busyness. Sam introduces three powerful rules: prioritizing what's truly important over urgent matters, embracing intentional ignorance by limiting unnecessary knowledge, and focusing solely on what one can control. His insights are a refreshing guide for anyone looking to enhance creativity and improve their mental clarity.
Prioritizing meaningful tasks over urgent ones can significantly enhance productivity and alignment with long-term goals.
Controlling one's media consumption by opting for enriching content can reduce anxiety and foster personal and professional growth.
Deep dives
Prioritizing Importance Over Urgency
It's crucial to not let urgency dictate priorities, as many people often find themselves overwhelmed by tasks that appear urgent but are not truly important. This can lead to wasted time on activities that do not align with long-term goals. Sam Korkos illustrates this by sharing a specific instance when he declined a media request because it did not fit into his current strategy, allowing him to focus on more significant matters. He emphasizes the value of implementing 'think weeks'—dedicated times without distractions—to foster deeper thinking and creativity, which is essential for effective work in a fast-paced environment.
Choosing to Remain Intentionally Ignorant
In a world saturated with information, it is important to control what we expose ourselves to and prioritize our cognitive resources wisely. Korkos advocates for a media diet that excludes news, suggesting that it often imparts unnecessary anxiety and distraction without real-life relevance. He personally focuses on reading books, averaging about 100 a year, which provides a more enriching and less stressful method of consuming information. This intentional ignorance enables individuals to concentrate on what aligns with their values and goals, thereby enhancing personal and professional growth.
Focusing on What You Can Control
Korkos emphasizes the importance of directing attention towards aspects of life that one can actually influence, rather than getting caught up in events beyond one's control. He reflects on the negative impact of worrying about national issues while neglecting local responsibilities that directly affect daily life. By fostering deeper relationships and prioritizing time with loved ones over futile concerns, individuals can cultivate a more fulfilling existence. This shift from being a passive passenger to an active driver in one's life can lead to a greater sense of autonomy and reduced stress.
Today, I'm joined by Sam Corcos, CEO and co founder of Levels, a company helping people better understand their metabolic health through real time data. Sam takes a counterintuitive approach to both work and life. Rejecting the always busy CEO stereotype, he schedules his days for deep focus, while also being very intentional about his media diet. Whether you're an entrepreneur or not, I think you're going to find a lot of value from Sam's rules.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:48 Rule 1: Don't let urgency, determine priority
05:37 Rule 2: You don't need to know everything
11:26 Rule 3: Only give your attention, to things you can control
Get 3 rules emails every week: https://www.mattdavella.com/threerules
Support my podcast: https://patreon.com/mattdavella
Follow my guest: https://x.com/SamCorcos
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