This Kills Your Productivity More Than Procrastination | Ep 13
Jan 23, 2024
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Learn about the dangers of dispersion, the cost of hyper ambition, Warren Buffett's investment strategy, exponential growth, and the concept of walking the stairway to flow.
Dispersion, not procrastination, is the real productivity killer that hinders progress and success by dividing our attention and efforts across multiple unrelated projects or pursuits.
Compounding focus, achieved by devoting ourselves to one primary pursuit for an extended period, is the superpower that allows for exponential growth, skill development, and the achievement of long-term goals.
Deep dives
Dispersion: The Lethal Brother of Procrastination
Dispersion is the enemy of progress and focus. It occurs when our attention and efforts are divided across multiple projects or pursuits that do not directly build upon or compound on each other. Dispersion leads to compromised working memory, increased decision fatigue, and cognitive load. It is insidious and can derail even the most successful individuals from their long-term goals. Dispersion is more damaging than procrastination because it sacrifices exponential growth and the power of compounding. To combat dispersion, we must cultivate compounding focus, which involves zeroing in on a single pursuit for an extended period, reducing cognitive biases, and eliminating non-essential distractions.
The Power of Compounding
Compounding focus is a superpower that allows for exponential growth and success. By devoting ourselves to one primary pursuit for a longer period, we can reap the benefits of compounding. With compounding focus, we strengthen neural pathways, accelerate learning, enhance creativity, strengthen self-control and discipline, clarify goals, reduce conflict between objectives, and become more efficient in our work. Compounding focus generates enduring fulfillment and stands in contrast to the fleeting wins and unfulfilled potential of dispersion.
Walking the Stairway to Flow
To overcome dispersion and cultivate compounding focus, we must navigate the staircase to flow. This involves persisting through flow plateaus and resisting the impulse to prematurely explore new avenues. By staying the course in our primary pursuit, we allow for the compounding effects of focus, skill development, expertise, and network-building to take place. While it may require resilience and endurance, persisting with one pursuit leads to heightened creativity, increased growth, and the achievement of long-term goals.
Mastering Explore-Exploit Dynamics
Mastering explore-exploit dynamics is essential for combating dispersion. The key is to find the right balance between exploring new opportunities and exploiting current pursuits. Successful individuals become captains who understand the value of compounding focus and the need to alternate between exploration and exploitation. By choosing one primary pursuit, prioritizing within that pursuit, and persisting with it, we can override our biological tendency to over explore and maximize our potential for compounding growth and success.