Prioritizing tasks and focusing on a set list of goals rather than getting overwhelmed with a long bucket list of possibilities can alleviate cognitive overload. This approach, common in the software industry, enables teams to assess their priorities and avoid unnecessary stress and overhead. The lack of clear prioritization and the increase in remote work during the pandemic led to an overwhelming amount of tasks and the visible impact of the 'overhead tax.' This tax refers to the extra time and effort required to manage tasks such as scheduling Zoom meetings and the inefficiencies of remote communication. The increase in overhead tax made it evident that we were already spending significant time discussing work-related matters prior to the pandemic. Therefore, it is crucial for individuals and teams to recognize the importance of prioritization and reducing unnecessary overhead in order to improve productivity and well-being.
If you were to imagine the lifestyle you want and reverse engineer your career from that start point, what would your life look like? How much control do you have over your schedule? What’s your work life balance? What are you known for? This week I sat down for a conversation with one of the most highly requested guests yet, Cal Newport. Cal is a computer science professor at Georgetown University and New York Times bestselling author of seven books including Digital Minimalism and Deep Work where he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. In the episode we discuss how to design a career that’s fulfilling to you, the creator business model and how to take control of your productivity in a world where you’re confronted by forces trying to throw you off track. Enjoy!
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(00:00) Intro
(02:01) How do you approach the word productivity?
(05:24) What does a week in your life look like?
(13:43) Creator businesses vs academia
(27:17) The social status and complexities of careers
(33:43) The creatorpreneur lifestyle
(43:05) How to design your lifestyle and career
(47:18) Book writing
(55:59) Contrarian writing
(01:07:27) Do you get criticism about Deep Work?
(01:11:59) What's your take on toxic productivity?
(01:17:09) Personal productivity in corporate jobs doesn't work
(01:21:58) What is slow productivity?
(01:37:12) What's your note taking method?
Creators & Guests
- Amber Baxter-Clarke - Producer
- Ali Abdaal - Host
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🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI
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Find the show notes and the transcript on the website: https://aliabdaal.com/podcast/
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