Asynchronous issues

Asynchronous communication can quickly become a productivity drain when it leads to excessive back and forth messaging. This constant monitoring of messages can create a state of partial continuous attention that hinders deep thinking and quality work. Instead of relying on sporadic asynchronous exchanges, establishing regular office hours for real-time discussions greatly enhances efficiency. By consolidating synchronous communication into designated time slots, collaboration becomes streamlined, reducing the time wasted on scheduling while allowing for focused and productive interactions.

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Episode notes

Cal Newport is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, where he is also a founding member of the Center for Digital Ethics. His books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over forty languages. He is also a contributor to The New Yorker and hosts the popular Deep Questions podcast. His new book is Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.

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Timestamps for this episode are available below. Resources from this episode: https://tim.blog/2024/02/21/cal-newport-slow-productivity/

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Start

[06:14] Unforced Errors: The Internet Story.

[09:41] Techno-selectionism.

[18:06] Why YouTube and podcasts aren’t ideal bedfellows.

[23:03] Amish technology and Steve Martin.

[28:07] What prompted Cal to write Slow Productivity?

[31:35] Becoming a better writer through blogging.

[36:54] The benefits of obsessing over quality.

[40:54] How did Cal decide to identify himself as a writer?

[52:02] People who exemplify slow productivity.