Focusing on Impact over Velocity

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Key takeaways

Transcript

Episode notes

Obsessing over making a positive impact can deliver more value with fewer features
Focusing on a smaller number of important and high impact tasks can lead to more success economically
This approach is in line with the three principles of slow productivity: do fewer things, work at a natural pace, obsess over quality
This impact versus velocity tradeoff can be applied to different areas including software development, academic service, and client service

The reading life is a deep life. The screen-filled life can be primitive and exhausting. Which one do you want?

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Why is it important to read books? [7:23]

- Should I buy physical copies of books I enjoyed on my kindle? [30:45]
- How should I organize my notes when writing a non-fiction book? [34:38]
- How do I train myself to become a reader? [40:34]
- How should I build a library? [50:25]
- What does Cal think about Sam Bankman-Fried’s claim that books are worthless? [55:12]

Something Interesting: [1:02:21]

- Napoleon’s solution to inbox overload
- Rethinking productivity: impact vs. velocity

Links:

abc.net.au/religion/maryanne-wolf-cultivating-deep-reading-in-a-digital-age/102001224

reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/11fphcy/til_napoleon_bonaparte_refused_to_open_his_mail/

itamargilad.com/velocity-vs-impact/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.