How can remarkability be achieved without being busy?

Remarkability stems from developing rare and valuable skills. This requires deliberate practice, which is intense but limited in duration each day. Outside of this focused work, one can afford to be less busy and more relaxed, leading to a more remarkable life without burnout.

What are the main traps that lead to busyness even when pursuing remarkability?

The two main traps are: first, accepting more opportunities that increase busyness as you become more successful; and second, the inherent escalation in scope and time required for larger projects as your skills improve, even if you're doing the same core activity.

How can one avoid the trap of increased busyness with success?

You can avoid this by being willing to say 'no' to opportunities that increase busyness but don't align with your core goals. Alternatively, set strict time gates for new ventures or delegate tasks to partners, as Cal Newport does with his podcast by limiting it to half a day per week.

How can I manage my time effectively for grad school research?

As a grad student, prioritize your most important task, likely research, by working on it regularly each day. Fit other tasks like coursework and peer reviews into the remaining time. Treat research as the non-negotiable core engine of your academic work.

How do I know if I'm being productive with a slow productivity approach?

With slow productivity, use quality of output and progress on core goals, not busyness or exhaustion, as markers. It takes time (a quarter or two) to build trust in this approach. Sit with anxiety about not being busy, and trust that focused work leads to better results over time.

Is it better to focus on 'short-term wins' or consistent craft development in my 20s?

Focus on consistent craft development by getting good at something valuable. 'Short-term wins' often stem from busyness and don't aggregate to significant achievements. Your 20s are for honing your skills; the benefits and 'conquering the world' mindset can be realized later.

How should I plan my weekly tasks in relation to my quarterly goals?

When planning your week, refer to your larger quarterly or strategic plan to identify key projects. Block protected time on your calendar for these objectives, rearrange your schedule to free up time if needed, and clean up your task systems to identify priorities.

What is considered 'work' in fixed schedule productivity?

Fixed schedule productivity defines 'work' as the hours you've set aside for your job. Errands or personal reading are separate activities that must fit around, or within, these designated work hours without shifting the overall schedule.

Why are productivity advice and systems constantly changing?

The nature of work and its demands evolve over time. Productivity advice shifts to address current challenges, from the space-age optimism of the 1960s to the digital overload of today, meaning there's no single, permanent 'right' way to work.

Are single-player video games like 'Red Dead Redemption 2' a waste of time?

High-quality, single-player games can be considered an art form and part of an intentional life, offering intricate stories similar to films. They are generally self-limiting and not designed for addiction, making them a reasonable pursuit for a limited time.

Should I worry about always tweaking my productivity systems?

While it's important to continually reassess your work methods, avoid 'productivity fetishism' or the endless pursuit of a perfect system. Once you have a functional plan, focus on executing it and get back to the actual work, checking in periodically for necessary adjustments.

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Remarkable lives stem from rare skills, not busyness. Avoid traps of increased busyness as you succeed.

Key Insights

Remarkable individuals are often less busy because their success is built on rare and valuable skills, not constant activity.

Developing rare skills, through deliberate practice, is crucial for career capital and gaining control over one's professional life.

Busyness can be an obstacle to developing deep skills and achieving remarkability; true achievement requires focused, hard work, not just being busy.

Two common traps that lead to busyness despite striving for remarkability are the allure of new opportunities and the increasing scale of successful projects.

Avoiding these traps involves consciously saying no to opportunities that dilute focus and managing the increasing scale of commitments by varying intensity.

Effective productivity systems should focus on intention and skill development, not just visible activity or perceived busyness.

THE CURIOUS PARADOX OF THE REMARKABLE AND THE UNBUSY

A curious paradox exists where individuals who lead remarkable lives often appear to be less busy than those who feel overwhelmed and far from achieving their desired life. This discrepancy is explored by examining the habits of elite performers, such as professional violinists, who dedicate their practice time to 'deliberate practice.' This focused, challenging work, though difficult in the moment, is consolidated into specific periods, allowing for more rest and relaxation outside of these targeted sessions, contrary to the 'hard-to-do' work that drains energy through constant, less productive activity.

RARE SKILLS AS THE FUEL FOR REMARKABILITY

Developing rare and valuable skills, referred to as 'career capital,' is presented as the primary driver of a remarkable life. The more adept one becomes at a particular skill, the more leverage and control they gain over their professional trajectory. This control allows for customization of one's work life regarding location, hours, project selection, and pace. Therefore, the pursuit of deep expertise, rather than a general state of busyness, is the foundation for crafting a life that is perceived as remarkable.

THE SYLLOGISM: SKILL, RE-RANKABILITY, AND NON-BUSYNESS

The core argument connects these ideas: if developing rare skills doesn't require constant busyness, and if rare skills fuel a remarkable life, then remarkable lives do not inherently require busyness. Busyness, in this context, is seen as orthogonal or even detrimental to skill development. Elite performers like musicians achieve their status through focused practice, not by being busy all day. This suggests that the path to remarkability is paved with deep skill acquisition, not by maximizing the number of activities performed.

NAVIGATING THE TRAPS OF SUCCESS: OPPORTUNITY AND SCALE DILUTION

As individuals develop rare skills and achieve success, two primary traps emerge that can lead to undesirable busyness. The first trap involves being pulled into more opportunities that, while potentially lucrative or prestigious, increase workload and dilute focus on core skills, exemplified by public figures taking on numerous ventures. The second trap is that the very activities that make one successful at a certain scale may require significantly more time and resources as they grow, such as directing a blockbuster movie compared to an independent film.

STRATEGIES FOR MAINTAINING REMARKABILITY WITHOUT EXCESSIVE BUSYNESS

To avoid these traps, conscious strategies are necessary. This includes developing a greater willingness to say 'no' to opportunities that deviate from one's core goals, or to impose strict time limits on new ventures. For the second trap, where successful projects naturally become larger, a key strategy from 'Slow Productivity' is to embrace variations in intensity. This means allowing for periods of intense work followed by deliberate downtime, mirroring the cycles of creative professionals like film directors who strategically manage their energy and focus.

RECALIBRATING PRODUCTIVITY: INTENTION OVER ACTIVITY

The concept of 'pseudo-productivity,' where visible activity is mistaken for useful effort, is identified as a pervasive issue in modern knowledge work. This approach leads to busyness and exhaustion, often serving as a poor proxy for genuine accomplishment. The alternative, 'Slow Productivity,' emphasizes doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality. Gauging success requires shifting from metrics of busyness to trust in one's refined systems and the actual output, which may take a quarter or two to fully appreciate and internalize. True remarkability is crafted, not accumulated through incessant action.

THE LONG GAME: FOCUSING ON CRAFT OVER SHORT-TERM WINS

The idea that significant achievements require a 'conquer the world' mindset in one's twenties, involving numerous short-term wins, is challenged. Instead, it's argued that true remarkability and large-scale success develop over time through sustained focus on craft and skill development. The twenties are a crucial period for honing expertise and learning to say 'no' to distractions, laying the groundwork for later achievements. This long-term perspective on skill-building is more psychologically sustainable and ultimately more effective than chasing fleeting validation through constant activity.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Common Questions

The productivity paradox suggests that sometimes the harder you try to be productive or busy, the less effective you actually become. This is often because true progress comes from focused, deliberate work, not constant activity.

Topics

Time Management Mindset & Self-Improvement Deliberate Practice Skill Development Work-life Balance Career Capital Productivity Systems Career & Skills Focus And Deep Work

Mentioned in this video

conceptParkinson's Law

The adage that work expands to fill the time available for its completion, relevant to the discussion on fixed schedule productivity.

companyBlinkist

An app providing summaries and audio guides of books, used by the hosts for triaging potential reading material.

personEdwin C. Bliss

Author of 'Getting Things Done' in the 1970s, offering a more technocratic and less optimistic approach to time management during economic challenges.

personCal Newport

The speaker, author of 'So Good They Can't Ignore You' and 'Slow Productivity', discussing the productivity paradox and other related concepts.

personMalcolm Gladwell

Author who wrote about deliberate practice in his book 'Outliers,' referencing the study on violinists.

bookOutliers

A book by Malcolm Gladwell that discussed deliberate practice using the example of professional violin players.

bookSo Good They Can't Ignore You

Cal Newport's book, which elaborates on the concept of Career Capital and the development of rare and valuable skills.

personMark Rober

A YouTuber and engineer known for elaborate projects like glitter bombs to catch porch pirates, used as an example of increased busyness with success.

personJimmy Kimmel

Host of a late-night show, mentioned in the context of Mark Rober's increased success and media appearances.

personGreta Gerwig

Director, mentioned as an example of how directing a large-scale project like 'Barbie' requires significantly more time compared to smaller projects like 'Frances Ha'.

bookSlow Productivity

Cal Newport's book that discusses strategies for working at a natural pace and focusing on quality over quantity.

toolMaui Nei Venison

A company selling venison harvested from invasive axis deer on Maui, Hawaii, promoting sustainable and healthy meat options.

productMosh Bars

High-protein snack bars founded by Maria Shriver and Patrick Schwarzenegger, designed to support brain health and provide energy.

personMaria Shriver

Co-founder of Mosh bars, inspired by her father's experience with Alzheimer's, focusing on brain health through food.

personPatrick Schwarzenegger

Co-founder of Mosh bars with Maria Shriver, focusing on brain health and donating proceeds to research.

softwareTrello

A project management tool mentioned for organizing tasks and work, particularly within Cal Newport's productivity systems.

conceptFixed Schedule Productivity

A meta-productivity strategy where work hours are fixed in advance, requiring users to fit their tasks within those constraints.

softwareRed Dead Redemption 2

A single-player video game highlighted for its superb storytelling and visual originality, considered an art form.

personPeter Drucker

Author whose 1967 productivity advice focused on space-age optimism, time logs, and eliminating 'time wasters.'

personStephen Covey

Author of 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' (popular in the 80s/90s), focusing on self-actualization and aligning work with deep values.

conceptpseudo productivity

A term coined by Cal Newport to describe the reliance on visible activity as a proxy for useful effort, often leading to busyness without true productivity.

mediaZelda: Breath of the Wild

A video game for the Nintendo Switch that is considered beautiful and enjoyable without being addictively designed.

mediaFirewatch

A single-player video game praised for its storytelling, mentioned as an example of games that can be part of an intentional life.

productMicrosoft Xbox

Mentioned in the context of headset usage, implying that excessive use beyond professional requirements might indicate life choices to be wary of.

companyPolicy Genius

A company that simplifies the process of comparing life insurance quotes from various insurers.

personDavid Allen

Author of the 'Getting Things Done' system (2001), shifting focus to automating work and finding mental peace amidst increased digital distractions.

bookThe Management of Time

James T. McKay's 1959 book, cited as the earliest modern-style business productivity guide, discussed in the context of evolving productivity advice.

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