3-2-1: On Why You Should Work Less, Learn Less, And Do A Worse Job
Wisdom Wednesday #19
Hey fam,
It's time for your weekly does of wisdom (now in a new, denser, 5-minutes-or-less format!).
Here's 3 ideas from me, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question for you to mull over this week.
3 Ideas From Me:
I.
Teach those a few steps behind you. Learn from those a few steps in front of you.
You cannot effectively teach those a decade behind you—you forgot most of the transition steps and times have changed too drastically for most of what you did to still work.
Similarly, you cannot effectively learn from those a decade ahead of you—watching interviews of Elon Musk is not going to teach you anything that can help you now.
For the most impact and progress: focus on learning from those who just succeeded at your current goal, and on helping those who are where you just were.
II.
Focus on being first. You can become the best later.
The people who get there first get first mover advantage, the first movers achieve the network effects, and network effects compound in to massive growth.
It doesn't matter how good you can become if all the opportunities are taken by the time you show up.
Meaning that trying to be early to a new market is far better than trying to become the best in a saturated one. This is regardless of whether that “market” is for a promotion in an existing company, of starting a new one entirely.
How to be first? Double down on the problems you love solving; figure out how to use your unique, one-of-a-kind combination of strengths and knowledge to provide value in a way no one else is capable of.
III.
Doer strategies do not work for thinkers. Thinker strategies do not work for doers.
99% of people fit in two camps: those for whom working is a requirement and thinking is a supplement ("Doers"), and those for whom thinking is a requirement and working is a supplement ("Thinkers").
Thinkers who rely on the "just work harder" strategy and Doers who rely on the "wait to act until the idea is clear enough" strategy will always be miserable and ineffective.
Be careful not to just follow whatever ratio is standard in your industry. Instead, find the balance that works best for you (in hours per day or week), and if need be, build symbiotic relationships with those who are your inverse.
2 Quotes From Others:
I.
Entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuck on haters and critics:
"The people who are booing aren't on the field. They bought tickets to watch."
Source: Gary Vaynerchuck
II.
Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre on complainers and freeloaders:
"Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat."
Source: The Philosoph
1 Question For You:
And finally, your one question to ponder this week:
What am I procrastinating right now? How could I reframe it to be easier or even fun so I can feel motivated to take action?
That's all for today!
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Catch you next time,
Matt