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This is optimal living daily episode 1105 the difference between experiments and goals how to balance spontaneity with a focused Pursuit Of Fame by Cal Newport of Cal Newport.com, and I'm just a moloch happy Thursday and welcome to one of the only podcast in the world where blogs are narrated to you for free with permission from the author's it's an award-winning podcast. Thanks to you the listener and thank you for being part of my Weekly Newsletter if you're on that if you're not you can Get quotes life tips free spreadsheets help you optimize your life and hear about what I'm reading or watching stuff like that. Plus your entered into book Raffles on the first of every month. If you're part of that all free just go to old podcast.com to join for now. Let's get right to today's post and start optimizing your life. The difference between experiments and goals how to balance spontaneity with the focused Pursuit Of Fame by Cal Newport of Cal Newport.com. To start or not to start three weeks ago. I published a controversial post titled getting started is overrated my basic point. If you want to become truly impressive, you have to focus on a small number of things for a long period of time to the exclusion of other activities. I don't like the just get started approach to accomplishment because it makes exclusive Focus difficult as Steve Martin taught us getting good enough to reap major rewards requires incredible dedication. Asian jumping at every project that catches your attention derails such monastic devotion instead. I suggested you should resist starting resist until you're absolutely sure that a Pursuit is perfect for you. Only then will you be able to give it the long-term dedication required anything less waste time as you can read in the comments to the original article and in been Kaz noches response this pose generated a lot of discussion some people agreed for Well, Stella said quote great post having worked for a large multinational travel agency that forced a culture of starch down my throat for many years. I've become very skeptical of the Richard Branson type of entrepreneur over the years. I've had many business and investment ideas that I'm so glad I never got around to and quote on the other hand many others disagreed such as grad hacker quote starting is often the best form of research and how do you develop a passion without starting? Something and quote and Ben who noted quote some tasks give feedback faster. If undertaking right away in a small dose as opposed to analyzing it from afar take Cal's examples. If you want to become a writer sure you can talk to writers and study the profession but is there a better way to understand whether writing gird your loins and actually putting pen to paper and to quote the odd loin references side. We are faced here with a clear dilemma who is right. I was struggling with a good answer my seat. Wisdom and both points of view when a real gift came along but gift delivered from my friend Scott young who recently posted an insightful dissection of this issue his approach brings Clarity to a confusing situation. It goes as follows separating experiments from goals. Scott makes the following observation quote. I like to separate my pursues into to broader categories experiments and goals experiments are the activities you take with almost zero. Amendment goals are beyond the stage of experimenting this is when you've had enough experience in an area that you want to accomplish something important within it be careful about getting caught in the middle Zone. This is an area which is no longer an experiment but you don't have the focus and commitment to achieve anything meaningful having lots of activities in this middle Zone means you're wasting a lot of energy that could be better spent achieving something important or finding new opportunities and to quote right on Scott. I think this model captures the best of both sides of the getting started debate. It's okay to have both high value goals, which require Focus to the exclusion of other high-value goals and small low commitment experiments which require a small amount of time and are used only to explore the real insight is to note that separation is key. The danger is letting an experiment reach a middle Zone in which it starts sapping time and energy away from your high value goals, but it's still not Sing meaningful results after thinking about this model for a few days. I want to add a few thoughts of my own number one make a distinction between achievements and habits this discussion becomes clearer when we separate out our lifestyle habits such as Fitness Reading social events and even minor Hobbies like biking or joining a kickball team these all fall under the category of enjoying your life. They don't compete with your high value goals. You can identify them by the following 2 Phillips. Features one they aren't meant to provide large rewards and to their primary purpose is your day-to-day happiness when I say don't get started. I'm not talking about these habits jump in and out of these Miss much as you like number two use experiments to explore potential new high-value goals unlike habits experiments exist for the sole purpose of investigating whether a given Pursuit might be worth transforming into a high-value goal as many of you pointed out. Jumping in and trying something at a low non-committal level can be a good way to investigate whether or not to commit to that goal in the long term. Number three keep experiments obligation free the easiest way to have an experiment slide into that dangerous middle zone is to have it start generating regular time obligations the best experiments require time only at your discretion. You can if you want stop at the spur of the moment or put it aside for six months without any negative consequences. Has for example don't experiment with becoming a journalist by taking a demanding 20 hour a week copy editor position with your college newspaper instead work on submitting some unsolicited op-eds. Only once you're ready to really commit should you jump into the time-consuming obligation heavy entry-level work number four stop experimenting once our goal slots are filled. This is perhaps the hardest advice for people to hear once you've settled on the one two, three high-value goals that you want to commit to The number depends on your situation a student, for example again support more high-value goals in a first-year investment banker stop experimenting your attention needs to be focused on getting good at your long-term Pursuits, even though experimenting with new Pursuits is more fun. You should only start experimenting again. If you complete one of your high value goals or start to really question whether you should replace one a number five experimenting within the confines of a high-value goal. However is always allowed Loud, I must add a crucial distinction that I think causes some havoc in the discussion over at Ben's blog within the confines of a given high-value goal experimenting is good expose yourself to Randomness. Try lots of different angles to make progress anyone who achieve something very impressive will probably credit at least some Serendipity along the way the key. However is that this random moment happened usually after they committed themselves to the general direction, for example, if you want to start a business You might want to experiment that first with several small ideas and random networking events. This all falls under the rubric of your entrepreneur goal don't however spend three months taking a screenwriting course, that would be an unrelated experiment. I find this topic fascinating but there are as we've seen already uncountable variations and issues that arise this is roughly what has worked so far for me. You just listen to The Post titled the difference between experiments and goals how to balance spontaneity with a focus Pursuit Of Fame by Cal Newport of Cal Newport.com. A real quick. Thanks to anchor for hosting this podcast. Anchor is the easiest way to make a podcast. They'll distribute your podcast for you. So it can be heard everywhere Spotify Apple podcasts Google podcasts and many more you can easily make money from your podcast to with no minimum listenership. Anchor gives you everything you need in one place for free which you can use right from your phone or computer creation tools allow you to record and edit your podcast. So it sounds great download the anchor app or go to a anchor dot fm to get started Thank you for being here and listening every day and I'll be back tomorrow where your optimal life away.
Cal Newport of the Study Hacks blog shares the difference between experiments and goals and how to balance spontaneity with the focused pursuit of fame. Episode 1105: The Difference Between Experiments and Goals: How to Balance Spontaneity with the Focused Pursuit of Fame Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, who specializes in the theory of distributed algorithms. He previously earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 2009 and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004. In addition to studying the theoretical foundations of our digital age as a professor, Newport also writes about the impact of these technologies on the world of work. His most recent book, Deep Work, argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the knowledge economy, and that individuals who cultivate their ability to concentrate without distraction will thrive. The original post is located here: http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/16/the-difference-between-experiments-and-goals-how-to-balance-spontaneity-with-the-focused-pursuit-of-fame/ Please Rate & Review the Show! Facebook Group and Join the Ol' Family to get your Free Gifts! 