#027 Deep Focus Hours
Something terrible I have to admit, for somebody that writes so much about being consistent, is that I’ve been terribly inconsistent in my writing practice. Luckily all of these are public notes to myself and I’m still learning throughout the process, but when I’m up at 5a on Tuesday mornings trying to get these briefings across the finish line, you know why.
I’ve been thinking about this tweet I saw earlier this week. And especially the last sentence.
“The second requires two Herculean efforts, the first requires none. Consistency compiles to huge numbers.”
Deep work isn’t found in the all-nighters the day before its due.
The deep work is in the consistent, every day effort. It’s found in the sacrifices you make to earn desired outcomes.
There are moments when we all have to show up for sprints and long working sessions. But life is long. And you won’t make it very far relying on only your best performances. And by you, I mean me as well.
— Alex
Ideas from me
I. FOUR STEPS. DON’T SKIP ANY.
Show up. Many work sessions will feel unproductive which can feel frustrating, but the best creatives sit down to work even when they don't feel like it. Consistency rewards creativity.
Generate a ton of ideas. Your best ideas rarely come early. So when you think you've got it, keep going.
Refine the good ones. If you find yourself over-explaining, it's likely too difficult to digest. The best ideas are simple and easy to understand.
Share the best ones. The potential for criticism forces you to pay attention to the details, and naturally encourages you to improve.
II. END GOALS
When learning something new:
Instead of asking "What is the optimal path to success?"
Ask "How will this make my life better?"
Whether it's cooking, creative work, or getting fit. If you don't enjoy it, don't even bother.
Quote from somebody else
“Design isn’t crafting a beautiful textured button with breathtaking animation. It’s figuring out if there’s a way to get rid of the button altogether.”
— Edward Tufte
Links worth sharing
🌐 Thanks for scooping up all of collection 02 at MOUTHWASH. If you missed it, or want more, pay attention to Basic.Space this week.
💭 I keep a running library of thoughts and ideas here called The Start of an Idea. Some are from me and some are from others.
👀 Peep the profile photo change at MOUTHWASH Studio. Announcement coming later this week.
🔊 Mass Files is an archive of auditory landscapes captured around the globe. Almost feels like traveling.
Thanks for another week!
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