Podcast Summary
Alternative paths for fiction writers to succeed: Fiction writers can thrive through self-publishing, targeting specific markets and genres, and discovering their unique style and audience.
There are alternative paths for fiction writers to make a living in the writing industry, particularly through self-publishing. This was brought to light in a listener's email in response to a recent interview with Ryan Holiday. The email highlighted the success of full-time fiction writers who write consistently and cater to specific markets or genres. The writer, Todd, shared his own experience of earning a six-figure income through self-publishing in the niche of progression fantasy. While this isn't a guaranteed or the only path, it's worth noting that there are more fiction writers thriving in this way than through traditional publishing means. Additionally, the discussion also touched upon the importance of finding one's unique writing style and audience, whether it be through fiction or non-fiction.
Setting limitations leads to success in writing and corporate environments: Limit interviews to 4 per candidate in hiring process and audit meetings to eliminate unnecessary ones for productivity and focus
In the world of self-publishing, there are successful authors in narrow genres who publish multiple books a year and write thousands of words daily. These authors often write in specific genres where readers enjoy comforting, easy-to-read stories for a low price. Meanwhile, in a corporate setting, doing less can lead to success. For instance, Google's former head of people operations, Lazlo Bach, implemented a rule that only allowed four interviews per candidate, requiring an exception for more. Additionally, conducting meeting audits can help eliminate unnecessary meetings. These examples demonstrate the importance of setting limitations to focus on what truly matters.
Reducing Unnecessary Meetings for Increased Productivity: Organizations are implementing meeting audits and eliminating unnecessary meetings to save time and improve productivity. Strategies include Asana's Meeting Doomsday program, removing standing meetings with less than five people, shortening meetings, and top-down purges. Adding friction to doing more can also help reduce distractions.
Less can be more, especially when it comes to meetings and productivity in the workplace. Over the past two decades, meetings have increased by 50% or more, and the pandemic alone added an additional 13%. To combat this overload, organizations are implementing meeting audits and aggressive measures to eliminate unnecessary meetings. One effective approach is Asana's Meeting Doomsday program, where a standing committee identifies and eliminates one meeting a month that lacks value. Another way is to simply remove all standing meetings with less than five people from employees' calendars for a set period. By making meetings earn their place on the calendar, organizations can save time and improve productivity. Other strategies include shortening meetings and implementing top-down purges, where leaders eliminate entire product lines or initiatives. However, constant use of top-down purges can create an environment of fear and uncertainty. Adding friction to doing more, such as making it harder to reply all to large email lists, can also help reduce unnecessary work and distractions. Ultimately, the key is to prioritize and eliminate what's not essential, allowing teams to focus on what truly matters.
Focus on the main things: Prioritize the essentials, dedicate time, and protect it to be more productive and successful
It's essential to prioritize the main things in our lives and work, ensuring they have dedicated time and space. This principle, known as "do fewer things," is effective for both individuals and organizations. As discussed, Ryan's focus on writing books is a prime example, as is the case study of a professor who fought for dedicated research time. It's easy to let distractions and other people's demands take over, but the consequences of neglecting the main thing can be severe. By setting aside dedicated time and protecting it, we can be more productive and successful in our endeavors. This principle aligns with the advice given to pre-tenure professors about prioritizing publications for tenure and the importance of focusing on what truly matters.
Revolutionizing Healthcare with Technology: Zocdoc offers easy doctor finding, patient reviews, and online appointment booking. Amazon Pharmacy delivers medications and offers transparent pricing, saving time and money.
Technology is revolutionizing the way we access healthcare services. ZOCDoc is an example of this, providing an easy and efficient solution for finding top-rated doctors in your area, reading patient reviews, and even booking appointments and completing paperwork online. This saves time and effort, making the process more convenient and streamlined. Another example is Amazon Pharmacy, which delivers medications directly to your door and offers transparent pricing, saving time and money. These innovations are making healthcare more accessible and convenient for everyone. To find a top-rated doctor using ZOCDoc, go to zach.com/deep and download the zach.app for free. And for your prescription needs, consider Amazon Pharmacy for a simpler, more convenient experience.
Walking for creativity, but not for precise work: Walking can enhance creativity, but may hinder precise work. Prioritize walking breaks for novel stimuli and focused work for precise tasks.
Walking can be beneficial for creative problem-solving and generating insights, but it may not be ideal for all types of work. The motion involved in walking is believed to suppress other parts of the brain, making it easier to focus on the task at hand. However, for precise English composition or tasks requiring detailed attention, being in motion might hinder productivity. Therefore, incorporating walking into the workday by taking breaks outside for novel stimuli is recommended, while keeping computer screen work for focused tasks. For those working in a big bureaucracy with unpredictable project cycles, it's essential to lean into the busy periods and prioritize work from external teams during those times, while utilizing quiet periods for self-initiated projects.
Implicit protocols for collaboration: Clearly, define communication flow and project timelines with outside parties, be respectful and open to feedback, focus on craft over social media, and navigate transparency with supervisors and balance work and personal projects.
Having clear and implicit protocols in place when working with outside parties can help manage expectations and improve collaboration. The speaker emphasized the importance of establishing these protocols without being overly forceful, allowing both parties to understand the flow of communication and project timelines. For performers like Meredith, the speaker suggested focusing on improving craft rather than relying heavily on social media for career advancement. Lastly, for those writing a book while working, it's essential to navigate transparency with supervisors and find a balance between work and personal projects. Implicit protocols can help manage these overlapping responsibilities.
Focus on creating a compelling proposal with an agent before writing the entire manuscript: To increase your chances of publishing a nonfiction book, focus on creating a strong proposal with an agent before writing the entire manuscript. Communicate openly with your employer about your writing project to minimize any potential conflicts.
If you're serious about writing a nonfiction book, the first step isn't to write the entire manuscript. Instead, you should focus on creating a compelling proposal with the help of an agent. This may seem daunting, but it's essential to understand the rules of the publishing industry. Agents and publishers want to see a well-thought-out proposal before they consider investing in a full manuscript. By following this process, you'll increase your chances of success and receive valuable feedback to improve your idea. Additionally, if you're employed while writing your book, it's important to communicate openly with your employer about your writing project. In most cases, they will be supportive, and you'll be able to write in your free time. By addressing any potential concerns upfront, you can focus on your writing without worrying about any potential negative consequences.
The Importance of Government Review of Confidential Information: Blogs vs newsletters: while blogs rely on human-curated recommendations, newsletters offer a more direct and personal connection between the writer and the reader, escaping the distractions and misinformation of algorithmic curation.
The review of confidential information by the government is a crucial process, especially for those who have access to classified information even after retirement, such as former Navy SEALs who write novels. This was highlighted in the discussion about the controversy surrounding the anonymous author of "No Easy Day" and the lawsuit against him for not submitting his manuscript for review. The age of blogs and the current age of email newsletters through services like Substack were compared. While blogs had the advantage of human-curated recommendations, the new world of newsletters escapes the trap of algorithmic curation, which is a major source of distraction, polarization, misinformation, and tribalization in social media. The blogosphere relied on distributed human webs of editorial trust, while newsletters offer a more direct and personal connection between the writer and the reader.
Newsletters vs Blogs: Trust and Monetization: Newsletters offer a more trustworthy and diverse range of info compared to algorithmic curation, but they rely on social capital for discovery and monetization, leading to less serendipity and diversity. Blogs democratized publishing but didn't make it easy for individual writers to monetize.
Newsletters offer a more trustworthy and diverse range of information compared to algorithmic curation, but they lack the energetic and robust linking that was a characteristic of the blogosphere. Newsletters rely more on social capital for discovery and monetization, which can lead to less serendipity and diversity. However, newsletters have an advantage over blogs as they allow high-level writers to make a living through subscriptions, which was not the case with blogs. The blogosphere democratized publishing but did not make it easy for individual writers to monetize. The evolution of text-based media shows that both models have their strengths and weaknesses, and understanding these differences can help us navigate the digital media landscape effectively.
Establish clear communication systems for a productive solo practice: Implement office hours, designated portals, or paid consultation slots for clear expectations and structure, reducing interruptions and increasing productivity.
Having a clear communication system in place is crucial for maintaining productivity, especially when transitioning from a larger organization to a solo practice. Without such systems, individuals will default to interrupting you with their queries, making it difficult to focus on deep work. By implementing office hours, designated portals for communication, or paid consultation slots, you can provide clients with clarity about when they can expect a response, making your life easier and reducing interruptions. This doesn't have to be a complicated process, and most people will adapt to the new system with minimal fuss. The key is to establish clear expectations and provide structure, which will ultimately lead to a more productive work environment.
The Future of Consumer Electronics: Cloud Computation and AR Glasses: The future of consumer electronics involves most computation happening in the cloud, with AR glasses being the primary device for accessing virtual screens. This shift raises philosophical and economic concerns.
The future of consumer electronics is predicted to involve most computation happening in the cloud, with AR glasses being the primary device for accessing virtual screens. Sam expresses concern about potential control of these virtual screens by companies, but this capability already exists with networked computers. However, there are two main concerns: philosophical, regarding the blurred line between real and virtual, and economic, as industries reliant on physical devices may face disruption. The shift towards virtualized computation and screens is already happening, with Google Workspaces being an example, and the challenges, such as latency, are being addressed.
The Future of Gaming and Virtual Experiences: Companies invest in cloud gaming technology for real-time, high-frame-rate computations and distribution of 3D graphics processing, with a vision of projecting experiences onto AR/VR glasses.
The future of gaming and virtual experiences may involve streaming games from powerful servers in the cloud instead of relying on local hardware. However, this presents challenges such as the need for real-time, high-frame-rate computations and the difficulty of distributing 3D graphics processing. Companies like Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon are investing heavily in this technology, with a vision of eventually projecting these experiences onto augmented or virtual reality glasses. A related development is the Hinson razor, which uses precision manufacturing to create a high-quality, firm razor that can be used with standard blades, offering a cost-effective solution for consumers.
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Investing in a long-lasting razor and utilizing resources like Blinkist to efficiently consume high-quality ideas can significantly enhance your life. Firstly, consider purchasing a razor that will last you a lifetime, such as the one offered at Hinson Shaving with code "Cal" for a free two-year supply of blades. Remember to add the blades to your cart to receive the offer. Secondly, Blinkist is a valuable tool for those seeking to expand their knowledge through books. With over 5,000 nonfiction books and 27 categories, Blinkist provides 15-minute summaries, called "Blinks," allowing you to quickly understand the main ideas of various books on a specific topic. For serious readers, Blinkist can help guide your reading choices and potentially save you time and money by determining which books are worth purchasing for further study. Currently, Blinkist offers a special deal for our audience: a 25% discount on a premium membership with a free seven-day trial by visiting Blinkist.com/deep. By implementing these strategies, you can streamline your daily life and make the most of your time and resources.
Managing online presence for young researchers: Young researchers should create a professional website to control their online presence, including self-description, social proof, and contact information for academic and media inquiries.
Creating a professional online presence is crucial for young researchers to establish themselves in their field and make it easy for others to contact them, while also managing unwanted messages. The speaker's decision to not return to social media and start a personal website with controlled contact information is a smart approach. The website should include a self-description, social proof, and selected academic work, as well as clear and depersonalized contact addresses for media inquiries, academic inquiries, and other requests. By following these steps, researchers can effectively manage their online presence and communication while maintaining focus on their work.
Maximizing productivity with social media and distractions: Focus on multi-scale planning, realistic expectations, and consolidating info for optimal productivity. Use tools, but understand effort is required. Implement time blocking and prioritize tasks. Reset mindset for academic or creative work.
Individuals have the power to control their use of social media and other distractions, while effectively managing their tasks and projects. Cal Newport suggests focusing on multi-scale planning, realistic expectations, and consolidating information for optimal productivity. Remember, taking notes and finding the information you need is part of the job and requires effort. Use tools that work best for you, but understand that the process will always involve some level of hardship. For those struggling with completing tasks, consider implementing time blocking and prioritizing decisions about what to focus on and when. Lastly, for those feeling overwhelmed by information, reset your mindset and expectations, and understand that the process of learning and producing academic or creative work will always involve some level of difficulty.
Overcoming fear and uncertainty in starting a creative project: Build trust in the process by seeking out resources and learning from experts to overcome fear and uncertainty, ultimately leading to motivation and progress
Procrastination in starting a creative project like writing a novel can stem from the conflict between the excitement of the creative process and the uncertainty and fear of not knowing if we're good enough or if we're following the right process. To overcome this, it's recommended to build trust in the process by learning more about it and becoming an expert. This may involve seeking out resources, such as books, writing groups, or freelance editors, to gain valuable insights and feedback. Although it may feel like a step backwards, investing time and effort into building trust in the process will ultimately lead to motivation and progress towards achieving the goal of writing a novel. Trust is a powerful motivator.
