1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,600
Welcome to your deep dive.

2
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:03,680
Today we're gonna be tackling productivity

3
00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,640
and expertise and how we learn best.

4
00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,200
Sounds intense.

5
00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:09,040
It is.

6
00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:11,320
You know, you sent over a bunch of really interesting stuff,

7
00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,080
especially that David Epstein interview.

8
00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:14,320
Oh yeah, he's great.

9
00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,520
Yeah, his book range kind of flips the script

10
00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,040
on all that typical productivity advice, you know?

11
00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:20,760
It does seem like you're looking for ways

12
00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,360
to boost your own productivity.

13
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:23,200
Yeah.

14
00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:28,080
And navigate a multifaceted career, which is interesting.

15
00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,160
But also to build this culture of learning

16
00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:31,680
and experimentation with your team.

17
00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,360
So let's dive into Epstein's research

18
00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,280
and see what we can apply to your world.

19
00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,160
Okay, so let's unpack this whole thing.

20
00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:39,000
Okay.

21
00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,400
Epstein, you know, he kind of debunks

22
00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,480
that popular 10,000 hour rule, right?

23
00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:48,080
This idea that if you practice anything for 10,000 hours,

24
00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:49,280
you're gonna be a master.

25
00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,000
Right, it's like the magic number that you just gotta hit.

26
00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,400
Yeah, and he argues that it's way too simplistic

27
00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,040
and it could be misleading.

28
00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:56,880
It is.

29
00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:58,960
And he highlights that the original research

30
00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:00,240
actually had some flaws.

31
00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:01,080
Oh, really?

32
00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,240
Yeah, like a super small sample size of elite violinists.

33
00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:05,320
Okay.

34
00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:08,960
And it didn't even consider like individual variations

35
00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:10,560
in how fast people learn.

36
00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:11,400
Oh, wow.

37
00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,400
Or other factors like how much sleep they were getting.

38
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:15,240
Yeah.

39
00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,880
And the top violinists were getting way more sleep.

40
00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:18,720
Interesting.

41
00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,240
So who knows, maybe that's the secret to success.

42
00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:22,240
Right, more sleep.

43
00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,880
Yeah, right, more sleep, less practice.

44
00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:25,720
Yeah.

45
00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,280
So what's fascinating is that he doesn't dismiss

46
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,000
the importance of practice altogether.

47
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:30,840
Right.

48
00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,240
He just emphasizes that we need to understand

49
00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,160
what type of task we're trying to learn.

50
00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:36,120
Okay, that makes sense.

51
00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:36,960
Yeah.

52
00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:40,360
So he talks about kind learning environments.

53
00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:41,200
Okay.

54
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,120
Like chess or golf, where the rules are super clear

55
00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,280
and the patterns repeat themselves over and over

56
00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:48,880
and feedback is immediate.

57
00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,320
Right, like if you hit the golf ball,

58
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:51,160
you see exactly what's in it.

59
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,920
Exactly, if you make a bad move in chess,

60
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,080
you immediately know.

61
00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:55,420
Right.

62
00:01:55,420 --> 00:01:59,760
So in these areas, focus practice can lead to mastery.

63
00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,120
But that's not really the world most of us live in, right?

64
00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:03,600
Right, it's not so black and white.

65
00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:05,480
Our work is way more complex.

66
00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:06,960
It's constantly evolving.

67
00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:08,880
Right, and the rules are always changing.

68
00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:09,640
Exactly.

69
00:02:09,640 --> 00:02:12,600
Yeah, he calls those wicked learning environments.

70
00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:13,040
Wicked.

71
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:13,520
Wicked.

72
00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:15,960
Yeah, so think about things like managing teams

73
00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,200
or entrepreneurship or even DJing,

74
00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,160
which he said you were learning.

75
00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:19,720
Yes.

76
00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,760
The rules change constantly, feedback is delayed.

77
00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:23,200
Right.

78
00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,480
And what worked yesterday might not work today.

79
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:30,680
So in these wicked environments, blindly putting in 10,000

80
00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,840
hours on one skill might not be the best strategy.

81
00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:35,560
Right.

82
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:36,400
Interesting.

83
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,240
Yeah, instead he suggests that developing a broader set

84
00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,440
of tools or skills, what he calls skill stacking.

85
00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:43,600
Skill stacking, I like that.

86
00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,080
Becomes much more valuable.

87
00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:46,880
So instead of like going deep in one thing,

88
00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,160
you're going broad.

89
00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:49,000
Exactly.

90
00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,040
It's about having a versatile skill set

91
00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,280
that you can adapt to different situations.

92
00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:53,920
I like it.

93
00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:57,400
Yeah, and he uses the example of Nintendo's founder Gunpei

94
00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,640
Yokoi, who wasn't really at the cutting

95
00:03:00,640 --> 00:03:02,640
edge of electronics knowledge, but he

96
00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:05,240
was really good at combining existing technologies

97
00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:06,440
in new ways.

98
00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,600
And this led to huge hits, like the Game Boy.

99
00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:10,640
Wow.

100
00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:12,080
So he was like a master tinker.

101
00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:12,960
Exactly.

102
00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,400
And he called it lateral thinking with withered technology.

103
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:17,560
That's a great phrase.

104
00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:18,240
It is.

105
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:18,840
I love that.

106
00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,120
And it can be surprisingly powerful.

107
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,120
So maybe instead of you feeling like you

108
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,600
need to master one specific area,

109
00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:31,120
you could leverage that design skill you mentioned,

110
00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,640
that you've kind of been neglecting.

111
00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:36,400
You designed that really cool app in college.

112
00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,240
Do you think that could be an asset now?

113
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:39,680
It definitely could be.

114
00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,360
I mean, think about it this way.

115
00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,480
You're dealing with constantly shifting demands, delayed

116
00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,680
feedback, and this need to improvise.

117
00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:49,600
It's not just about what you know.

118
00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:51,800
It's about how you can connect the dots

119
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,200
between different skills.

120
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:53,360
Right.

121
00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,120
And this resonates with your goal of building a culture

122
00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,040
of experimentation on your team.

123
00:03:58,040 --> 00:03:58,600
Right.

124
00:03:58,600 --> 00:03:59,200
It does.

125
00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:00,920
Yeah, because I've implemented some things

126
00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:02,280
like the head of failure role.

127
00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:02,840
Oh, yeah?

128
00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:03,440
You mentioned that?

129
00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:03,680
Yeah.

130
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:05,320
And failure assistance at each department.

131
00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,040
But there's still that pressure to always win,

132
00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,200
even after we hit number one.

133
00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:10,760
You know?

134
00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:11,440
I see what you mean.

135
00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,800
It's like you're always striving for that next big thing.

136
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:14,480
Yeah.

137
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:19,440
But you know, this is where Epstein's Explore Exploit

138
00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:20,760
trade-off comes in.

139
00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:21,280
OK.

140
00:04:21,280 --> 00:04:22,320
Think of it like this.

141
00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,320
Choosing between sticking with your proven marketing

142
00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:30,280
strategy, which is exploit or experimenting

143
00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:33,560
with a risky new platform, which is Explore.

144
00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:33,800
Right.

145
00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,480
So Explore is what we know, and Explore is going out

146
00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:37,360
and trying new things.

147
00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,040
Exactly, and both have their place.

148
00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:39,200
Yeah.

149
00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,600
But teams often get stuck in that exploit mode,

150
00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,080
doing what's worked before.

151
00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:45,120
Right, we get comfortable.

152
00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:45,880
Exactly.

153
00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,640
But to stay innovative, you need to deliberately

154
00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,520
shift into Explore mode.

155
00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:50,840
OK.

156
00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:51,840
Try new things.

157
00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:53,200
And yes, risk failure.

158
00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,880
So encouraging my team to share both wins and failures

159
00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:58,240
openly is key.

160
00:04:58,240 --> 00:04:58,800
It is.

161
00:04:58,800 --> 00:04:59,400
Yeah.

162
00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:00,840
That way you learn collectively,

163
00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:03,040
and you avoid repeating the same mistakes.

164
00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:04,960
But it's not just about team dynamics, is it?

165
00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:05,160
Right.

166
00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:06,760
Because you mentioned that you were feeling really

167
00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,960
overwhelmed by information overload.

168
00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,080
So how can you manage all that input

169
00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:12,560
and actually be productive?

170
00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,040
Well, Epstein offers some strategies for that.

171
00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,160
For example, he suggests not starting your day with email

172
00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,880
because that lingering feeling of unfinished tasks

173
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,000
can really sabotage your focus.

174
00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:26,240
Yeah, I can see that.

175
00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,680
Yeah, and he recommends starting with the one task

176
00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,400
that, if completed, would make your day a success.

177
00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,560
OK, so it's about prioritizing.

178
00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:36,560
Exactly.

179
00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:38,920
And understanding your own productivity patterns.

180
00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,080
So like knowing when I work best?

181
00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:41,920
Exactly.

182
00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:42,240
OK.

183
00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:43,800
You know, are you a morning person?

184
00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:44,840
Are you a night owl?

185
00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:45,320
Yeah.

186
00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,320
When do you do your best thinking?

187
00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:48,000
Right.

188
00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,680
And he also debunks multitasking, which, let's be honest,

189
00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:52,440
most of us do.

190
00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:53,920
Oh, yeah, I'm totally guilty of that.

191
00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:54,600
Right.

192
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,920
But research shows that rapidly switching between tasks

193
00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,960
actually has this mental switching cost, making us

194
00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,600
less efficient and more stressed.

195
00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,400
So we think we're doing more, but we're actually doing less.

196
00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:09,160
Exactly.

197
00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:09,840
And feeling worse.

198
00:06:09,840 --> 00:06:10,800
And feeling worse.

199
00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:12,320
This makes me think about all those times

200
00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,720
I've tried to write while answering emails and planning

201
00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:15,120
meetings.

202
00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:16,360
Oh.

203
00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,120
Not exactly a recipe for success.

204
00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:19,760
Right, you're spreading yourself too thin.

205
00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:20,240
Yeah.

206
00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,800
Instead, he suggests blocking off time for focused work.

207
00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:24,160
OK.

208
00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,160
Minimizing distractions.

209
00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,000
So like turning off notifications.

210
00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:28,440
Exactly.

211
00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:29,880
Maybe even like turning off music.

212
00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,400
Yeah, sometimes even music can be a distraction.

213
00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:32,760
Right.

214
00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,560
It's about creating those pockets of uninterrupted time

215
00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,400
where you can really dig in and do your best work.

216
00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,440
So those self-regulatory practices that Epstein

217
00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,960
talks about, like planning experiments to improve

218
00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,480
and monitoring your progress and evaluating what worked,

219
00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,360
that's all super crucial here.

220
00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:50,760
It is.

221
00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,520
It's like becoming your own productivity scientist.

222
00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:54,240
I like that.

223
00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:55,840
Figuring out what works best for you

224
00:06:55,840 --> 00:06:57,920
and constantly tweaking your approach.

225
00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,880
And it's not just about how I do things personally, right?

226
00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:01,480
Right.

227
00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,480
This applies to how I lead my team too.

228
00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:04,400
Absolutely.

229
00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:05,600
So remember how I said I was trying

230
00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,920
to figure out how to get my team to think more creatively?

231
00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:08,480
Yes.

232
00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:09,960
And challenge their assumptions?

233
00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,160
Right, because it's easy to get stuck in those routines.

234
00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:12,920
It is, yeah.

235
00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,120
Well, Epstein highlights some fascinating research

236
00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:16,160
on forecasting.

237
00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:16,400
OK.

238
00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,360
And he found that foxes, those who draw

239
00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,520
on a wide range of information and viewpoints,

240
00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:26,520
consistently outperform more specialized hedgehogs.

241
00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:27,120
Hedgehogs.

242
00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,280
Hedgehogs, even when the hedgehogs have access

243
00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:31,720
to classified information.

244
00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:32,120
Wow.

245
00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,640
And this research project was incredibly thorough.

246
00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:34,920
OK.

247
00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:36,440
Spanning 20 years.

248
00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:37,000
Wow.

249
00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,160
And involving over 83,000 predictions.

250
00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:41,760
That's a lot of data.

251
00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,360
It is, which really makes the findings compelling.

252
00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,280
So it's not just about being an expert in one area.

253
00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,160
It's about being open to different perspectives

254
00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,600
and being willing to adapt to your thinking.

255
00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:52,440
Exactly.

256
00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,120
And this applies to so many areas for making business decisions,

257
00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:57,960
to understanding the world around us.

258
00:07:57,960 --> 00:07:59,880
So it's like that growth mindset idea.

259
00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:00,320
It is.

260
00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,040
It's about embracing that intellectual humility

261
00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,880
and realizing that we always have more to learn.

262
00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:07,360
And being open to being wrong.

263
00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:08,200
Exactly.

264
00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:08,600
Yeah.

265
00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:08,880
OK.

266
00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,440
So this has been really insightful.

267
00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:11,320
Oh, hasn't it?

268
00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,200
We've covered so much ground.

269
00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:14,360
We have.

270
00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:15,760
But I feel like we're just scratching

271
00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,680
the surface of what Epstein has to offer.

272
00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:18,120
We are.

273
00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:19,440
This is just the beginning.

274
00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:19,640
Right.

275
00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,920
We've only just started to unpack the implications of his work

276
00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,080
for your personal productivity.

277
00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,440
And for fostering that culture of learning and experimentation

278
00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:29,080
on your team.

279
00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:30,120
So much to think about.

280
00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:30,560
There is.

281
00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:31,360
But let's keep going.

282
00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:32,280
OK.

283
00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:33,680
Welcome back.

284
00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:36,800
Before the break, we were talking about creating a space

285
00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:40,120
where people feel good sharing their ideas and taking risks.

286
00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:40,600
Right.

287
00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,280
Psychological safety is so key for innovation.

288
00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:45,160
It is.

289
00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,120
But let's shift gears a little bit.

290
00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,160
Because you mentioned feeling overwhelmed with all the information

291
00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:51,280
you're exposed to.

292
00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:51,880
Yeah.

293
00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,560
And you're looking for ways to manage that overload

294
00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:56,480
and actually be more productive.

295
00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:57,280
Right.

296
00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:58,400
So how do we get it all done?

297
00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,040
Well, you're definitely not alone.

298
00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:01,800
That's something a lot of people struggle with.

299
00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:02,360
Right.

300
00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,640
But Epstein offers some really practical advice

301
00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,480
for boosting individual productivity.

302
00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:07,840
OK.

303
00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:09,160
I'm all ears.

304
00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,320
He suggests not starting your day with email.

305
00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:12,560
Yeah.

306
00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:14,680
Because that constant stream of messages

307
00:09:14,680 --> 00:09:16,960
can really create a sense of overwhelm.

308
00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:17,560
Oh, yeah.

309
00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:18,160
I can see that.

310
00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:21,240
And it makes it harder to focus on your most important tasks.

311
00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:21,720
Yeah.

312
00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:22,880
That's totally me.

313
00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:23,200
Yeah.

314
00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:24,920
I'm glued to my inbox every morning.

315
00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:25,560
Right.

316
00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:28,960
But if I'm not starting with email, where do I start?

317
00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,480
He suggests starting with the one task.

318
00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:31,840
OK.

319
00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:33,560
That if you completed, it would make

320
00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:36,440
you feel like the whole day was a success.

321
00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:36,800
OK.

322
00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:37,880
So it's about prioritizing.

323
00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:38,600
Exactly.

324
00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,800
It's about focusing on what truly matters.

325
00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,920
And not getting bogged down in the little things.

326
00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:43,400
Exactly.

327
00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:44,800
Don't get lost in the weeds.

328
00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,920
I love that it's identifying your big win for the day.

329
00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:48,440
Right.

330
00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:49,920
And building momentum from there.

331
00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:50,440
Exactly.

332
00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,040
It sets you up for success.

333
00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:52,400
Yeah.

334
00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:52,760
I like it.

335
00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,680
He also debunks multitasking.

336
00:09:54,680 --> 00:09:55,280
Uh-oh.

337
00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,120
Which, let's be honest, most of us do.

338
00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:57,480
Oh, yeah.

339
00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:58,400
Totally guilty of that.

340
00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,560
But research shows that it actually makes you less efficient.

341
00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:02,080
Really?

342
00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:03,200
And more stressed.

343
00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,360
So we think we're doing more, but we're actually doing less.

344
00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:07,560
Exactly.

345
00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:08,520
And feeling worse.

346
00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:09,720
And feeling worse.

347
00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,400
This makes me think about all those times

348
00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,760
I've tried to write while answering emails and planning

349
00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:14,160
meetings.

350
00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:14,880
Oh, yeah.

351
00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:15,680
Classic.

352
00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:17,640
Not exactly a recipe for success.

353
00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:17,920
Right.

354
00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:19,240
You're spreading yourself too thin.

355
00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:19,600
Yeah.

356
00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,880
Instead, he suggests blocking off time for focused work.

357
00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:24,240
Totally.

358
00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:25,880
Minimizing distractions.

359
00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:27,640
So like turning off notifications.

360
00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:28,280
Exactly.

361
00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,240
Maybe even like turning off music.

362
00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,680
Yeah, sometimes even music can be a distraction.

363
00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:33,320
Right.

364
00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,680
It's about creating those pockets of uninterrupted time

365
00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:39,480
where you can really dive deep and get things done.

366
00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:41,280
So those self-regulatory practices

367
00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,360
that we talked about, like planning your day

368
00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,640
and setting clear goals and monitoring your progress,

369
00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,280
those become even more important here, right?

370
00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:48,960
Absolutely.

371
00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:49,120
Yeah.

372
00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:51,880
It's like becoming the CEO of your own productivity.

373
00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:52,280
OK.

374
00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:52,840
I like that.

375
00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:54,440
You need to be intentional about how

376
00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,280
you manage your time and energy to maximize your output.

377
00:10:58,280 --> 00:10:59,200
It makes sense.

378
00:10:59,200 --> 00:10:59,760
Yeah.

379
00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:01,920
But it's not just about output, right?

380
00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:03,440
It's also about sustainability.

381
00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:03,920
It is.

382
00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,520
Like I need to be able to maintain this focus and productivity

383
00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:09,080
over the long term.

384
00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,200
You know, one of my biggest fears is burning things down

385
00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,960
in my personal life because I'm so driven in my work.

386
00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,240
I get that it's something a lot of high achievers struggle with.

387
00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:18,440
Nice.

388
00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,160
It's that drive to always be in becoming.

389
00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:22,520
Yeah.

390
00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,440
Constantly striving for something new and better.

391
00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:26,960
Always reaching for that next goal.

392
00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:27,720
Exactly.

393
00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:31,440
And while that can be incredibly valuable in your work,

394
00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,520
it can also be destructive in your personal relationship.

395
00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:34,760
Right.

396
00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:36,600
If it's not balanced with appreciation

397
00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,000
for what you already have.

398
00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,000
So it's like you need to find that sweet spot between growth

399
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:42,040
and contentment.

400
00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:42,640
Exactly.

401
00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,000
It's like you need to be able to push yourself

402
00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,360
without losing sight of the things that really matter.

403
00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:48,640
I think that's beautifully put.

404
00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,120
And Epstein also talks about the importance of sleep.

405
00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:52,360
Oh, yeah.

406
00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,520
It might seem counterintuitive and are always on culture,

407
00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,520
but getting enough rest is crucial for productivity

408
00:11:58,520 --> 00:11:59,320
and creativity.

409
00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:00,360
He's absolutely right.

410
00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:00,760
Yeah.

411
00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,520
Think back to that study on the 10,000 hour rule.

412
00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:07,320
Remember how the top violinists were also sleeping way more.

413
00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:08,000
Oh, yeah.

414
00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:08,840
Than the other groups?

415
00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:09,640
Yeah, that's true.

416
00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:11,440
It suggests that rest and recovery

417
00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,040
are just as important as deliberate practice.

418
00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:14,960
Wow.

419
00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:15,560
That's a good point.

420
00:12:15,560 --> 00:12:17,720
When it comes to developing expertise.

421
00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:18,040
Yeah.

422
00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,440
I've definitely noticed that when I'm well rested,

423
00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,720
I'm so much more focused and creative.

424
00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:23,320
Exactly.

425
00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,200
Sleep is like a superpower.

426
00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:25,800
It is.

427
00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:26,120
Yeah.

428
00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,920
And this goes back to what we were saying earlier

429
00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:29,120
about sustainability.

430
00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:29,600
Right.

431
00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,040
You need to take care of your physical and mental well being

432
00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,680
if you want to perform at your best over the long term.

433
00:12:34,680 --> 00:12:36,040
This has been so eye-opening.

434
00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,440
I'm starting to see how all these different pieces fit together.

435
00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,040
It is a lot to take in.

436
00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:40,440
It is.

437
00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,160
But remember, it's a process, not a destination.

438
00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:43,760
Right.

439
00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,120
Even Epstein himself admitted to having to shift his own deeply

440
00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:48,800
held beliefs over time.

441
00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,040
It's about embracing that lifelong journey.

442
00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:51,480
It is.

443
00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:52,680
Of learning and growth.

444
00:12:52,680 --> 00:12:53,400
Exactly.

445
00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:54,840
Both personally and professionally.

446
00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:56,760
So it's about taking small steps,

447
00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,920
experimenting with different approaches,

448
00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:00,640
and finding what works best for me.

449
00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:01,160
Exactly.

450
00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,800
There's no one size fits all solution.

451
00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:04,240
Yeah.

452
00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:06,120
It's about finding what works for you

453
00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:10,240
and being willing to adapt and adjust as you go.

454
00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:11,040
Makes sense.

455
00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:11,800
Yeah.

456
00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,200
This has been incredibly helpful.

457
00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,040
Thank you so much for sharing your insights.

458
00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:15,560
My pleasure.

459
00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:17,160
It's been great talking with you.

460
00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,160
And remember, listeners, the most important takeaway

461
00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:22,560
is to stay curious.

462
00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:25,800
Keep experimenting and never stop learning.

463
00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,480
Couldn't have said it better myself.

464
00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,120
And for our listeners, here's that final thought provoking

465
00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:31,640
question from Epstein.

466
00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:35,440
What is one skill you're good at but not currently using?

467
00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,720
Take some time to reflect on that you never

468
00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:53,760
know where it might lead you.