###### Created: 2022-01-23 17:37 ###### Author: Ali Abdaal ###### Areas & Topics: #productivity #work #procrastination #organisation #happiness #lifeimprovement ###### Note Type: #literature ###### Connected to: [[Highlight of the Day]] ###### Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3hOrfLuxU0&ab_channel=AliAbdaal ###### The Daily Highlight - This is the idea of having one goal every day that will make you the most happy or bring the most satisfaction that day when you achieve it. - This can help as a driving force for work or to provide milestones to help you get closer to achieving your goals. ###### If this isn't nice, I don't know what is - In order to be more appreciative and grateful of what you have, when you are feeling happy or enjoying something you can say (in your head or out-loud) "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is". ###### Window Openers vs Door Knockers - People can be divided into two types which are window openers and door knockers - Window openers are people who can visualise or see the outcome of their actions (looking through the window) and, whilst knowing the outcome, will then take the steps to work towards it (go through the window to the outcome on the other side). - On the other hand, door openers cannot see their outcome initially and do not know what their actions will lead to but choose to take action anyway (knock on doors) and then find out the outcomes once they happen (opening the door). - Seemingly, success can more often occur with a door knocker attitude instead of just a window opener attitude, in appropriate circumstances. ###### What is obvious to you is amazing to others - Something that can seem very obvious to you might be an amazing discovery to someone else, so we should share what we find out, on the off-chance it helps or affects someone more than we expect. ###### The Flywheel - Many systems act as a flywheel, where there is a lot of intial energy or action needed to produce any results (turning the flywheel) but results are produced more easily over time from the basis of that initial effort (the flywheel turning faster from its own momentum). - This can help us by realising that starting most things will be difficult, but are likely to become easier over time, with progress giving rise to progress. Starting new, difficult things now can therefore allow us to reap rewards easily later. ###### Mastering the Boring Fundamentals - Many things which we do everyday can be considered boring, but are essential for our development and helping us progress towards our goals. - Therefore, mastering these boring things will allow us to progress more easily and build on top of the fundamentals that we develop ###### Type 1 vs Type 2 Fun - Type 1 fun can be considered as fun felt in the moment, like being at a party or watching TV etc. - Type 2 fun can be considered as fun which is not felt at that moment, such as during exercise or when studying, but is felt in the future, like when you see yourself in better shape or understand topics much more easily - Type 2 fun can be considered as fun which will bring more satisfaction and is necessary, alongside Type 1 fun. ###### FBR (Fast, Bad, Wrong) - This is the idea that when approaching any empty page, project or first draft we should accept that it'll be fast, bad and wrong. This allows us to start projects immediately rather than being worried about their quality on the first try. - Having anything after will be useful as you can re-draft, edit and use for future ideas. ###### The Reitoff Principle - Feeling guilty for not doing tasks is not productive or helpful. Rather than wallowing in guilt or shame about this, we can essentially 'write off' the rest of the day, so that we can enjoy activities without being guilty that we aren't doing something productive or related to work. ###### The Mundanity of Excellence - The difference between excellent and non-excellent people is that they do the mundane aspects of their given area consistently and often. - Excellence is often just the result of mastering the boring fundamentals and being consistent in behaviours that will allow you to be excellent, over a long period of time. ###### The Go First Rule - Going first in many situations will allow you to interact with more people, avoid awkward situations and realise how nice and friendly people are. It can also inspire others who may feel nervous or awkward at first. This applies in situations like introducing yourself to others, starting conversations and doing activities. ###### High Leverage Housekeeping - Periodically, it is important to go over the systems we have in place and organise them. Only focusing on new ideas and ventures will stop us from improving the efficiency and productivity of the systems we use often. - Examples of high leverage housekeeping include sorting your email inbox, to-do list, cleaning your desk and generally getting your life in order. ###### Inbox for your brain - The brain is useful for creating ideas, rather than storing them. - Having a dedicated place to keep the ideas you have will be more useful and stop you forgetting potentially great ideas. ###### The Power of Project Lists - A project can be seen as anything that has more than one step in order to do it - It might be useful to have a list of all the projects you are thinking of pursuing, and projects you are currently doing. - This can allow you to link ideas back to projects you are in the middle of, to improve them or help you complete them.