Date: 09.03.2022

Hello and welcome readers!

When it comes down to increasing productivity. Regardless of what you're trying to do - read more books, ship more products, or simply learn a new concept faster. Most of us follow the same standard procedure.

Namely, we try to remove all distractions and use some of the methods highlighted by famous sites - say no more often, stop multitasking, curate your to-do list, etc.

But these are just tackling the surface problem.

The real question is not "are you getting more done?" But, "are you getting more done on the most important task?"

After reading The Goal - the book I highlighted last week. I decided to examine the Theory of Constraints (TOC) in more depth.

A theory that can truly revolutionize the way you approach your day-to-day tasks.

I've personally examined my writing process through the lens of TOC which allowed me to increase my throughput by 100%.

Check the article here and let me know what you think.

• Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by K. Anders Ericsson: Frustrated by your random actions and average results? You are convinced that greatness is something you are born with, not something you can acquire? Expose yourself to decades of research debunking the myth about talent - that success is embedded in our DNA. Peak (a.k.a. the deliberate practice book) explores the mindset, skills, and techniques a person needs to obtain to reach expert performance.

Full text for members only.

Interesting books I recently added to my reading list (and hopefully will read at some point):

• Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto by Anneli Rufus: While we think of loners as sad losers that happen to also be psychopaths. This book takes a different approach. It explains that loneliness is not something that you should fix. Rather, something you should do more of.
• Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership and Change by Don Edward Beck: This book offers a unique approach that will help you understand the value system of the people around you. Why some people are more disciplined than others. Why others are all into the government. By tapping into the thinking of others, you'll better understand them and thus better connect with them.
• How to Be an Adult: A Handbook on Psychological and Spiritual Integration by David Richo: Living life as a happy, mature adult does not always come easily to all of us. That's why it's a good idea to learn the secret techniques of adulthood directly from grownups on how to be an adult.

(Note: The links intentionally don't lead to the default site (Amazon). Hopefully, if you decide to purchase a book from the ones I'm including, you'll choose a local library to support small businesses.)

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a public speaker and a writer who fought for the rights of African Americans and women's suffrage. He was one of the main leaders who helped end slavery working together with president Abraham Lincoln.

Amongst his influential writings, he is also famous for his five speeches.

Big Idea: Self-Made Men

Delivered by Frederick Douglass in 1859. Self-Made Men is a lecture where Douglass defines in his own words the concept of the self-made man.

Based on his views, a self-made man is someone who is born with nothing. No favorable relationships, no inheritance, no proper education, no access to books. And yet, he still manages to get himself up and achieve things that are far beyond the limiting capabilities assigned to him by society.

A self-made man doesn't believe in luck. His superpower is persistence - a never-exhausting capacity of physical and mental stamina.

From my desk:

• How to Become a Master in Your Field [Short Guide]: "Oops, I did it again. Instead of writing. I spent a good part of my day trying to find a quicker way to produce more content in less time... Or in other words, I was trying to life-hack my way to the top instead of simply doing the boring work of perfecting my craft."

From around the web:

• 100 Tips for a Better Life: "If you listen to successful people talk about their methods, remember that all the people who used the same methods and failed did not make videos about it."
• 9 Things I Learned About Productivity This Year: "Part of what keeps procrastinators procrastinating is the belief that working is more painful than avoiding work. This is usually untrue, but it becomes true when you grind away fruitlessly on a task just because you happened put it on your list today. If your wheels are really spinning, it’s usually better to switch to another productive (but less miserable) task."

Fallibilism

Fallibilism is a philosophical term that can be described as, "the concept that any idea we have could be wrong." 

You are certain that the water is wet? A passionate fallibilist will tell you that you shouldn't be so sure about this.

Probably something in the future will disapprove the quality of wetness. Still, you are not crushed. The concept of fallibilism is all about the consistent march towards truth. You know that something in the future can disapprove your current beliefs and understandings, but this doesn't prevent you from functioning.

It's like skepticism but a bit more healthy. You question the assumptions that everybody takes for granted and you are always looking for ways to upgrade your knowledge about the world.

The current events in Ukraine are not something you cannot talk about.

Like the rest of the world, I'm deeply worried about the whole situation. My heart goes out to Ukraine and I pray that this will soon be resolved in a human way.

Peace has never been more urgent.

If you want to support Ukraine, you might use one of the following sites that are approved by their government:

• https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/
• Special Account to Raise Funds
• Help keep children safe

Thank you for your time!

Regards,

Ivaylo Durmonski

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