Doing the work is fundamental. Yet, if we we’re honest, many of us are tempted by short-cuts. We look for quick wins. We settle for just enough. We distract ourselves. And when we look back over our shoulders, the mountain of work is still there, waiting for us. It might even appear to be a little bit bigger now. When we stop figuring out how to get around it, we realize that the only way to tackle the mountain is to start climbing. On why that’s a really good thing.
On Working Out Loud
Working out loud is not something we normally think of doing. In fact, we’re taught to do the opposite. Knowledge work is often quiet, solitary and independent. But working out loud—and objectively and meaningfully sharing status—can have some important and valuable benefits.
On Perfectionism And Pragmatism
Our approach and attitudes toward perfection gets in the way of doing the work that we need, and the work that is value. Finding the optimal outcome of ‘good enough.’
On Not Ticking The Boxes
It’s easy to get into a routine—and a rut—where the work that we do is just ticking the boxes. It’s a great deal harder to think about how the work that we do gets used, and what we need to do to make it as easy as possible for the work gets used. But doing so makes all the difference.
What Do You Think You Are Doing?
On the very good days, we can be exceptionally creative and productive. On the bad days, we can’t even spell ‘productive,’ let alone use it coherently in a sentence. What we know about engagement and procrastination, and what we need to keep in mind.
Done vs. Done Well
How we think about work is perceptual. How we approach it is critical. We can just do the work, or we can invest the effort to do it well. Why I think that’s important.