Focus
Kat Fergerson and
Focus
What monks know about focus.
“A book is a tool. It’s a machine for thinking. And ‘all machines,’ as Thoreau once said, ‘have their friction.’ The time it takes to engage with ideas—whether factual or fictional, emotional or intellectual, accurate or inaccurate, efficient or inefficient—might strike some as a drag. But the time given to working
... See morefocus is not just a matter of the eyes but of the whole body and mind, of our entire being becoming more present and attuned to the world around us.
— “Seeing is forgetting the name of the thing one sees” by Lawrence Weschler (about the artist Robert Irwin)
Reggie James • Ask The Same Question
People tend to gravitate to different sides of the explore/exploit spectrum. If you are high on openness, like I am, exploring comes easy. But it is harder to make a commitment and exploit what you’ve learned about yourself and the world. Other people are more committed, but risk being too conventional in their choices. They miss better avenues for... See more
Henrik Karlsson • Almost Everyone I’ve Met Would Be Well-Served Thinking More About What to Focus On
The difference between average results and exceptional ones is what you avoid.
Be quick to say no and slow to say yes. Saying yes consumes time. Saying no creates time.
Never say yes on the spot. Always give yourself some space. Make it a rule. Tell people. That’s what Daniel Kahneman does. When he’s on the phone, he says, ‘my rule is I never say... See more
fs.blog • The Focus to Say No
Email Templates
X, thanks so much for reaching out and apologies for my delayed response. I have been trying to do too much as of late, which makes it hard to keep up with correspondence. I also have to admit I am not good at saying no, because I enjoy meeting people and discussing new ideas. Unfortunately...
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Focus forces brutal prioritization
Making few bets forces you to make hard decisions. It’s extremely hard to measure the value of something against some abstract and absolute notion of value.
Proponents of diversification argue that it takes the edge off of making a mistake. That would be a good argument if people acted the same way independent of... See more
Making few bets forces you to make hard decisions. It’s extremely hard to measure the value of something against some abstract and absolute notion of value.
Proponents of diversification argue that it takes the edge off of making a mistake. That would be a good argument if people acted the same way independent of... See more
Why Diversification Results In Mediocrity
Jobs would often test people, asking them, “how many things have you said no to?” Ive was up to the task of answering, only he didn’t mean it, and Jobs read right through him.
I would have these sacrificial things, because I wanted to be very honest about it. And so I’d say, “Well, I said no to this and no to that.” But he knew that I wasn’t... See more