Hey Carmen
I've started reading this book this week. (Got it for christmas :D )
Is nice to see another good review of it.
I have this goal for 2021 to create more "deep work" time alocated to my regular working schedule, this is pretty challenge since one year ago i've started to lead a software development team.
May i ask you if there was a specific reason behind this book pick to you rather than of course getting better at coding?
Tiago, I LOVE this question. Would give it more hearts if I could!
So I think of learning to do deep work vs learning to get better at coding as similar to the saying "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." What I mean by that is that I could spend the time to become a better programmer - but that only helps with one dimension of my life (i.e. coding). By becoming a person who is able to sustain intense concentration for extended periods of time, I can "10x" almost every aspect in my life - I'd (hopefully) become a better writer, a better reader, a better sports person, a better musician, a better teacher, etc.
In short, coding is just one skill (and with career changes these days, who knows if it's something I'll be doing for the rest of my life?) - whereas sustained concentration is something that has application and benefits in almost everything you do.
PS. I love that you're trying to carve out deep work for yourself while leading a team - this is super tricky (especially if you have people that rely on you always being available to them), and I applaud you for doing it!
I really like the way that you are thinking and I’m glad that I comment on your post by this answer alone.
I do believe that time is the most precious resource that anyone can have, this kind of skill give us the ability to make more with your time and avoid this never ending context switching that somehow entered your lives.
Like you said if you master a skill that can improve a lot of areas on your life, although we can have a motivation at first for start to learn how to "deep work" (could be coding, could be writing, could be pretty much anything).
I hope that you met all your goals and have a great 2021!
I'll keep on reading the book :D
PS: Thank you so much for the encouragement!
My hope is if I’m able to focus to plan our work, tackle complex problems and anticipate possible bottlenecks I will make my team and I more effective and efficient.
Aww thank you! Hope you have a happy new year and a successful 2021! The point about the bottlenecks is a great one - if you manage to anticipate and reduce that for your team, it will definitely open up more time for deep work. Good luck!
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Hey Carmen
I've started reading this book this week. (Got it for christmas :D )
Is nice to see another good review of it.
I have this goal for 2021 to create more "deep work" time alocated to my regular working schedule, this is pretty challenge since one year ago i've started to lead a software development team.
May i ask you if there was a specific reason behind this book pick to you rather than of course getting better at coding?
Tiago, I LOVE this question. Would give it more hearts if I could!
So I think of learning to do deep work vs learning to get better at coding as similar to the saying "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." What I mean by that is that I could spend the time to become a better programmer - but that only helps with one dimension of my life (i.e. coding). By becoming a person who is able to sustain intense concentration for extended periods of time, I can "10x" almost every aspect in my life - I'd (hopefully) become a better writer, a better reader, a better sports person, a better musician, a better teacher, etc.
In short, coding is just one skill (and with career changes these days, who knows if it's something I'll be doing for the rest of my life?) - whereas sustained concentration is something that has application and benefits in almost everything you do.
PS. I love that you're trying to carve out deep work for yourself while leading a team - this is super tricky (especially if you have people that rely on you always being available to them), and I applaud you for doing it!
I really like the way that you are thinking and I’m glad that I comment on your post by this answer alone.
I do believe that time is the most precious resource that anyone can have, this kind of skill give us the ability to make more with your time and avoid this never ending context switching that somehow entered your lives.
Like you said if you master a skill that can improve a lot of areas on your life, although we can have a motivation at first for start to learn how to "deep work" (could be coding, could be writing, could be pretty much anything).
I hope that you met all your goals and have a great 2021!
I'll keep on reading the book :D
PS: Thank you so much for the encouragement!
My hope is if I’m able to focus to plan our work, tackle complex problems and anticipate possible bottlenecks I will make my team and I more effective and efficient.
Aww thank you! Hope you have a happy new year and a successful 2021! The point about the bottlenecks is a great one - if you manage to anticipate and reduce that for your team, it will definitely open up more time for deep work. Good luck!