1. Laptops have changed our lives in amazing ways, but they’re not always the perfect tool for the job.

    Even with so-called “distraction free writing tools” like WriteRoom (which I use regularly), it’s still far too easy to get distracted when working on the laptop. Twitter, Email, Facebook, Google, notifications, pop-ups, they’re always there to lure us away from the task at hand.

    Unless you have bulletproof self control, the laptop is sometimes a fantastic productivity tool, and other times a just big time waster.

    Lately I’ve gotten back to pen and paper for planning and ideation. There is something incredibly freeing about sitting down with nothing more than a pen, a blank page and your thoughts.

    — Back to Pen and Paper

  2. In my experience, students have been taught to place way too much importance on having the courage to follow their passions and change the world, and not nearly enough importance on having the persistence to first build the needed ability to both find concrete projects that matter and accomplish them.

    — Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Abandon Your Big Idea. But Don’t Give Up Your Big Ambition.

  3. My philosophy is that losers have goals and winners have systems.

    — Scott Adams Blog: Systems 09/12/2011

  4. Just getting started and be so difficult. But once you do, once you have a little momentum, it gets so much easier. Your muscle memory kicks in and your brain remembers the process. It isn’t so scary anymore

  5. There is something magical about using a paper-based productivity system…

  6. Inbox Zero

    Inbox Zero

  7. Since I’ve received that bit of advice, it’s been my firm goal to approach new skills with the mindset of “learning how to not do anything stupid.” It’s amazing how much this has revolutionised the way I learn.

    Learning how to reflexively avoid stupidity is a key ingredient to attaining great heights with any skill. It’s amazing how many hours you can piss away trying add new and interesting techniques to your repertoire before you’ve really mopped up the basics.

    As a parting shot, I’d like to make a reference to the Pareto Principle. It’s been my experience that “Not doing stupid shit” will get you past the bottom 80% really fast.

    — How to seem good at everything: Stop doing stupid shit - Josh’s Posterous