WORK LESS WEDNESDAY
WLW #12
đź“• 1. Book I’m Reading This Week – Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
This is not your usual productivity book.
From the book description:
“The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just over four thousand weeks.”
It draws on insights from ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers to provide a guide for how to live a meaningful life, when we have just 4,000 weeks to do it.
🔑 Key Takeaway (NOTE: I haven’t finished the book yet)
As a teacher of productivity and business, it’s easy to fall into the trap that I must be a perfect model for my students.
Here’s the truth, we all fall short. It’s human.
This quote centered me: “You teach best what you most need to learn.”
✍️ 2. Become A Better Writer – Fantastic Hooks & How To Write Them
If you don’t have a great hook, no one is reading your work.
Period.
I loved this insight: “Spend 90% of your total writing time on the hook.”
That’s the 80/20 Principle applied to writing.
Check out Blake Emal’s Twitter and newsletter. He’s worth a follow.
🖥️ 3. App I’m Finally Ready To Recommend – Shift
I’ve been using Shift since June 2021.
After 7 months, I’m ready to offer my formal endorsement. lol.
Access all of your accounts, apps, and workflows in one streamlined desktop app, designed for focus and efficiency.
Shift keeps my email accounts, client Slack accounts, Asanas, etc. all in one window. That I can CLOSE.
This keeps my inboxes and feeds out of my web browser, eliminating a massive source of distraction.
đź“„ 4. If There’s No Document, There’s No Meeting – T​he Document Culture of Amazon
Many of you know I only take meetings one day per week.
I also hate ineffective meetings.
This breakdown of Amazon’s unusual culture of “document-based” meetings was a fascinating read.
🎲 5. Viral Word Puzzle Game I’m Loving – Wordle
My friend Maddy showed me this word game.
I’m addicted.
What I love – it’s only one puzzle per day.
Not an endless feed. Just a quick, fun brain workout.