Generally agree with this, but the perspective I would add is: a good routine *makes space* for the 10x work, in part by taking care of the less important decisions ahead of time.
“Be regular and orderly in your life, that you may be violent and original in your work.” –Gustave Flaubert
Of course, and I caveat later in the essay that I'm all in favor of getting rid of 1x work and making space -- HOWEVER, this is also not enough and people don't spend enough time thinking about how to create opportunities for 10x work. That is, focusing on upside rather than reducing downside, etc etc
One of the best blog posts I've read. I suspect I might back in a few years and think "that was a profound moment in my life."
Some thoughts:
- I think there's a case of this, among more successful people, where 10x work in the past that paid off leads to 1x work now. Responding to email is a good example of this.
- Personally, routines have been most effective in domains where the upside is capped (like brushing my teeth or exercising) and least effective where the upside is uncapped (like at work).
This spoke to my soul, I came out of my Monday AM meetings to read :).
With serendipity I have created a business around vegetarian lifestyle, dabble with AI and digital at work and mentor to leverage strengths of Neuro Divergent people. Also an active mom and a board member at Arts and I teach religious school.
I also manage to drive away investors being in a few more things, being very non-linear in mind and some orphaned tasks that gave me dopamine high earlier. I think executing 100% on 10Xer with grit and perseverance is important.
Thanks for you anti-theory posts. I just felt a little more belonging to the world, some frequency understands and the "focus" on "10Xing" part.
Nice read. I'm inspired to eliminate 1x work with extreme prejudice. 1x work does, in fact, lower your energy bar in a way that degrades the more valuable work to be done in a day. Though I think you underrate routines as they give you a lot of freedom by liberating you from tiny decisions.
A recommendation: Cate Hall is very good on the topic of "How to be More Agentic", where she basically argues agency is something that can be learned.
I hope the main thing you get out of my essay is that optimizing for 10x work is different than removing 1x work, and the latter is easier than the former, which is why we feel like it's progress when we do it. But creating upside is the key.
Reminds me of ‘Little bets’. & separately the idea of ‘multi-passionate people’.
Most people don’t thrive in routines. This concept of hyper productivity has only become popular with social media. But just like any other ‘self help’ concept, it’s not a truth to live by. It’s all interesting to read about, ultimately it comes down to each individual and how they personally thrive through it all. This however requires a huge amount of self awareness. Which sadly is not as encouraged as following prescriptive rules set by others. Most people lack the self trust and genuine guidance to turn inwards and set their own model to live by and work by.
Whomever sets the rules had done so for themselves first and foremost. Then perhaps noticed there’s a large group of people for whom it works. Or maybe they just convinced those people that it also works for them. So easy to do nowadays.
True effectiveness comes down to self discovery and self awareness. Practices such as meditation and yoga are the tools leading the blind here. They maximize efficiency & impact, minimize efforts and put you on a conscious path of serendipity and synchronicity. Serendipity happens when we are aligned and connected to our intuition. When we let our right brain lead the dance. There is no need to actually engage the thinking brain here. Opportunities simply come through. There is a clearer vision. More accute sense of direction. You are being guided by your inner compass. Intuition is the only rule setter you need in your life :) — so i’d argue they should have been top of the list. Without them, you’re most likely shooting in the dark and hoping for something to stick. But that works as well.
Lots of interesting stuff here, but if you're working 60+ hours/week you're doing life wrong. Yoga and meditation should be thought of not as stand ins for bandwagon-y productivity life hacks but as representatives of living a full life not narrowly defined around status and achievement. I'd say that talking about them as something you'll begrudgingly allow other people to do if they must should motivate self-reflection and reassessment.
This essay is a fantastic read! It challenges the conventional wisdom around routines and productivity, and instead advocates for embracing serendipity and focusing on high-impact tasks.
I love the idea of 10x. I know that in my own life, the challenge is being okay with uncertainty. 1x work has a concreteness to it that makes it seem more productive. You're checking items off a list, sending emails and "getting" things done.
Waiting for serendipity means living with the uncertainty. Maybe the first 10 dinners you host will do nothing but the 11th unlocks a huge opportunity.
I also think we would need to let go of the short term culture that surrounds us. Serendipity over one month is not going to work but over 10 years, it might. There's a great book called the Long View that dives into how to think about in years, decades or even centuries (for organizations).
I agree, I like this article. You never know where something is going to click or spark. And the more you can cross-train and expose yourself the new things, the more you are conditioned to think a certain way when you are put in that serendipitous moment. I'd be interested to learn more about your experience and what prompted you to write this piece - I would think you have enough experience with the high and the lows to do just that. Definitely picking out a few things from this piece - driving fast, most memorable things happen on the biggest swings, and pay attention to how the market reacts. Sometimes you don't know what to expect but it shouldn't prevent you from trying. And more risk, more reward. But with that said, you do need to have control and comply with regulations.
I loved this piece. "Pivotal moments often happen when you inject more risk." So true. You can't do the same stuff and create bigger results. I also loved the part from Scott Adams and Naval. Scott Galloway talks a lot about that framework of finding 2-5 things you are really good at and putting them together to create massive success.
I can be extremely rigid and focused on routines (just not morning routines - I am not a morning person and reject them!). I am on year ten of my career in a specific industry. This article caused me to reflect a bit - for the first seven years, every time my routine became extremely boring and cumbersome, I sought out 10x opportunities, side projects, or learned new, career-defining skills. This led to a lot of lateral moves and promotions and I am now on year three of being in an area where I am considered a “unicorn”, but I am getting locked on routines and serving my internal clients. I could be better at creating space for the serendipitous, inspiring, and impactful work. Thank you for the wisdom!
Hi Andrew! I agree about the power of serendipity, and that we don’t need to get up super early and work more hours doing 1x things. I do believe our test, our exercise, our breathing -our wellness- enables us to do our best 10x work and that’s why, yoga and walking and reflection are part of my routine - so I can be my best and notice the opportunities, seize the day and have the energy to work hard! Thanks for your provocative post!
Generally agree with this, but the perspective I would add is: a good routine *makes space* for the 10x work, in part by taking care of the less important decisions ahead of time.
“Be regular and orderly in your life, that you may be violent and original in your work.” –Gustave Flaubert
Of course, and I caveat later in the essay that I'm all in favor of getting rid of 1x work and making space -- HOWEVER, this is also not enough and people don't spend enough time thinking about how to create opportunities for 10x work. That is, focusing on upside rather than reducing downside, etc etc
Yeah totally.
One of the best blog posts I've read. I suspect I might back in a few years and think "that was a profound moment in my life."
Some thoughts:
- I think there's a case of this, among more successful people, where 10x work in the past that paid off leads to 1x work now. Responding to email is a good example of this.
- Personally, routines have been most effective in domains where the upside is capped (like brushing my teeth or exercising) and least effective where the upside is uncapped (like at work).
Interesting read, simpler and tech version of Nassim Taleb's Antifragile idea.
This spoke to my soul, I came out of my Monday AM meetings to read :).
With serendipity I have created a business around vegetarian lifestyle, dabble with AI and digital at work and mentor to leverage strengths of Neuro Divergent people. Also an active mom and a board member at Arts and I teach religious school.
I also manage to drive away investors being in a few more things, being very non-linear in mind and some orphaned tasks that gave me dopamine high earlier. I think executing 100% on 10Xer with grit and perseverance is important.
Thanks for you anti-theory posts. I just felt a little more belonging to the world, some frequency understands and the "focus" on "10Xing" part.
Nice read. I'm inspired to eliminate 1x work with extreme prejudice. 1x work does, in fact, lower your energy bar in a way that degrades the more valuable work to be done in a day. Though I think you underrate routines as they give you a lot of freedom by liberating you from tiny decisions.
A recommendation: Cate Hall is very good on the topic of "How to be More Agentic", where she basically argues agency is something that can be learned.
I hope the main thing you get out of my essay is that optimizing for 10x work is different than removing 1x work, and the latter is easier than the former, which is why we feel like it's progress when we do it. But creating upside is the key.
Reminds me of ‘Little bets’. & separately the idea of ‘multi-passionate people’.
Most people don’t thrive in routines. This concept of hyper productivity has only become popular with social media. But just like any other ‘self help’ concept, it’s not a truth to live by. It’s all interesting to read about, ultimately it comes down to each individual and how they personally thrive through it all. This however requires a huge amount of self awareness. Which sadly is not as encouraged as following prescriptive rules set by others. Most people lack the self trust and genuine guidance to turn inwards and set their own model to live by and work by.
Whomever sets the rules had done so for themselves first and foremost. Then perhaps noticed there’s a large group of people for whom it works. Or maybe they just convinced those people that it also works for them. So easy to do nowadays.
True effectiveness comes down to self discovery and self awareness. Practices such as meditation and yoga are the tools leading the blind here. They maximize efficiency & impact, minimize efforts and put you on a conscious path of serendipity and synchronicity. Serendipity happens when we are aligned and connected to our intuition. When we let our right brain lead the dance. There is no need to actually engage the thinking brain here. Opportunities simply come through. There is a clearer vision. More accute sense of direction. You are being guided by your inner compass. Intuition is the only rule setter you need in your life :) — so i’d argue they should have been top of the list. Without them, you’re most likely shooting in the dark and hoping for something to stick. But that works as well.
Conclusion, whatever rocks your boat works.
Lots of interesting stuff here, but if you're working 60+ hours/week you're doing life wrong. Yoga and meditation should be thought of not as stand ins for bandwagon-y productivity life hacks but as representatives of living a full life not narrowly defined around status and achievement. I'd say that talking about them as something you'll begrudgingly allow other people to do if they must should motivate self-reflection and reassessment.
But the Dilbert guy is a Trumper.
This essay is a fantastic read! It challenges the conventional wisdom around routines and productivity, and instead advocates for embracing serendipity and focusing on high-impact tasks.
I love the idea of 10x. I know that in my own life, the challenge is being okay with uncertainty. 1x work has a concreteness to it that makes it seem more productive. You're checking items off a list, sending emails and "getting" things done.
Waiting for serendipity means living with the uncertainty. Maybe the first 10 dinners you host will do nothing but the 11th unlocks a huge opportunity.
I also think we would need to let go of the short term culture that surrounds us. Serendipity over one month is not going to work but over 10 years, it might. There's a great book called the Long View that dives into how to think about in years, decades or even centuries (for organizations).
I’m not sure Elon is the best example of somebody who actually does a lot of highly impactful work.
Hacked on your own substack and spammed in the comments. You hate to see it.
Ah, not even hacked, just poorly impersonated.
I agree, I like this article. You never know where something is going to click or spark. And the more you can cross-train and expose yourself the new things, the more you are conditioned to think a certain way when you are put in that serendipitous moment. I'd be interested to learn more about your experience and what prompted you to write this piece - I would think you have enough experience with the high and the lows to do just that. Definitely picking out a few things from this piece - driving fast, most memorable things happen on the biggest swings, and pay attention to how the market reacts. Sometimes you don't know what to expect but it shouldn't prevent you from trying. And more risk, more reward. But with that said, you do need to have control and comply with regulations.
I loved this piece. "Pivotal moments often happen when you inject more risk." So true. You can't do the same stuff and create bigger results. I also loved the part from Scott Adams and Naval. Scott Galloway talks a lot about that framework of finding 2-5 things you are really good at and putting them together to create massive success.
I can be extremely rigid and focused on routines (just not morning routines - I am not a morning person and reject them!). I am on year ten of my career in a specific industry. This article caused me to reflect a bit - for the first seven years, every time my routine became extremely boring and cumbersome, I sought out 10x opportunities, side projects, or learned new, career-defining skills. This led to a lot of lateral moves and promotions and I am now on year three of being in an area where I am considered a “unicorn”, but I am getting locked on routines and serving my internal clients. I could be better at creating space for the serendipitous, inspiring, and impactful work. Thank you for the wisdom!
Taking time for ourselves confirms we will have the mindset and motivation to take on our day effectively and happily.😀
Hi Andrew! I agree about the power of serendipity, and that we don’t need to get up super early and work more hours doing 1x things. I do believe our test, our exercise, our breathing -our wellness- enables us to do our best 10x work and that’s why, yoga and walking and reflection are part of my routine - so I can be my best and notice the opportunities, seize the day and have the energy to work hard! Thanks for your provocative post!