Over-simplified review of evidence on impact of background music on creative work: small hit to memory/attention, but makes you happier, so you may do better work on net.
Good collabs have a similar logic. Distracting, coord costs—but making work more fun may be high-order bit.
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Related: Herb Simon's dedication page in "Models of Thought"
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Interesting: in Serbia (and I suspect in other Balkan countries) there's a similar phrase – "eat a kilo of salt first" – which is usually said to someone rushing things with a partner. Most often it is used in a romantic context.