It’s easy to say “increase tempo!”
But man is it hard to actually do without superlinear increase in energy input.
It’s easy to double your pace if you quadruple the energy. The trick is to do it for just 2x or less.
Conversation
Basic physics is more than a metaphor here. Kinetic energy is 0.5mv^2. I suspect that’s a baseline for everything.
For non-physics-limited things, you can beat quadratic growth in energy needs with velocity, but you need to either exploit other humans, or the built environment.
1
1
8
Wonder what the literal speed limit of neurons firing is set by. Probably it’s fixed by refractory period of neurons rather than glucose or something.
2
4
I’ve been trying to increase my tempo of work, and I’m discovering it is: 10% refactoring schedules, 20% refactoring content (unbundling/febundling), 30% better habits (sleep, diet, exercise), 40% working on stamina (working at say 10% higher intensity for 10% longer every week)
2
2
9
Replying to
1) Good note-taking helps switch streams quickly.
2) Decline as many meetings as you can.
3) Prioritize external dependencies (e.g. IT setting up a computer) to avoid lock with others' tempo.
4) Not everything needs to be comple
5) Avoid becoming the busy man everyone relies on.
1
3
6) Get the first shot off quickly. This disconcerts them and gives you time to line up the next one.
7) Delegate anything that you can afford to.
8) Defer decisions until they are 100% necessary. You'll know more then, anyway.
9) Refuse offers to set your tempo for you.
1
3
10) Refuse any feelings of guilt at tempo missteps. Apologize, dust off, get on with it.
11) Keep time estimates cynical, so that you always exceed them, but accept push-back.
12) Prioritize personal care over everything. As you've already noted, anxiety is the mind-killer.
1
3
Replying to
Yeah, tech work often deeply intertwined. I can't remember the last time I've needed to up the tempo on a purely solo project, or at least not enough to have any pointers there.

