1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,720 Welcome entrepreneurs, today let's dissect the value of deep work in a hyper connected 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:06,240 world. 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:11,120 The truth is, amid the cacophony of digital noise and productivity hacks, there is one 4 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:16,459 factor that has been elemental in my financial ascent, the relentless pursuit of mastery 5 00:00:16,459 --> 00:00:19,059 through focused solitude. 6 00:00:19,059 --> 00:00:20,440 Consider the natural world. 7 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,940 It isn't the noisiest creatures that survive and thrive, it's often the most adaptable 8 00:00:24,940 --> 00:00:26,459 and focused. 9 00:00:26,459 --> 00:00:28,959 The same applies to the world of business. 10 00:00:28,959 --> 00:00:34,860 In this era, everyone is racing after broad networks, quick fixes and viral moments. 11 00:00:34,860 --> 00:00:39,340 But in my experience, the bedrock of true innovation and long term growth still rests 12 00:00:39,340 --> 00:00:44,500 on the ability to delve into the labyrinth of a complex problem and emerge with solutions 13 00:00:44,500 --> 00:00:46,540 others haven't seen. 14 00:00:46,540 --> 00:00:51,639 Now many will tout the miracles of multitasking or the power of constant connectivity but 15 00:00:51,639 --> 00:00:54,099 they're a veneer over shallow work. 16 00:00:55,099 --> 00:01:00,299 I've discovered that the most potent ideas come from uninterrupted thought, not scattered 17 00:01:00,299 --> 00:01:01,299 attention. 18 00:01:01,299 --> 00:01:07,019 I dedicated blocks of time devoid of distractions, times when emails were unanswered, calls were 19 00:01:07,019 --> 00:01:12,660 unreturned and the lure of instant gratification via social media was ignored. 20 00:01:12,660 --> 00:01:18,500 Here's where the conflict arises, the apparent tradeoff between availability and productivity. 21 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:20,099 Yet here's the nuance. 22 00:01:20,099 --> 00:01:24,019 Being perpetually available doesn't equate to being effective. 23 00:01:24,019 --> 00:01:28,180 It might seem counterproductive to vanish for hours, perhaps days, but the depth and 24 00:01:28,180 --> 00:01:32,839 quality of work achieved dwarf what you'd produce in the fractured snippets of time 25 00:01:32,839 --> 00:01:34,599 between meetings and alerts. 26 00:01:35,940 --> 00:01:37,720 Let me iterate an example. 27 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,459 A pivotal moment in my career was solving a complex logistical challenge that others 28 00:01:42,459 --> 00:01:44,180 had abandoned. 29 00:01:44,180 --> 00:01:46,239 It wasn't a stroke of genius. 30 00:01:46,239 --> 00:01:51,639 It was the result of days secluded with the problem, mapping out its dimensions and persistently 31 00:01:51,639 --> 00:01:53,339 probing for a solution. 32 00:01:53,339 --> 00:01:58,779 That solution became the linchpin of a business model that is now ubiquitous in my industry. 33 00:01:58,779 --> 00:02:01,000 So how can you apply this? 34 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:05,720 Start with identifying your highest value work, the tasks that if done well can change 35 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:07,940 the scale of your impact. 36 00:02:07,940 --> 00:02:10,880 Dedicate uninterrupted time to these tasks. 37 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:15,720 Let your team, your partners, every around you know that this is your time for deep work. 38 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:19,300 They'll come to respect it when they see the results. 39 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:24,179 Above all else, remember that a culture of immediate response is a culture of shallow 40 00:02:24,179 --> 00:02:25,820 waters. 41 00:02:25,820 --> 00:02:31,660 To reach the untapped wealth of the deep one must be unafraid to dive alone, and stay underwater 42 00:02:31,660 --> 00:02:35,160 longer than anyone else deems reasonable. 43 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,139 Before we part I implore you to consider this. 44 00:02:38,139 --> 00:02:42,779 If the path to your grandest goal can't withstand a few hours of disconnection, it 45 00:02:42,779 --> 00:02:46,139 might be time to reassess the path all together. 46 00:02:46,139 --> 00:02:48,139 Thank you for investing your time with me today. 47 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:52,300 If these ideas resonate or challenge you, subscribe and share this podcast with others 48 00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:57,220 who pride themselves on the quality of their work, not just the noise they make. 49 00:02:57,220 --> 00:03:03,880 Until next time, remember, depth is a discipline, and in that discipline, lies hidden fortunes.