Embrace Slow Productivity

I just finished Cal Newport's new book called Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.

Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout

Cal argues that hustle culture and the world of "pseudo-productivity" have left us de-energized and demoralized and that instead, we should adopt what he calls "slow productivity," for which he has the following defintion:

"A philosophy for organizing knowledge work efforts in a sustainable and meaningful manner, based on the following three principles:

1. Do fewer things.

2. Work at a natural pace.

3. Obsess over quality."

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I recommend picking up the book for a few reasons:

• You'll identify some of the reasons why W2 corporate life could drive you crazy. Too many e-mails, not enough time to focus on what actually get results, pressure to look busy, etc.
• It will get you thinking about what remarkable results could look like in your line of work. In the 1099/consulting world, of course, client relationships are critical, but in terms of the technical work product, there are lots of ways to excel that clients would appreciate. In my world, that would probably involve getting better at dashboard design (making it look beautiful and functional) and clear communication.
• You'll get "permission" to work in a way that is natural to you and not feel pressure to be an overnight success. Overnight success is mostly a myth and is built on years of consistent dedication to a craft.
• You'll get concrete tips for actually implementing slow productivity in your work life, increasing the odds you will be successful at both getting your first 1099 gig, sustaining a 1099 lifestyle, and making it more enjoyable

It's a great book and surprisingly, deeply relevant to those of us who want to go 1099 in the federal contracting space.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.