This book is a must buy because in today's world full of "fast food type" instant messaging communication, I find it very intrusive in daily life, daily work and there are so many issues around it. Because of this, I'm reading this book to understand what kind of principles I need to implement, to balance work, communication and social life in general, while getting a ton of work done every day. Cal Newport books are eye opening, he should have come earlier in my life. "Deep Work" is one of the best books I have ever read and the principles offered in this book will stay with me forever.
Thank you Brian! This could not have come at a more suitable time for me. I think man's time on earth is spent mastering this one skill, FOCUS (whether we know it or not). It is the only war we fight whilst here; the other battles are won with ease if we can easily focus our minds. Being able to harness our skill of focus, is the greatest weapon we have as humans. Self help books/content helps us to attain that high level of focus by developing a customised routine and a set of practices to stengthen this skill. To achieve any goal, focus is the only catalyst that will help us get through what needs to be done gracefully. If I could wish for anything in this world, it would be to attain stealth like focus on what needs to be done. But for now, I will practise following Cal's ideas, for one... I am going to quit social media for 66 days (yikes!!!) ... and see how that impacts my deep work. Thanks Brian and Cal!
I'm 26 and starting to really feel/learn this again. I learned so much html and some css when I was 9, before the internet got big, complicated, and social media took over everything. Now I'm so distracted I'm lucky if I spend 30 min straight on codeacademy or similar tutorial/sandbox combo. I want to be able to learn deeply again and the "no distractions/vibrations" mode on my phone is quickly becoming my favorite setting.
I have found this topic/book to be invaluable in my learning and work (albeit retired) commitments. I suggest it to anyone seriously wanting to improve their personal output; employed, retired, whatever! I just wish that all the purveyors of the likes of Agile would read the book as well (I call Agile, frAgile for real work output (from a retired software developer of 42.5 years)).
Another great interview Brian. So many good things here. Recognizing the level of distraction “options” we have and the necessity of finding and committing to deep work that has tremendous value so that we can easily define the clutter and sweep it away. Awesome.
Refreshing. Every job I have had I wind up giving counsel to my boss’s boss because of my focus. Had no idea this was considered a school of thought. Also lots of what Cal is talking about is covered in the Book of Proverbs in the BIBLE. Solomon was worth trillions so it makes sense that lots of business principles find their roots in the Word of Almighty God. Great interview again. Refreshing.
I forgot to mention. Brian, you did a great job covering both of his books in your videos "Deep Work" and "So good they can't ignore you". I'm going to watch your other videos. Thank you very much for the work you are doing.
+Renato Sáenz Definitely closing accounts. "Stop using them as much" would fall under "Reduce social media use", not quit. The idea is that for certain people doing certain work (very context dependent), there is no benefit social media could give you that will outweigh the costs it will have on your focus and productivity.
Hey Brian, thanks again for what you do. I have a question about deep work and relationships. I'm in a position to do a good amount of "deep work". I want to work deeply, but I'm running into an issue. My wife highly values mealtimes as a way to connect. Even if we're only together for 20 minutes, that's highly valuable for her. However, I'm running into attention residue issues. Here it's said that the residue lasts for 15-25 minutes, meaning if I was intensely focused before a meal, I'm still filtering out the residue from the work session, and my time with my wife is not as highly satisfying as when I was in a shallow work job and could easily disconnect. Then equally, when I'm with her and then go back to work, there's that residue again that makes it hard to jump back into deep work. What do you suggest as a way to more quickly transition from deep work to deep love and back again? Or if that's the wrong question, what do you suggest for my situation? Thanks in advance!
You may be interested to know, "how I found you" Brian. A little flag popped up on my screen with you offering to share the "what goes on behind the scene of preparing your show." This eventually led to your interview with Cal on the topic of Deep Work which I found right on point. (Being a writer). I was also exposed to you via a close friend who studied "The 30-Day Sobriety Solution," by Jack Canfield and Dave Andrews, of which you must have been a part? BTW, your Philosopher's Notes are very reasonable. Now, where do I plug my books? ;)
Great interview, but how do you do that if you are in sales or other professions that you need to deal with different kind of people on a regular basis? I think you can apply this method in order to develop a skill that doesn't require human interaction ,for example you can not apply it to professions like real estate agent or managing a restaurant these jobs require you to get involved in human interaction all the time but I do agree for academic career or professions like programming, analysis or even learning instruments this is the best approach.
Resist other forms of distractions. For example, if you are reading a book, resist the temptation to check your phone or check email etc until you are done with the book or whatever pages you aimed for beforehand. or take a few hours 1 to 3 etc to focus on one thing without any distraction, doing whatever is very important relevant to your life at the moment (reading,writing, painting, etc)
+Kindred Spirit I don't think the book recommends a number of areas to focus on. However, the book does mention attention residue, and how the the "residue" from one task can impede on your next task, which reduces your level of productivity on the new task. Thus, engaging in many areas of deep work may not be the most efficient thing to do because you will have too much residue left over preventing the most productive deep work possible from being accomplished. The book also discusses the finite nature of willpower required to do deep work--we only have so much we can expend in a given day. So if you have many area's of focus, the constant switching between them may deplete your willpower reserves to un-optimal levels. This is just my two sense, and I would recommend exploring the question further by reading the book.
Hey Brian, I'm a huge fan of yours and have posted on a few of your other videos. I think this interview with Cal was awesome. I also agree that his clarity in explaining the concepts is great, he really speaks how he writes! I just started a blog geared for law students (I am a third-year law student) and just wrote a review on the book and how it can be implemented to help law students (although it is written pretty generally). I want to use this is an opportunity to provide a link to my blog--please let me know if you would rather me not in the future. Additionally, would love the opportunity to collaborate with you in the future on reviewing certain books and spinning the review in a way that can specifically be geared toward law school success. Thanks Brian! nnlawschoolblog.blogspot.com/
Having read a couple of chapters in this book, I returned it. I realised that I was wasting my time while cause unnecessary bane to myself. This book is good for someone who needs a self help kind of a approach or if you are in stage in your life where you need a lot of advice, However if you are in a stage in your life where you have gathered some experience then this book is of, no value. The author has basically collected a set of anecdotal reference from several places and puts, it together, in the form of a book. His research are not solid and they simply cross reference several individualist point of views, in a way that palaver to his thinking. It creates no connect with reader and at times, feels like a cacophony of words put together to say the same thing, over and over again. The author himself is a research scientist and thus juxtaposes his preferred working style on the gullible reader. This book can seriously damage the thinking of a young impressionable mind, who might believe it as "use case" in all areas of life, but it doesn't. If you run Business or do, a regular job then shallow work is yours bread and butter, and this book is chore you wouldn't want to add in your lifestyle. We all know the influence of social media on individuals but social media is and important tool when used properly. Its never a binary approach, which is what the author recommends. You need to find you own space and thinking with everything including social media.
Flip Tube I find that the young people today are very binary. No flexibility. i was raised in the 60s and we were taught to work deeply. To think or meditate deeply. To get absorbed in your studies or work. the advent of the electronic age has caused a shift wherein now your special if you can work deeply. On some ways we need to go back to the old way. This is a way to sell books and give speexhes and talks.
This book is a must buy because in today's world full of "fast food type" instant messaging communication, I find it very intrusive in daily life, daily work and there are so many issues around it. Because of this, I'm reading this book to understand what kind of principles I need to implement, to balance work, communication and social life in general, while getting a ton of work done every day. Cal Newport books are eye opening, he should have come earlier in my life. "Deep Work" is one of the best books I have ever read and the principles offered in this book will stay with me forever.
+Souvik Kundu Well said!!!
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Thank you Brian! This could not have come at a more suitable time for me.
I think man's time on earth is spent mastering this one skill, FOCUS (whether we know it or not). It is the only war we fight whilst here; the other battles are won with ease if we can easily focus our minds. Being able to harness our skill of focus, is the greatest weapon we have as humans. Self help books/content helps us to attain that high level of focus by developing a customised routine and a set of practices to stengthen this skill. To achieve any goal, focus is the only catalyst that will help us get through what needs to be done gracefully. If I could wish for anything in this world, it would be to attain stealth like focus on what needs to be done. But for now, I will practise following Cal's ideas, for one... I am going to quit social media for 66 days (yikes!!!) ... and see how that impacts my deep work. Thanks Brian and Cal!
So good. Social media is simply another way of numbing out.
I'm 26 and starting to really feel/learn this again. I learned so much html and some css when I was 9, before the internet got big, complicated, and social media took over everything. Now I'm so distracted I'm lucky if I spend 30 min straight on codeacademy or similar tutorial/sandbox combo. I want to be able to learn deeply again and the "no distractions/vibrations" mode on my phone is quickly becoming my favorite setting.
I have found this topic/book to be invaluable in my learning and work (albeit retired) commitments. I suggest it to anyone seriously wanting to improve their personal output; employed, retired, whatever! I just wish that all the purveyors of the likes of Agile would read the book as well (I call Agile, frAgile for real work output (from a retired software developer of 42.5 years)).
Another great interview Brian. So many good things here. Recognizing the level of distraction “options” we have and the necessity of finding and committing to deep work that has tremendous value so that we can easily define the clutter and sweep it away. Awesome.
+Erik Browning One of my favorites. Love Cal and his wisdom!
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Refreshing. Every job I have had I wind up giving counsel to my boss’s boss because of my focus. Had no idea this was considered a school of thought. Also lots of what Cal is talking about is covered in the Book of Proverbs in the BIBLE. Solomon was worth trillions so it makes sense that lots of business principles find their roots in the Word of Almighty God.
Great interview again. Refreshing.
Not only just social media, we must know exactly what kind of distractions we use 'habitually' and must fix them all.
Another amazing interview, I'd hear this on the podcast earlier a few times, time to listen to it again. Thank you for everything you do Brian!
+mmotorheadzzz Right on! :)
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I forgot to mention. Brian, you did a great job covering both of his books in your videos "Deep Work" and "So good they can't ignore you". I'm going to watch your other videos. Thank you very much for the work you are doing.
+Souvik Kundu Thank you!!
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+Brian Johnson Do you have any interview with his other book like "So good that they cant ignore you "
4 rules -
1. Work deeply
2. Embrace boredom
3. Cut off social media
4. Drain the shallows
This is awesome! -Charlie & Team Optimize
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Great interview, thanks!
This is really good stuff. You've earned one more subscriber. Greetings from Brazil
+Vinicius Albuquerque Thanks!
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Great Mind!!
Agreed!! - Zak | Team Optimize
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I love the idea of quitting social media. Does that mean actually closing accounts? or just stop using them as much?
+Renato Sáenz Up to you! :)
+Renato Sáenz Definitely closing accounts. "Stop using them as much" would fall under "Reduce social media use", not quit. The idea is that for certain people doing certain work (very context dependent), there is no benefit social media could give you that will outweigh the costs it will have on your focus and productivity.
I loooooove Cal :-)
HU2:
17:14 how to start to build the feeling for DEEP Work = Ritual
19:20 you need to value your time; not allowing your schedule be fragmanted
Brian, just wondered why you won't set up a video call with your interviewies would be awesome, more direct. Thanks
Hey Brian, would be cool if you could get to interview Angela Lee Duckworth. You know....the gritty lady!
Hey Brian, thanks again for what you do. I have a question about deep work and relationships. I'm in a position to do a good amount of "deep work". I want to work deeply, but I'm running into an issue. My wife highly values mealtimes as a way to connect. Even if we're only together for 20 minutes, that's highly valuable for her. However, I'm running into attention residue issues. Here it's said that the residue lasts for 15-25 minutes, meaning if I was intensely focused before a meal, I'm still filtering out the residue from the work session, and my time with my wife is not as highly satisfying as when I was in a shallow work job and could easily disconnect. Then equally, when I'm with her and then go back to work, there's that residue again that makes it hard to jump back into deep work. What do you suggest as a way to more quickly transition from deep work to deep love and back again? Or if that's the wrong question, what do you suggest for my situation? Thanks in advance!
You may be interested to know, "how I found you" Brian. A little flag popped up on my screen with you offering to share the "what goes on behind the scene of preparing your show." This eventually led to your interview with Cal on the topic of Deep Work which I found right on point. (Being a writer). I was also exposed to you via a close friend who studied "The 30-Day Sobriety Solution," by Jack Canfield and Dave Andrews, of which you must have been a part? BTW, your Philosopher's Notes are very reasonable. Now, where do I plug my books? ;)
Great interview, but how do you do that if you are in sales or other professions that you need to deal with different kind of people on a regular basis? I think you can apply this method in order to develop a skill that doesn't require human interaction ,for example you can not apply it to professions like real estate agent or managing a restaurant these jobs require you to get involved in human interaction all the time but I do agree for academic career or professions like programming, analysis or even learning instruments this is the best approach.
Resist other forms of distractions. For example, if you are reading a book, resist the temptation to check your phone or check email etc until you are done with the book or whatever pages you aimed for beforehand.
or take a few hours 1 to 3 etc to focus on one thing without any distraction, doing whatever is very important relevant to your life at the moment (reading,writing, painting, etc)
Well... seems like Cal and Brian just be here telling us how to deliberately practice 40 hrs a day to become the next Ling Ling!
😁 -Zak | Team Optimize
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@@HeroicBrian
Never knew you were into
classical music! 😁😁🎻
How many area's of focus is recommended for engaging in deep work to avoid spreading our time too thinly ?
+Kindred Spirit I don't think the book recommends a number of areas to focus on. However, the book does mention attention residue, and how the the "residue" from one task can impede on your next task, which reduces your level of productivity on the new task. Thus, engaging in many areas of deep work may not be the most efficient thing to do because you will have too much residue left over preventing the most productive deep work possible from being accomplished.
The book also discusses the finite nature of willpower required to do deep work--we only have so much we can expend in a given day. So if you have many area's of focus, the constant switching between them may deplete your willpower reserves to un-optimal levels.
This is just my two sense, and I would recommend exploring the question further by reading the book.
I really love all the content but, when do we put in the free time? I mean we are going to need a break..how should we incorporate that?
twopaddles1 He never works past 5:30
5:00 neurons and noise
6:30 literary novelists must have no distractions
Thanks for watching, have a great day! 😀 - Team Heroic
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can you please share the link of other interview with him. It's not in your videos.
+Ravinder Mangat brianjohnson.me/philosophers-notes/so-good-they-cant-ignore-you/
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What about focus vs diffuse mode of thinking?
th-cam.com/video/O96fE1E-rf8/w-d-xo.html
Hey Brian, I'm a huge fan of yours and have posted on a few of your other videos. I think this interview with Cal was awesome. I also agree that his clarity in explaining the concepts is great, he really speaks how he writes!
I just started a blog geared for law students (I am a third-year law student) and just wrote a review on the book and how it can be implemented to help law students (although it is written pretty generally). I want to use this is an opportunity to provide a link to my blog--please let me know if you would rather me not in the future. Additionally, would love the opportunity to collaborate with you in the future on reviewing certain books and spinning the review in a way that can specifically be geared toward law school success. Thanks Brian!
nnlawschoolblog.blogspot.com/
+Matt Goodman Just shared the link to this video on the blog :)
who TF disliked this?
Having read a couple of chapters in this book, I returned it. I realised that I was wasting my time while cause unnecessary bane to myself. This book is good for someone who needs a self help kind of a approach or if you are in stage in your life where you need a lot of advice, However if you are in a stage in your life where you have gathered some experience then this book is of, no value. The author has basically collected a set of anecdotal reference from several places and puts, it together, in the form of a book. His research are not solid and they simply cross reference several individualist point of views, in a way that palaver to his thinking. It creates no connect with reader and at times, feels like a cacophony of words put together to say the same thing, over and over again. The author himself is a research scientist and thus juxtaposes his preferred working style on the gullible reader. This book can seriously damage the thinking of a young impressionable mind, who might believe it as "use case" in all areas of life, but it doesn't. If you run Business or do, a regular job then shallow work is yours bread and butter, and this book is chore you wouldn't want to add in your lifestyle. We all know the influence of social media on individuals but social media is and important tool when used properly. Its never a binary approach, which is what the author recommends. You need to find you own space and thinking with everything including social media.
Flip Tube I find that the young people today are very binary. No flexibility. i was raised in the 60s and we were taught to work deeply. To think or meditate deeply. To get absorbed in your studies or work. the advent of the electronic age has caused a shift wherein now your special if you can work deeply. On some ways we need to go back to the old way. This is a way to sell books and give speexhes and talks.
He mentioned in the book that in some profession you need the shallow work. That is why I enjoyed reading the book even more.