Finding the right productivity metaphor
At intermittent points in my life I will fall for the siren song of personal productivity books. I have read my share of the zero-inbox-getting-to-done-marie-kondo-make-a-system genre. And they all suffer from the same problem. They assume their readers are using very similar metaphors — “you, dear reader are a machine. If you put in these inputs you will get out these outputs.”
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With that pre-amble, my time at HBS has been incredibly productive. I have submitted 10 working papers, reviewed more than 20, co-edited an academic journal special issue on AI, created a conference (an UNCONFERENCE), ran it twice, proposed a research center, gave 8 academic talks, did another 10 press interviews, worked directly with a company to ensure an AI product was less racist, ran a couple longitudinal studies, provided some insights to a couple orginizations and somehow found some time to make some pretty nice art. For 18 solid months, I have worked harder than I did even in grad school, when I had this insane Will Smith Quote as my email signature:
“I’ve never really viewed myself as particularly talented; where I excel is in a ridiculous, sickening work ethic. While the other guy is sleeping, I’m working. While the other guy is eating, I’m working.”
But, here’s the thing…
I am talented. Sometimes my talent is immense and overwhelming.
And, I am falling apart.
I went way too hard.
I’m exhausted. My hair is falling out. I’m moody…
And it hit me.
I have been using the wrong metaphor for productivity. I have tried to treat myself like a machine. But a simple machine.
And I’m not a simple machine.
I am a supercar. Complex. Powerful. Rare.
But I am an old supercar.
I can still beat almost anyone off the line.
I can do short burst better than most.
But, if I keep my foot one the gas I will blow-up.
