Great review! I did this kind of assessment and mission identification as a junior faculty member, and it made a big difference in how I thought about my days. I started reserving the mornings for work that mattered most, and I limited travel to once a month. I like Newport but I do share some of the concerns that he is writing from a pretty privileged space—no child or elder care, able to decide where to put one’s energy, etc.—but I agree that everyone can get something useful out of his work!
Totally agree that this doesn't apply uniformly. I even discussed this book with some of my vet friends who are fans of his, and they were like "Some of his lessons are pretty hard to apply to an ER doc." Fair enough!
I will say he does have two kids, but I have no idea as to how they manage. Whether his wife takes on much of the parenting or they use the financial resources of a Georgetown professor to pay for childcare, it certainly is not the same experience as a single parent trying to make ends meet.
Dissenting opinion here! Please don't hate on me overly (or at least more than you think I deserve.)
Our minds are adaptive. They got to be the way they are via our individual histories. They are each very tightly inter-effecting. Change one aspect and the effects are not localized. Ones current organization is the way it is for a reason. Wrenching changes or monkeying with the setup can be hazardous in unexpected ways, or temporary patches that quickly revert to a status quo ante. On reform programs in general I counsel incremental approaches. Let the mind slowly reorganize itself to s new stable equilibrium. But always be cautious- "beware what you ask for.."
Really, I do like this author,. And his observations and recommendations are excellent! But I'm a gradualist, so while not disagreeing with him on any significant point, I just caution provident tactical slowness!
No hate or judgment here! I wouldn’t want my comments section to be an echo chamber. Newport’s views and strategies resonate with my experience and philosophy, but they may not work for everyone
This was really thought provoking, especially as I contemplate what my work life will look like post-chronic illness (caused in no small measure by decades of burning it at both ends). Thanks for showing us the example of assessing your own missions and projects.
Absolutely! It is very refreshing to see alternate possibilities, and Newport himself lives this principles. This post already grew longer than I intended, but he frequently provides detailed examples of how he practices what he preaches and has used them to publish extensively both academic papers and non-fiction in the popular press (he also juggles a family life including kids, for the skeptics that this isn't practical for parents). Obviously, we can't all be like Leonardo da Vinci, funded by wealthy patrons to ponder and discover, but we certainly can't keep living on videocalls and email and powerpoint 24/7!
Great review! I did this kind of assessment and mission identification as a junior faculty member, and it made a big difference in how I thought about my days. I started reserving the mornings for work that mattered most, and I limited travel to once a month. I like Newport but I do share some of the concerns that he is writing from a pretty privileged space—no child or elder care, able to decide where to put one’s energy, etc.—but I agree that everyone can get something useful out of his work!
Totally agree that this doesn't apply uniformly. I even discussed this book with some of my vet friends who are fans of his, and they were like "Some of his lessons are pretty hard to apply to an ER doc." Fair enough!
I will say he does have two kids, but I have no idea as to how they manage. Whether his wife takes on much of the parenting or they use the financial resources of a Georgetown professor to pay for childcare, it certainly is not the same experience as a single parent trying to make ends meet.
Dissenting opinion here! Please don't hate on me overly (or at least more than you think I deserve.)
Our minds are adaptive. They got to be the way they are via our individual histories. They are each very tightly inter-effecting. Change one aspect and the effects are not localized. Ones current organization is the way it is for a reason. Wrenching changes or monkeying with the setup can be hazardous in unexpected ways, or temporary patches that quickly revert to a status quo ante. On reform programs in general I counsel incremental approaches. Let the mind slowly reorganize itself to s new stable equilibrium. But always be cautious- "beware what you ask for.."
Really, I do like this author,. And his observations and recommendations are excellent! But I'm a gradualist, so while not disagreeing with him on any significant point, I just caution provident tactical slowness!
No hate or judgment here! I wouldn’t want my comments section to be an echo chamber. Newport’s views and strategies resonate with my experience and philosophy, but they may not work for everyone
This was really thought provoking, especially as I contemplate what my work life will look like post-chronic illness (caused in no small measure by decades of burning it at both ends). Thanks for showing us the example of assessing your own missions and projects.
Absolutely! It is very refreshing to see alternate possibilities, and Newport himself lives this principles. This post already grew longer than I intended, but he frequently provides detailed examples of how he practices what he preaches and has used them to publish extensively both academic papers and non-fiction in the popular press (he also juggles a family life including kids, for the skeptics that this isn't practical for parents). Obviously, we can't all be like Leonardo da Vinci, funded by wealthy patrons to ponder and discover, but we certainly can't keep living on videocalls and email and powerpoint 24/7!