Cal Newport — The Key to Productivity without Burnout | Prof G Conversations

Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and bestselling author, joins Scott to discuss productivity, the importance of work-life balance, and the disruption of AI on work. Learn more about Cal here, and his book, “Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.”

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Timestamps:
00:00 In this episode
00:48 What do you mean by “slow productivity?”
02:26 Does effort or anxiety not translate to productivity?
05:14 The 3 principles of slow productivity
07:30 If you want to be successful don’t you need productivity and time?
09:16 What are the steps to identifying and developing an unambiguous skill?
11:49 In your 20s, what were your primary influences?
14:14 How has your personal life changed?
15:15 How has it changed your approach to fathering?
16:50 AI and productivity
21:40 Do you think the performance of AI will live up to its promise?
23:42 Where do you think AI disruption is in respect to higher education?
26:04 How would you suggest someone become AI capable?
28:35 Advice to your 25-year-old self?

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#business #news #tech #lifehack #advice #AI #highereducation #SlowProductivity #burnout #workculture #productivity #balancedlife #success #finance #news #profg #scottgalloway #profgconversations #CalNewport

[joshmumper]

Cal Newport is a legend - highly recommend his book “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” if you’re frustrated with your career or need direction.

[bytetacos]

Sometimes i cant take Cal seriously because he reminds me of Jason Bateman talking in a movie instead. Also as Prof G stated he was extremely lucky to have success so young. Good for him. Now i need to write my book at 50!

[jeffossola]

This was a pod that i didnt know i needed. Thanks to Prof G for another really good one

[todorkolev]

Imagine if they put Einstein on a Jira board and asked him every two weeks what tiny piece of Special Relativity he has completed "this iteration" :D

[NicholasDunbar]

Challenge to Newport... How to get stuff done when your in pain or when you're depressed. I think exploring real barriers to productivity allows a person to really understand what the real problems are that prevent productivity

[davidmorrison]

What an incredibly insightful, and useful discussion. Thanks, Scott & Cal

[christophmagnussen]

I reecently read “Slow Productivity” and appreciate the core idea about focusing on priorities to enhance effectiveness and reduce stress. He emphasizes the impact of minimizing distractions like notifications etc. However I think it’s crucial to adapt the priority communication approach based on context, using tools like the collaboration matrix to decide what channel to focus on during what time. And one more thought: conversely to Cal‘s approach Noah Kagan’s “Million Dollar Weekend” embraces the fast-paced work showing how rapid action can sometimes be equally effective. I think both methods have their place, and I find that integrating slow and fast productivity phases allows me for a more adaptable approach to work ✊

[YesItsWitticus]

It’s really interesting to listen to the business analysis of workload from someone working in the medical field. It’s where the mind skills and the practical skills meet in shift work. Trying to have undeniable value doesn’t always equate to dictating your schedule. But the focus on work hours vs personal hours is key to survival.

[mrjvc]

Loved this. But please remember that when people say "good for you" it can easily come across as sarcastic since it's often used that way. I'm sure it's used sincerely here, but there are some regions where it's never used sincerely and it's hard to hear it as anything but sarcastically.

[themasterrogerdelgado]

I've enjoyed Newport's books. Interesting interview.

[amlb]

If you want to be something, find out who some of the best are that’s doing that thing, and ask them how they got there.

[rocmanik]

Small tip to your vid editor. Use J and L cuts instead hard ones all the time. It’ll reduce some awkward jumps eg at 25:54

also Scott if you’re hiring an analyst who has a failed startup under their belt. I’m not looking for balance. I’m looking for growth and monetary gains in anyway possible.

[drumbliss]

24:12 - I don’t understand why Newport says that the codex did not revolutionize (interrupt) higher Ed, which he mentions twice as having been unchanged for the last 500 years. The codex itself was invented over 1800 years ago. Even if he were referring to the invention of the printing press, this would at most allow a form of co-evolution rather than a disruption of higher education. So this point seems nonsensical to me based on historical sequence.

[JayDee]

new iteration of ‘try to understand the difference of effectiveness and efficiency and focus on effectiveness to be successful’.

[ub]

Cal: Don't bother learning prompt engineering [it will get easier / user-friendly]
Eric Schmidt: AI will shift tasks from programming to "assembly" [emphasizing high-level construction over low-level coding]

[ub]

Antonyms of Newport:
GrumpyStarboard
SeniorSideDock
AncientSeaboard
GeriatricPier
MoldyPortSide
Over-the-HillPort
CreakyStarboard
RetiredPort
ExpiredSidePort
Pardon, it's my juvenile side that comes out listening to productivity hacks lol
Hey man, that's what happens when you do everything in your 20s

[tsiftsaro]

"Spend more time than you want getting good at it" wait this quote is directly opposite of the rest of your message..