Productivity Guide from Marc Andreessen - The Art of Doing Nothing... But The Most Important Things 🎨 (3min read)

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Three Lists to Rule Them All 📝

Start by decluttering your mental workspace with three essential lists:

The To-Do List: These are your non-negotiables, folks! If it’s on this list, it's as good as done. 🎯

The Watch List: Tasks you’re waiting on others for, or need to follow up on. It's your personal bat-signal that flashes when you need to swoop in. 🦸‍♂️

The Later List: A wishlist of sorts, these are the "I wish I had time for this" items. Keep them handy for when you catch that elusive downtime. 🌈

The Skill of Strategic Incompetence 🎭

Ever been stuck with tasks you’re horrible at? Say it loud and clear, "I'll mess this up," but say it like you mean it! Strategic incompetence is not about being a slacker; it's about ensuring you’re not the bottleneck. The strong voice and unflinching gaze are key. 👀

Taming the Email Beast 💌

Andreessen advocates checking your emails just twice a day. The secret sauce? An empty inbox at the end of each session. Your email folders should look like a well-organized library. 📚

Action: For current projects and pressing issues.

Pending: Emails you’ll need to revisit.

Review: Interesting reads for your intellectual snacking.

Vault: The treasure trove of "everything else."

Earbuds: The Modern ‘Do Not Disturb’ Sign 🎧

People think twice about interrupting someone engrossed in their music or podcast. Andreessen recommends headphones to create a virtual barrier, encouraging people to email you instead. Or better yet, figure it out themselves!

The Gospel of Structured Procrastination 🛌

Who says procrastination is your enemy? Use it to knock off smaller tasks from your to-do list. While you're "not" writing that quarterly report, you might just end up organizing your workspace, or finally fixing that bug in the code. It’s a win-win! 🎉

Breakfast: The Calm Before the Storm 🍳

Start your day by sitting down to a real breakfast. No, a coffee-to-go doesn’t count. It fuels your body and provides a tranquil space for gathering your thoughts. 🤔

Listen to Your Heart... and Head 💖

If your heart and mind both give a resounding “yes” to an opportunity, don’t let it slip through your fingers. Life's too short for regrets. 🌟

In summary, the essence of Andreessen’s productivity gospel is simple: Keep yourself unshackled to delve into what you're passionate about. Whether it’s coding the next big thing or sailing across the Bay, these tactics are about living a life where you call the shots. 🚀

You can find Marc’s archived blog posts here https://pmarchive.com/