Le Sigh

No Schedules, No Meetings--Enter Best Buy's ROWE | The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss:

"ROWE stands for Results-Only Work Environment. In a ROWE, each person is free to do whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as the work gets done. Currently, there are two authentic ROWEs—Fortune 100 retailer Best Buy Co, Inc. and J. A. Counter & Associates, a small brokerage firm in New Richmond, WI. At both organizations, the old rules that govern a traditional work environment—core hours, “face time,” pointless meetings, etc.—have been replaced by one rule: focus only on results.

In the 4-Hour Workweek, you helped people understand that because of technology, people don’t have to defer living until retirement. They can design their own lifestyle. Now imagine what would happen if the entire culture of a workplace went through the same transformation. That’s what a ROWE is. A ROWE is a work culture that gives people the power to take control of their lives. As long as they get their job done, they’re free."

Dave gets all Buddhist on us

David Allen: Control Or Spontaneity: The Paradox - Living on The Huffington Post:

"There is a freedom that is only approachable by the sacrifice of our attachments to anything, including our organization and commitments."

Bravo! I heartily concur.

But what if I read lots of blog posts about productivity?

Letter to a young procrastinator. - By Seth Stevenson - Slate Magazine:

"Understand that this will never, ever change. You will always be lazy, and you will always procrastinate. I know it's tough for you to hear, but it's a harsh truth that you need to internalize."

You mean everyone's not out to get me?

SMILT NON-FICTION - Reviewing Reviewers--Kluge:

But before you despair that humans are doomed to a life of lost keys, irrational beliefs and false memories, Marcus does supply us with a whole host of ways to trains our brains to act more rationally. My personal favorite is his first, “Whenever possible, consider alternative hypotheses.” He recommends forcing yourself to come up with a list of alternatives even if you are absolutely certain that your husband is breaking drinking glasses out of spite and not because the sink is a little too deep for its intended purposes. Some of his other tips also involve forcing your brain to get out of the habit of relying on its more instinctual (and less reliable) thought processes and practice using our more conscious frontal lobes. This kind of advice may seem obvious when you read them but try and think about the last time you actually took advice such as, “Whenever possible, don’t make important decisions when you are tired or have other things on your mind.” Or “Always weigh benefits against costs.”

Explains a lot

The Science of Thinking Smarter: A Conversation with Brain Expert John J. Medina:

"...the brain isn’t interested in reality; it’s interested in survival."

Still reading...

Comprehension Climbs When You Slooooow Doooown:

"It should take you two and a half seconds to read this sentence."

This must have something to do with neuroplasticity

Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset: Which One Are You? - Michael Graham Richard:

"People who hold the Growth Mindset believe that intelligence can be developed, that the brain is like a muscle that can be trained. This leads to the desire to improve."

$835! The hell?

David Allen Company : David Allen Collection

I really want to read this book - Kluge by Gary Marcus

Los Angeles Times: Does your brain have a mind of its own?:

"Consider, for example, the difficulty that most people having in sticking to abstract goals like 'I intend to lose weight' or 'I plan to finish this article before the deadline.' Nice thoughts, but not formulated in terms that your ancestral, reflexive brain might understand. The work-around? Translate those abstract goals into a form your ancestral systems -- which traffic largely in dumb reflexes -- can understand: if-then. If you find yourself in a particular situation, then take a specific action: 'If I see French fries, then I will avoid them.' As Peter Gollwitzer, my colleague in New York University's department of psychology, has shown, even simple changes like these can markedly increase the chances of success."