How do I work?

HOW I WORK

Location: Atlanta

Current Gig(s): Foundation for Economic Education & The World Wanderers Podcast

Current Mobile Device: LG Risio. I needed to get an American phone after moving from Canada. I bought this one solely because of the price, $50 outright without a plan. I was expecting something terrible, but it has surpassed my expectation 100x. For less than 10% of the price, you get at least 50% of the value of an iPhone. The pace of technological improvement is amazing.

Current Computer: 13.3″ Macbook Pro

One Word That Best Describes Your Work: Crisp.

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And now for the questions portion of our show…

WHAT APPS/SOFTWARE CAN’T YOU LIVE WITHOUT?

The only app the I probably can’t live without is Google Maps. Everything else isn’t that important, but there are lots that I find helpful. I use Evernote to keep track of ideas &projects, make lists, notes, and write random thoughts. The Momentum extension for chrome helps me relax with some beautiful photos and stay on track with to do lists. Newsfeed Eradicator is really helpful for keeping my facebook time to a minimum. I currently using the Apple Music free trial for listening to music, but won’t pay for it when the trial is over. When I’m feeling extra prone to distraction I do my writing in J-Darkroom.

It doesn’t really count as software, but a few months ago I learned how to touch type using a colmac keyboard (as opposed to QWERTY).  The speed of my typing has improved dramatically, but the biggest thing you notice is the amount your hands don’t move around the keyboard. With 4 hours over a weekend, you can get yourself to a point where you are efficient enough to work on the new keyboard at work on Monday. I can’t recommend switching highly enough.

WHAT’S YOUR WORKSPACE LIKE?

Cubicle at the office. I’m still pretty new so there is not much going on in my space.

Outside of the office I like to work in open spaces, like cafe’s though not extremely busy ones.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST TIME-SAVING TRICK?

Start with the things that are most on my mind. Avoiding inputs like email notifications, text messages, or anything that draws my attention away from the task at hand. Once my attention is gone it takes a long time to get it back.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TO-DO LIST MANAGER?

I use Momentum on chrome as well as just writing it down the old fashioned way. I like to write down the things I want to focus on during the day in my notebook, and then make a done list instead of a to-do list. Keeping track of all the things I’m getting done gives me a sense of momentum and productivity.

BESIDES YOUR PHONE AND COMPUTER, WHAT GADGET CAN’T YOU DO WITHOUT?

Not really a gadget… Notepads and pens. A few months ago I was introduced to Japanese stationery, and it is awesome. My favorite notebooks are Maruman Mnemosyne Notebooks, the paper is luxuriously soft and smooth, and once you have one you will be confounded by the poor quality of everyday notebooks. My favorite pens are the Jetstreams by Uniball, in particular, these rubber body 0.7 ones, or if you are looking for something special the Alpha gel grip jetstream. Then pens are slightly more expensive than the shitty normal ones you can get at Office Depot or Walmart, but you can buy a bunch of $1 refills so the cost is pretty small over time.

WHAT EVERYDAY THING ARE YOU BETTER AT THAN ANYONE ELSE? 

Better than anyone is a pretty high bar….

I have some solid cooking skills, shuffling poker chips, Spanish karaoke with Carlos Vives or ChocQuibtown songs (better than non-native Spanish speakers, I am way worse than actual Spanish-speaking people.)

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I have a problem where I start reading a whole bunch of books at once and then don’t finish them. I’m currently reading/not reading.

You Can Profit From A Monetary Crisis by Harry Browne, Black Swan by Nassim Taleb, Fight Club, and Excuse me Professor by Lawrence Reed.

WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO WHILE YOU WORK? 

Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Sigur Ros at work. Also, dabble with Classical and Jazz. I find it hard to focus when I work and listen to music with lyrics.

I’ve been to trying out listening to Binaural Beats with my music. I haven’t noticed much of an effect.

ARE YOU MORE OF AN INTROVERT OR AN EXTROVERT? 

I don’t believe in the concept of introversion or extroversion as personality type. I think that labels like these box people in and more than being useless are actually harmful, especially when you assign them to yourself. You are not introvert or extrovert, you are human being too complex for these simplistic labels!

WHAT’S YOUR SLEEP ROUTINE LIKE? 

I don’t have as solid a routine as I would like. Ideally I would sleep 10-6. When I can get up early, I accomplish WAY more throughout the day. When I get up at 8 I feel a lot of pressure to get going and usually don’t take the time I need for myself to succeed during the day (whether that is exercising, reading, meditating, or making a good breakfast).

FILL IN THE BLANK: I’D LOVE TO SEE _____ ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS

Francisco D’anconia.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

Didn’t receive it but I read it in a book, “Life’s short to be in a hurry”.

I get caught up in short-term concerns a lot of the time, so this phrase reminds me to slow down mentally when I’m caught up in momentary stress or trying to get something done. It reminds me to be grateful and amazed by the world around me, and that these things I’m so stressed about now probably aren’t that important in the greater scheme of things.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?

I think that the biggest improvements in my work came not from new tools, apps, or technology but from introspection. Thinking deeply about what I liked and didn’t like about previous jobs, and what held me back from challenging myself to grow and improve. I still have a TON to learn, and a lot to improve about my work, but I think that consistent introspection, awareness of my feelings, and curiosity about coworkers is the path to making to most improvement.