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There are two kinds of people in the world: those who achieve a lot and those who wonder how the first group does it. When I say "achieve a lot," I don’t mean reaching the highest peaks. I mean accomplishing the most with the least. As Adam Grant, in his book "The Hidden Potential," wisely puts it: “The true measure of your potential is not the height of the peak you’ve reached, but how far you have climbed to get there.”
If you want to be in that first group, let’s take a look at the work schedule of Adam Grant himself. He’s an incredibly accomplished, insanely talented, and ultra-proactive individual. As the youngest tenured professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of four New York Times bestsellers, he’s a perfect example of someone who gets things done.
The Power of Deep Work
Adam Grant spends nearly all his time on deep work, eliminating as many shallow tasks as possible. Deep work means focused, uninterrupted, and undistracted work on a task that pushes your cognitive abilities to their limits. But how does he manage this with so many people wanting his attention?
Here's his secret: he goes off the grid. He isn't reachable by email or social media. All correspondence goes through postal mail or his editor. When he's doing deep work, he sets an automated email reply saying he's unavailable. In other words, he makes himself hard to reach.
Why Focus is Your Most Valuable Currency
In today's world, focus is the most valuable currency. Our tech habits often consume us, making more important things invisible and irrelevant. The moment we open our phones, we are bombarded with requests, demands, invitations, and notifications—all distractions that drain our energy, motivation, and focus.
Shallow work, like answering emails or staying updated on office conversations via Slack, feels productive but doesn’t move you toward your deepest goals. Here are some common distractors:
Instant Communication: Tools like Slack and Skype allow people to interrupt your work on demand. A study by the University of California found that interruptions from instant messaging can cause a 23-minute delay in returning to the original task.
Social Media: We spend hours mindlessly scrolling through reels and YouTube shorts. According to the Pew Research Center, the average person spends about 2.5 hours per day on social media, hindering deep, focused work.
Creating a Deep Work Routine
In his book "Deep Work," Cal Newport suggests setting aside a regular block of time each day for deep work. For example, you could reserve your mornings (such as 8 to 11 a.m.) for deep work before tackling shallow tasks.
Adam Grant uses a bimodal approach to productivity. He splits his year into two segments: one semester for teaching and the other for going "off the grid" to focus on writing and public speaking. This allows him to produce a staggering number of research papers and books.
Digital Fasting: A Break for Your Mind
Just as fasting is recommended to give our bodies a break from food, we should give our minds a break from screens. Damon Zahariades, in his book "Digital Detox," calls this digital fasting.
Learn from the Best
Elon Musk: The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is known for his intense work schedule and periods of deep focus, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted work to achieve ambitious goals.
Bill Gates: Twice a year, he takes a week to disconnect from distractions and read through innovative ideas submitted by Microsoft employees.
Conclusion: Be Hard to Reach
If you want to achieve a lot and do it well, you need to become hard to reach. People who are always available end up feeling drained, much like a phone battery. To make a real impact, protect your time and concentrate on what truly matters.
Remember the saying, "Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life." Choose when you're available, protect your time, and focus on what counts. Be like a hidden treasure chest deep in the ocean—hard to reach but full of value.
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