Books · by Oliver Smith · 2026-08-31
A surprisingly useful lesson from my desk with an ambitious constraint
My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 5 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.
I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 5 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.
I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.
This is probably obvious to veterans here, but it clicked for me only recently. reviews got easier when I stopped treating every attempt like a final exam.
I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 5 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.
I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.
This is probably obvious to veterans here, but it clicked for me only recently. reviews got easier when I stopped treating every attempt like a final exam.
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