On Productivity and Decision Making

I was reading "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant," last night. In one of his tweets, Naval Ravikant  intriguingly suggests, "you should be too busy to "do coffee" while still keeping an uncluttered calendar."

This tweet sparks an important insight: often, people mistake busyness for productivity, finding solace in the feeling of being constantly occupied. In this relentless pursuit of busyness, we tend to neglect what truly matters to us. Ravikant's wisdom suggests that being busy, in itself, doesn't lead to wealth or happiness.

The key lies in discerning which tasks hold genuine value in your lives. As employees, you may overextend ourselves, saying "no" to family and friends who stand by you. Or may be due to too much of family obligation, you overlook social life. Ravikant urges to make conscious choices about whom and what to say "no" to. Life cannot be lived without making choices; it's crucial to ensure that your "no" is directed at the right targets—be it the wrong person, unproductive habits, or opportunities that add little value.

Hard work alone isn't sufficient; without deciding what truly matters, others may dictate your path. It's energy-intensive to make choices, which is why many people don't take this responsibility. Yet, taking charge of your life and embracing the consequences of your decisions is paramount. Decision-making, much like building a muscle, grows with time. This skill helps you to prioritize and seize the most enriching opportunities, preventing you just from inadvertently saying "no" to life's wonder.