FT: Apple CEO on being wrong, the power of progress, and focus time
3 ideas for the weekend ahead.
Hey there,
I have a long-form piece coming out on the path of least resistance but until then here are 3 things I want to share in this edition of Forward Thinking:
Apple CEO Tim Cook on Being Wrong
The Progress Principal
Microsoft’s Latest Research on How We Spend Our Time at Work
On Being Wrong
In a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook said
My thinking always evolves. Steve taught me well: never to get married to your convictions of yesterday. To always, if presented with something new that says you were wrong, admit it and go forward instead of continuing to hunker down and say why you’re right.”
Most of us are in the habit of sticking to our opinions regardless of new evidence. Sometimes we don’t want to be seen as being wrong (ego). Other times it’s wanting to look consistent to ourselves (cognitive dissonance).
Our society favors certainty over doubt. We want a doctor who tells us our medical condition versus multiple theories of what it could be.
But there is so much value in uncertainty. It allows us to reconsider and look for new evidence. Every rethink is a chance to be less wrong.
Two rules I am starting to follow:
Don’t form opinions on things right away. You don’t need to have an opinion on everything. 🤷🏻♂️ is sometimes the best answer.
Have convictions but hold them lightly.
The Progress Principle
The theory states when we get a sense of progress in our goals, it drives our motivation and engagement.
Sometimes, progress makes us happier than the reward or goal itself.
When I read this, I thought about my dedication to training for a half-marathon and trying to hit a Personal Record (PR) last year.
I trained for 15 weeks but it wasn’t the finish line that made me happy, it was all the training days leading up to that moment.
I was getting feedback from my long runs that I was getting faster. That feedback (progress principle) made me motivated and happy.
Crossing the finish line was a confirmation of what already happened a few weeks ago. It was more of a relief that I didn’t screw up.
My takeaway is always to remember to enjoy the journey. The destination is mostly anti-climatic.
Why We Can’t Get Anything Done at Work
Recent research from Microsoft shows we spend more time talking about work versus doing it.
This is a complex topic but we need a paradigm shift in how we work. It isn’t simply blocking your calendar for deep work. The culture of the organization needs to change to prioritize focus time.
Thanks for reading!
Irfan
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