The Afterword is primarily an exhortation to connect with the author. One quote for getting work done stood out, “The answer is monotasking— delivering the vital few by skipping the useful many.” The concept of linking starting and finishing and controlling WIP is so intrinsically obvious that it borders on being a truism, BUT almost every person, team, and organization throws this basic knowledge out the window thinking they are special. Until about five’ish years ago I was no different. My work approach was altered by Staffan’s first book, Pomodoro Technique Illustrated, so I expected a great deal from this book. It delivered but it delivered mostly because the second time I read it I put it to use. Just reading this book is intellectually interesting; putting it to use is valuable. The approach of finding one important item from each chapter and then trying to put it into action drove points home for me immediately. I hope my learning by trial and error was useful to the readers of the blog. To date, the short list concept has been the most important takeaway from the approach. The ironic part is that I messed my initial implementation up and almost abandoned the idea. It really works. One learning from the approach is that if an experiment doesn’t work learn and try again.
Bottom line: Monotasking by Staffan Nöteberg gets my highest recommendation: it is very useful. (I have to say that I really hate the limit on exporting notes set by the publisher on the Kindle.)
More thoughts on the re-read approach. I tried something new with this re-read. I found and used one idea per chapter/week. I found this a great way to increase my focus on the text and to increase retention. I will continue with some version of this approach if the book we are re-reading supports the approach. For example, I do not think the re-read of Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (an earlier re-read) would have lent itself to this approach. My takeaway from many of the chapters was that being a sociopath is the quickest way to build a business until someone figures out what you are doing– not my style). Any feedback on the approach?
Next Two Weeks and Picking The Next Book
The Software Process and Measurement Cast and Blog media empire (queue the hearty laughter) will be on a quick end of summer break. For the next two Saturdays, I will repost an entry of the Re-read Series from an earlier re-read with links to all of the entries in the series.
We will highlight two re-reads:
- Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
- Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler.
We have covered a number of great books! Now let’s pick the next one as there is no time like the present to begin the process of picking the next book. The poll:
Feel free to vote again tomorrow to make your point. We will read or re-read the two books that get the most votes. The poll will remain open through Aug 31, 2021.
Previous Entries in Monotasking by Staffan Nöteberg re-read
Week 1 – Logistics, Game Plan, and Preface – https://bit.ly/3x1oVap
Week 2 – Introduction – https://bit.ly/2TXVfwt
Week 3 – Monotasking In A Nutshell – https://bit.ly/3gGMb72
Week 4 – Cut Down on Things to Do – https://bit.ly/3wt1ENL
Week 5 – Focus on One Task – https://bit.ly/3hK2XDU
Week 6 – Never Procrastinate – https://bit.ly/2UXPDDp
Week 7 – Progress Incrementally – https://bit.ly/3lk8Fi0
Week 8 – Simplify Cooperation – https://bit.ly/3yAVQne
Week 9 – Recharge Creative Thinking – https://bit.ly/3g3h0TQ
