The idea of ‘thinking it faster’ is provocative, because it seems to be over-optimising for speed rather than other values, where as the way you’re implementing it is by generating more meaningful or efficient decisions which are underpinned by a meta-analysis of your process—which is actually about increasing the quality of your decision-making.
I think it’s worthwhile seeing where we’re wasting time. But often I find wasted time isn’t what you’d expect it to be. As someone who also works in the creative industry, criticism is a lot easier than creating something out of whole cloth. Your senior partner, doesn’t just have more experience, but is also a fresh pair of eyes looking at the product you’re creating from a macroscopic (user’s) perspective—this is much easier when you’re not mired in the minutiae. I get this feedback in my job (a documentary editor) not only from people more experienced than me, but also those less experienced.
There a two things I have learned from experience:
1. Blocking out a scene is useful, even though the scene will never be in that form—the boring form of the scene makes it easier to step back and see the more creative way to approach the scene. The time spent making the picture clearer isn’t wasted. 2. When working alone, step away and view your work from a fresh perspective (in my case the audience, in yours the user) to be your own director / senior partner.
That being said, I think it’s well worth meta-analysing your own process and that of your more experienced colleagues, another thing I’ve learned is...
3. When someone you trust gives you changes you don’t agree with, try them, they probably have a clearer perspective than you do.
Anyway, thanks for the post, I’m planning to implement your advice in my own job, it sounds like a worthwhile process. I actually think this third thing is likely to be a key lesson learned from meta-analysis, to not be stubborn and to pivot to the better solution more freely, what I call “back it up and break it”.
The idea of ‘thinking it faster’ is provocative, because it seems to be over-optimising for speed rather than other values, where as the way you’re implementing it is by generating more meaningful or efficient decisions which are underpinned by a meta-analysis of your process—which is actually about increasing the quality of your decision-making.
I considered changing it to “Think it Sooner”, which nudges you a bit away from “try to think frenetically fast” and towards “just learn to steer towards the most efficient parts of your thought process, avoid wasted motion, and use more effective metastrategies.” “Think It Sooner” feels noticeably harder to say so I decided to stick with the original (although I streamlined the phrasing from “Think That Thought faster” a bit so it rolled off the tongue)
I actually think this third thing is likely to be a key lesson learned from meta-analysis, to not be stubborn and to pivot to the better solution more freely, what I call “back it up and break it”.
I’m not sure I understood this point, could you say more?
Wow, that was quick. I mean, rather than scaffolding work that seems unproductive but is actually necessary, most creative time (for me at least) is wasted in resisting change (my number 3 point was about trying changes even if you don’t immediately agree with them).
Thanks for this, nice writing.
The idea of ‘thinking it faster’ is provocative, because it seems to be over-optimising for speed rather than other values, where as the way you’re implementing it is by generating more meaningful or efficient decisions which are underpinned by a meta-analysis of your process—which is actually about increasing the quality of your decision-making.
I think it’s worthwhile seeing where we’re wasting time. But often I find wasted time isn’t what you’d expect it to be. As someone who also works in the creative industry, criticism is a lot easier than creating something out of whole cloth. Your senior partner, doesn’t just have more experience, but is also a fresh pair of eyes looking at the product you’re creating from a macroscopic (user’s) perspective—this is much easier when you’re not mired in the minutiae. I get this feedback in my job (a documentary editor) not only from people more experienced than me, but also those less experienced.
There a two things I have learned from experience:
1. Blocking out a scene is useful, even though the scene will never be in that form—the boring form of the scene makes it easier to step back and see the more creative way to approach the scene. The time spent making the picture clearer isn’t wasted.
2. When working alone, step away and view your work from a fresh perspective (in my case the audience, in yours the user) to be your own director / senior partner.
That being said, I think it’s well worth meta-analysing your own process and that of your more experienced colleagues, another thing I’ve learned is...
3. When someone you trust gives you changes you don’t agree with, try them, they probably have a clearer perspective than you do.
Anyway, thanks for the post, I’m planning to implement your advice in my own job, it sounds like a worthwhile process. I actually think this third thing is likely to be a key lesson learned from meta-analysis, to not be stubborn and to pivot to the better solution more freely, what I call “back it up and break it”.
I considered changing it to “Think it Sooner”, which nudges you a bit away from “try to think frenetically fast” and towards “just learn to steer towards the most efficient parts of your thought process, avoid wasted motion, and use more effective metastrategies.” “Think It Sooner” feels noticeably harder to say so I decided to stick with the original (although I streamlined the phrasing from “Think That Thought faster” a bit so it rolled off the tongue)
I see, I think you’re right not to change it—it’s just provocative enough to be catchy.
I’m not sure I understood this point, could you say more?
Wow, that was quick. I mean, rather than scaffolding work that seems unproductive but is actually necessary, most creative time (for me at least) is wasted in resisting change (my number 3 point was about trying changes even if you don’t immediately agree with them).
Ah gotcha. Yeah, this is why Deliberate Grieving is a core rationalist skill.
That (deliberate grieving) was also an interesting read, yes, exactly.