Kevin Rose sits down with Cal Newport a New York Times best-selling author, to dissect productivity fundamentals, including three core principles: doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality. They explore the historical context of productivity, the impact of technology on work habits, and the role of AI in productivity. Cal shares insights from his latest book, Slow Productivity, and gives practical tips for maintaining deep focus.

Guest Bio and Links:

Cal is an MIT-trained computer science professor at Georgetown University who also writes about the intersections of technology, work, and the quest to find depth in an increasingly distracted world. Cal is known for his unique stance of not using any social media. This decision underscores his deep work philosophy and adds an intriguing layer to his productivity and digital wellness expertise.

Listeners can learn more about Cal Newport at https://www.calnewport.com/, on YouTube - / @calnewportmedia

Resources:

Kevin's Newsletter: https://www.kevinrose.com

Rise and Fall of Getting Things Done

Cal Newport’s Books - https://calnewport.com/writing/#books

Show Notes:

0:00 Introduction

1:10 Cal’s latest book: Slow Productivity

2:10 Defining productivity

5:30 Pseudo productivity and the impact of remote work

9:20 The Front Office IT revolution

14:30 ”Time and space are needed to craft important things” -Cal Newport

16:00 Task switching and multitasking

18:00 Why productivity tools don’t stick

24:25 The introduction of AI in the knowledge workspace

30:35 The role of intentional AI

38:35 Kevin's Newsletter: https://kevinrose.com

39:20 Three adaptable principles in the 21st century

47:45 How to prioritize commitments

50:33 Importance of environmental cues in cognitive work

56:00 Handling small tasks and preventing fragmentation

1:05:00 Importance of obsessing over the quality of work

1:05:45 “The other thing that happens when you really start to care about craft, slowness no longer seems artificial or unattainable, but instead begins to seem necessary.” -Cal Newport

1:10:30 Day in the life of Cal Newport

1:20:24 Takeaways from Slow Productivity