This article, and the articles that follow analyze my thoughts on what I am calling my “end game.” You can read more about this concept here.
In my recent description of the end game I referred to a (“deep work”) performance spectrum. While my ability to concentrate for longer periods of time is increasing, I’m left to wonder where I fall within this performance spectrum. What equates to maximal deep workability?
The quality of one’s life, if measured along this dimension, relies heavily upon this understanding.
As a starting point, one can argue that corporate life, due primarily to excessive meetings and the prevalence of open office environments, falls just outside this spectrum. To further this point, some of the practices shared below would be considered idealistic, foreign, and at their worst, wrong. For these reasons, let’s classify this as “Level 0” (status quo).
Given this starting point, what do the remaining levels look like?
Levels 1-4: Foundation Building
The challenge at this level is balancing one’s ability to produce efficiently and effectively while remaining reasonably connected with others. The remaining levels omit this internal struggle, at least for now. I will return to this point later on.
Level 1: Utilization of time management tools (e.g., RescueTime) to establish performance baseline; initial email and meeting reduction; greater focus on meaningful work (initial implementation of 80/20 rule).
Level 2: Performance baseline obtained; high-density communications; fixed work hours; further email and meeting reduction (near elimination); hourly time tracking; narrower focus; meditation practice begins.
Level 3: Dedicated workspace and purposeful breaks; work hours aligned with maximum concentration ability; prioritization of projects based on complexity and available energy; explicit stopping points; 80/20 rule fully realized.
Level 4: Utilization of tracking document to monitor training, diet, and work schedule; weekly schedule planned in 30-minute intervals; accelerated ability to produce.
Levels 5-6: Refinement
At this level, what would normally be considered maximal performance is only the starting point for one’s true potential. As of March 2018, I consider myself operating between Levels 5 and 6.
Level 5: Time spent in deep work becomes further concentrated (what would have otherwise been “idle” time is now purposefully omitted to make room for more challenging opportunities); meditation practice increases in frequency and ability; increased journaling.
Level 6: A greater percentage of time is spent on “moderately challenging” or “challenging” subject-matter; weekly schedule takes on increased precision; daily journaling; reading requires greater concentration.
Levels 7-8: Threshold
I’ve named this plateau “threshold” since levels 7 and 8 begin to venture further away from a strategy oriented around refinement, and towards one that is focused on creation and growth.
Level 7: Daily journal expands to include challenging engagements (frequency of execution typically equates with long-term progress); greater effort to simplify written communication; work that requires greater concentration is planned at 15-minute intervals.
Level 8: Deep work becomes habitual; reading requires greater levels of concentration; goal development takes new shape.
Levels 9-10: New Foundation
Levels 9 and 10 represent a “New Foundation” of performance, akin to completing an ultramarathon (vs. a 10k at Level 0). Deep work and the routine manipulation of complex material becomes the “new normal.”
Level 9: A greater percentage of time is spent on “very challenging” subjects; faster ability to switch into complex endeavors; concentration efforts are tracked in 5-minute intervals.
Level 10: Concentration ability is significant (distractions become outliers); a greater level of expertise begins to develop; weeks are planned at shorter time intervals.
(Admittedly, it is hard to truly define what levels 9 and 10 should contain; these descriptions represent educated guesses.)
As discussed here, the importance of the performance spectrum, regardless of subject-area (e.g., exercise, intellectual, or creative achievement, etc.), cannot be overstated.
Truly realizing one’s potential requires a unique understanding of what’s possible.
And one way of visualizing this, at least on a conceptual level, is through the use of a performance spectrum.