new essay coming tomorrow on my substack 10x work versus 1x work - We are stuck in a world of routines and "hustle culture" that emphasizes executing core loops with machine-like efficiency. This essay refutes that paradigm. - Our careers are defined by the highest moments and biggest upside swings from a small number of high-impact "10x work" tasks. Daily routines are often low impact 1x or 0.5x work. - 10x work happens at the frontier of knowledge away from routine. It thrives on agency, serendipity, and new information. - To enable more 10x work, inject more risk and new information into otherwise stable situations through big moves and high variance projects. Execute your own plan proactively rather than just reacting. - Embrace randomness and serendipity through activities like publishing thoughts, exploring topics, and hosting events. Avoid low-signal socializing. - Create work assets that compound and spread on their own over time, increasing surface area for serendipity. Build in public. - Take on challenging projects with real risk of success or failure to force rapid learning. Find ways to invest in and grow your comparative advantages. - Combining multiple skills to be in the top 25% of a few areas makes you more rare and valuable than being the single best at one thing. Align work to becoming #1 or top 25% in key areas. - For the long tail of tasks, remove/delegate/automate low impact work. For medium impact work, align it to your bigger goals. For potential 10x work, proactively position yourself to jump on opportunities when they emerge. - 10x work opportunities are hard to directly optimize for and often emerge from randomness. Open yourself up to serendipity by expanding your world and experiences. Reject core loops and checklists, embrace serendipity. link to my substack in my bio!
I like this advice for career progression but there are certain self improvement core loops you should embrace - exercise, meditation, hobbies, journaling, etc.
I had this explained to me once as “raising the ceiling” rather than “raising the floor”. Things like spending time with top performers instead of remedying poor performers, taking big swings, fearlessly altering plans, and many of the other things you mention here look like raise the ceiling activities. Reading (a lot) is under rated as a way of unlocking 10x ideas! Grinding and routine is often a fear management system - habits feel comfortable and if you execute for 12 hours a day you must be doing everything you can. Right? Right?!?!
This is possible only if you are also surrounded by other 10x ppl Andrew Chen ! How do you cope with being pulled back - constantly - into 1x tasks ?!?!?!? Any tips? I am creating systems / templates, I zone out totally to focus on 10x, and I also well, work round the clock to keep up. Got any tips? Thanks
Reject of the tyranny of having to go to sleep, brush your teeth daily, IN A LOOP lest someone accuse you of being a robot.
What is low-signal socializing tho?
This was a really good read!
I’ve been met with this exact reaction before. If you have your day planned in advance it frees up your mind from having to prioritize in the moment so you can use that attention and energy elsewhere. It also makes you more mindful of how you spend your time. I think it’s Parkinson’s Law that says the time it takes to complete a task is proportionate to the time allowed to complete it, and that goes for your leisure time too. If you don’t have any limits established for your leisure time, all bets are off on doing anything that helps you progress. Consistently setting your intentions will lead to powerful results.
Fantastic read!
andrewchen.substack.com / a16z
3wok - here's my essay breaking things down further: https://andrewchen.substack.com/p/10x-work-versus-1x-work