Productivity Modes

I forget where I heard this. But there are only two productivity modes: Diamond Cutting and Mud Slinging. It's been a helpful mindset for me to get started on a task.

Diamond Cutting

Sometimes you have to look at the problem for a while until you see exactly what to do next. You look at the problem from all angles possible. Then, sometimes you even find a new angle you've never seen before. After a while, you realize exactly what to do next and: dink. One hit. One problem solved. Now, find the next angle.

In diamond cutting mode, the entire task may not be solved that that one latest dink. But that one problem is done and it's a satisfying.

Mud Slinging

With mud slinging, I'm not referring to the "throwing shade" sense. I'm referring to the massive-amounts-of-earth-that-needs-to-move-in-order-to-solve-a-problem sense. It's not the "making scandalous allegations about an opponent" meaning. It's the "attacking the problem with giant fists full of dirt" meaning.

You have to move as much mass as possible to make a little bit of progress. It's a lot of work. It's intended to convey the physical sense of moving heaven and earth. Similar to diamond cutting, when you manage to finish it, you've made obvious progress, and it's also satisfying.

Mixing Up The Two

The key to both modes is to keep looking for the next thing, but simultaneously be ready to switch modes.

It's possible to mix up the two, such as, doing diamond cutting when you should be mud slinging. Here's an example of mixing up the two. This guy thinks he's a bird watcher because he has the vest. Or he thinks he's into model trains because he has the hat: