Hey, thanks for checking out the first You Whistle, I'll Shoot. Hopefully, you get some level of value out of it. They say you should teach what you learn. My goal is to give you five things to think about or check out each week, that's it.
This week I focused on Notion, a beast of an app that could serve as the hub of a major construction project or your grocery list. I also purchased a new piece of hardware I'm hoping proves some theories true. There's also a slick EQ app available for Spotify heads such as myself, and I want to talk about time-blocking and sabbaticals.
1. Notion.
Notion is a productivity sandbox, playground, and empty lot for your projects. It's web-based and has Mac and IOS apps, and it's a bit of a mind-bender. The thing about apps like this is that they come pre-defined, with instructions, and with a clear path to how you should use it. Notion has none of that. The best description I've read was that Notion is like getting a Lego box with no instructions and no picture on the front of the box.
For some reason, there are five thousand videos and tutorials about this app, here are two good ones. Notion itself also has a robust YouTube channel. You can spend hours there, you have been warned.
The Most Powerful Productivity App I Use - Notion
How To Create a Project Manager in Notion - Tutorial
Best application? Use it as a Wiki for your resource material. It's what Evernote tried to be and never became. Their database function is its strength, along with its customizability.
2. iPad Pro 11inch
I treated myself to a new iPad Pro to celebrate one more trip around the sun and can't get enough of it. I'm still in the "I have a new toy" phase, but I can already see it further bridging the gap between "tablet" and "computer." I got this to push my set up further towards a scenario where I do not own a laptop. I've owned a MacBook or MacBook Pro since the first white one came out a long time ago. I will likely use an iPad as a mobile option, with a Mac desktop at home in the end. Given the new trends in remote working, this will be even easier to achieve.
Key Takeaway -- the new iPad Magic Keyboard is a breeze. It's slightly better than the Smart Keyboard that came with the earlier iPad Pro I owned.
3. eqMAC
For a long time, I only used headphones or Logitech speakers on my Mac set up. I recently rescued some studio monitors from my NYC office and quickly realized that I needed to EQ what was coming out of Spotify. Enter eqMAC -- a simple interface that not only equalizes your Spotify audio but any audio coming from your machine. It’s free, and you can get it here.
4. Sabbaticals
I've been reading more and more about Sabbaticals in general, and I find them fascinating. What are they? Typically, a period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel, traditionally one year, for every seven years worked. They're not exactly something they point out as a career goal in college, and I don't know anyone outside a Pastor friend of mine who even sees them as something real. There's a Focused podcast episode where the hosts talk to Sabbatical evangelist Sean McCabe about them in-depth if you want to find out more. For now, they'll be a someday/maybe for me, but MAN, does that sound compelling. Have you taken one, do you want to?
5. Time Blocking
Time Blocking is a concept I've been aware of and have tried in the past and would like to implement again. In my experience, it takes a certain level of discipline to pull off and a real knack for saying no to things. This work method involves deliberately planning blocks of time in one's calendar for one set task or groups of tasks to be completed or worked on in a specific time. Michael Hyatt says, "what gets planned gets done, right?" My personal favorite is "show me your calendar, and I'll show you your priorities." I forget who said that, but it is SPOT ON.
David Sparks writes about this a lot, and I'm sure he struggles with it just like everyone else. But setting aside the right amount of time for tasks or DEEP WORK (looking at you, Cal Newport) sounds good to me.
I love it Bill! I created a Notion account but was just as lost as you- I’ll have to watch those tutorials.
As far as sabbatical- SIGN ME UP! My friends in Switzerland have sabbatical as part of their life and culture. I do think it drives retention and increased skill/career/life enrichment. Would it work in America? Would we just make it a stay cation? Or would we double down to find other work in order to double our salary that year?