What's your algorithm?
Welcome to Issue #37 of Notion Creators Weekly, where I share 1 Big Idea & 3 Updates to help you work with more focus and intention.
Summary
📝 Big Idea: What’s your algorithm?
🎓 Resource: Jeremy’s Notion Essentials Flashcards
😍 Notion Update: Preview pages, yay or nay?
🏢 Events: Recap of our Notion AI Lunch & Learn
🏫 Courses: One Week til Notion Consultant Bootcamp!
💡 What’s your algorithm?
I just finished Walter Isaacson’s biography on Elon Musk called, wait for it…Elon Musk, and a few parts made me contemplate some of the missteps we take when it comes to productivity.
Musk’s journey has been a tumultuous one, but he consistently comes back to his First Principles Algorithm. It fuels his decision-making, the products he builds, and the companies he runs.
If you’re new to first principles, they are fundamental truths or elements that serve as the foundation for reasoning or problem-solving. The concept is often attributed to ancient philosophers like Aristotle, and it’s been widely used in fields like physics and economics.
In essence, first principles thinking involves breaking down complicated problems into their most basic, fundamental parts. From there, you can reconstruct a solution from the ground up, free from any assumptions or preconceived notions.
Whether Musk was recounting early days at Paypal, building rockets at SpaceX, or getting Teslas off the assembly floor, he repeatedly used his algorithm, a five step approach:
1. Make Your Requirements Less Dumb
2. Delete the Part or Process
3. Simplify and Optimize
4. Accelerate Cycle Times
5. Automate
What really hit a nerve while reading (okay listening to the audiobook) was how, especially in knowledge work, we tend to do the opposite.
I can’t count how many times I’ve tried to set up a complicated automation, only to realize that it was entirely unnecessary. Musk’s extreme approach is not perfect, but his effect on the output of both Tesla and SpaceX are undeniable, especially considering he was/is running both simultaneously.
The book also made me think: what would my algorithm be?
I’m still working through this, but if we create our own algorithm’s for work, they’d likely need to address these six things:
Identify Core Requirements
What are the absolutely essential tasks or steps in your workflow? These are your non-negotiables, so they should be the foundation of your algorithm.Spot the Excess:
Look for tasks, activities, or even thought patterns that don't serve your end goal. These are candidates for elimination or outsourcing.Optimize Your Essentials:
For the tasks that are left, think about how you can perform them more efficiently. Could certain systems or templates speed up your project planning? Could delegating a task free up time for more important work?Accelerate Feedback Loops:
Quick feedback is key for improvement. Implement ways to track your performance and receive feedback, either from yourself or others. The quicker you learn, the faster you can iterate and improve.Seek Automation:
Finally, identify repetitive tasks that can be automated. This frees up your time and mental energy for more meaningful, high-level work. For instance, if you find yourself repeatedly creating the same kind of Notion pages, why not create a template?Pilot & Adjust:
Treat your personal algorithm as a living document. Test it out for a week and note what works and what doesn’t. Fine-tune as you go along.
The goal isn’t just to get more done, but to get more of the right things done. Crafting your algorithm can lead to a more mindful approach to work, allowing you to spend time on what truly matters, be it innovation, education, or even some well-deserved rest.
So, what's your algorithm? Don’t keep it a secret; hit reply and share your insights!
🎓 Notion Essentials Flashcards
A great resource if you’re looking to get Notion Certified
It’s been a while (almost two years!) since I got my Notion Consultant Certification, and from what I hear, the exam has gotten a little tougher.
A few people asked me if there were resources that could help prepare to take the exam, and these Notion Essentials Flashcards from The Productivity Co. are definitely the way to go.
I love the clever way the gallery view is transformed into flashcards you could ‘flip’ to reveal the answer.
😍 Page Previews: yay or nay?
Def some mixed feelings about this one
Still not sure if I’m onboard with this or not. The update is well-designed, but unless I’m in a client’s workspace, I usually know what’s inside of each page.
A few Notion ambassadors have brought up an idea that I’d get behind; having the option to disable page previews.
What do you think of the update?
🏢 Events: Recap of Notion AI Lunch & Learn
Our 2nd Miami Meetup in the books!
I hadn’t realized this until this past week; before our Miami event, I hadn’t attended a meetup or networking event in almost four(!) years.
It’s so energizing to meet other Notion users in real life. We also got super lucky and got to host this event at an amazing space in Wynwood – a really cool neighborhood in Miami.
If you’re interested in Notion meetups in your city, definitely check out Notion’s community page to see if any meetups are happening, or start your own!
🏫 We’re One Week Away from Notion Consultant Bootcamp!
And 2 students away from our 30 person limit 🤯
I was so nervous leading up to launching this course. It’s literally impossible to know what the outcome will be until you launch.
Is there enough demand? Do people trust me to teach this course?
The response has been amazing…I can’t wait to kick this off next week and meet our students, who are joining from four different continents.
If you’re curious about the course, there’s a few open spots (for now)!
🙌🏼 That’s it for this week!
I’d love to hear what you think. What content resonates? What do you want to see more or less of? Just hit reply to let me know!
And if you’re loving Notion Creators Weekly, I’d love it if you helped spread the word! 😀