Unlocking the Power of Obvious Advice and Building a Customizable Workspace

Unlocking the Power of Obvious Advice and Building a Customizable Workspace

In the pursuit of knowledge and personal growth, we often seek out advice from experts and those who have achieved success in their chosen fields. However, it is surprising to discover that good advice is often "obvious." What does this mean? Well, it means that the advice we receive may not be groundbreaking or revelatory, but rather it aligns with our inherent understanding of how things work.

Scott H Young, a well-known author and entrepreneur, suggests that the value of obvious advice lies in its ability to challenge our intuitions. Our intuitions, though often fuzzy and vague, shape our perceptions of what is plausible or believable. By presenting information that may seem obvious, but violates our intuitions, we are forced to reassess our preconceived notions and consider alternative perspectives.

Let's take a look at an example. James Clear, the author of the highly successful book Atomic Habits, shared his experience in promoting his work. He revealed that he had participated in over 200 podcasts within the first six months of the book's launch. Around 80 of these podcasts were released in the first week alone. This advice may seem obvious to some, as we know that appearing on various platforms can help promote a book. However, the key takeaway here is that while we may be aware of certain strategies, very few people actually put them into practice. The obviousness of the advice does not diminish its value; rather, it emphasizes the importance of implementing known tactics effectively.

In essence, knowledge is not always about uncovering hidden secrets or revolutionary ideas. It is often about discerning which seemingly mundane explanations and practices hold true. It is about understanding the nodes and relationships that form the foundation of our understanding of the world.

Now, let's shift our focus to the realm of workspace customization. Ivan Zhao, the co-founder of the popular productivity tool Notion, shares his insights on building the world's most customizable workspace. Notion's success lies in their commitment to understanding and catering to their users' needs. In the early days, Zhao personally engaged with users on Twitter, ensuring that they knew there was a human behind the product. This human touch helped foster a sense of connection and loyalty among users.

Furthermore, Notion's team diligently collected and categorized user feedback, using it to inform their feature development. They recognized the importance of listening to their users, especially the power users who were pushing the boundaries of what Notion could do. By establishing closer working relationships with these users, they not only gained valuable insights but also fostered a community of passionate advocates.