"Let's Talk Notes: How do you organize quotations? How to Do Great Work"

"Let's Talk Notes: How do you organize quotations? How to Do Great Work"

For centuries, readers have collected quotations in personal notebooks they called commonplace books. These books were a way to gather knowledge and wisdom from various sources, much like the honey bee gathers nutrients from different flowers. The tradition of the commonplace book has stood the test of time because it is endlessly adaptable, and even in 2023, we are still collecting and organizing quotations. But the question remains, where do we keep these quotations?

When it comes to doing great work, the first step is to decide what to work on. The work you choose should have three qualities: it should be something you have a natural aptitude for, something you have a deep interest in, and something that offers scope to do great work. To figure out what to work on, you need to start working. Guess if you're not sure, but pick something and get going. Some of the biggest discoveries come from noticing connections between different fields. What are you excessively curious about? What bores most people but fascinates you? That's what you're looking for. Boldly chase outlier ideas, even if others aren't interested in them. Sometimes the ideas that seem crazy to others are the ones that lead to greatness.

Interest is a powerful motivator. It will drive you to work harder than mere diligence ever could. The three most powerful motives are curiosity, delight, and the desire to do something impressive. When these motives converge, they create a powerful force that propels you towards greatness. Ambition can come in two forms, one that precedes interest in the subject and one that grows out of it. Most people who do great work have a mix of both, and the more ambition you have, the harder it will be to decide what to do. Ultimately, when it comes to figuring out what to work on, you're on your own. Trust your instincts, follow your curiosity, and make yourself a big target for luck by being open to new experiences, meeting new people, and asking lots of questions.

When it comes to actually doing the work, there are a few key principles to keep in mind. Make sure that what you're creating is something people actually want. The best way to do this is to make something you yourself want. Write the story you want to read or build the tool you want to use. Your friends probably have similar interests, so this will also help you find your initial audience. In most cases, the recipe for doing great work is simply to work hard on excitingly ambitious projects, and something good will come of it. Avoid overplanning and instead focus on what seems most interesting and offers the best options for the future. Finishing what you start is important, even if it turns out to be more work than you expected. Often, the best work happens in what was meant to be the final stage.

Great work doesn't just happen when you're trying to make it happen. There's a kind of undirected thinking that occurs when you let your mind wander, whether it's during a walk, a shower, or lying in bed. By allowing your mind to wander, you may find solutions to problems that frontal attack couldn't solve. Aim high and try to make something that people will care about even a hundred years from now. Something that stands the test of time is more likely to be genuinely good. Originality is a habit of mind, and original thinkers often throw off new ideas about whatever they focus on. Talking or writing about the things you're interested in can help generate new ideas. Putting ideas into words can create a vacuum that draws out missing ideas.

Ideas that seem crazy to most people may be the right kind of crazy. Look for ideas that are exciting, rich in implications, and have the potential to make an impact. Often, overlooked ideas reach the semifinals of consideration before being shot down due to being too weird, risky, or controversial. Deliberately learning about other fields and copying ideas from one field into another can lead to powerful insights and discoveries. Don't be deterred by skepticism if you're interested in a field that others think is tapped out. People are often wrong about this.

Curiosity is the best guide when it comes to doing great work. Nurture your curiosity and let it drive you. Curiosity will choose the field for you, get you to the frontier, help you notice gaps, and drive you to explore them. The factors in doing great work are ability, interest, effort, and luck. While luck is out of our control, we can focus on our ability and interest. Finding a kind of work that combines your ability and interest can lead to an explosion of new ideas.

To maintain morale and continue doing great work, it's important to have a positive outlook on life. Optimism and a belief in your own luck can fuel your motivation. Setbacks should not panic you into backtracking more than necessary. Stay focused on the root node of your desire and never abandon it. Surround yourself with colleagues who inspire you and offer surprising insights. The people you work with can greatly influence your work and personal growth.

Being prolific is underrated. Trying lots of things increases your chances of discovering something new, even if it means trying things that don't work. Avoid the temptation to take shortcuts or hack the system. Focus on problems and solutions that others have overlooked, and put in the necessary work. Originality is not the absence of old ideas but the presence of new ones. Copying ideas from one field to another can lead to powerful insights. Keep your youthful questions alive and never stop being curious.

In conclusion, organizing quotations and doing great work have more in common than one might think. Both require curiosity, the pursuit of knowledge, and a willingness to explore new ideas. By following the principles outlined here, you can effectively organize your quotations and embark on a path towards doing great work. Remember to trust your instincts, focus on what truly interests you, and never stop asking questions.