The Secret Power of 'Read It Later' Apps and How to Create Luck

The Secret Power of 'Read It Later' Apps and How to Create Luck

Reading is an incredibly powerful tool. It allows us to tap into the thoughts and perspectives of others, expanding our own understanding and opening our minds to new ideas. In today's fast-paced world, the ability to read and engage with long-form content is becoming increasingly rare, making it a valuable skill and a source of competitive advantage.

The challenge, however, lies in finding the time and mental capacity to sit quietly and focus on reading for sustained periods. In a study conducted by Google, it was found that increasing the number of search results per page from 10 to 30 only took half a second longer, but caused a 20% drop-off in user engagement. This highlights the limited attention span and the difficulty of maintaining focused attention in our modern world.

One of the reasons why reading can be challenging is the cognitive dissonance that arises from the fear of not being able to finish a long article or book. This fear can prevent us from even starting, leading to procrastination and missed opportunities for learning and growth. However, there is a solution to this problem - 'Read It Later' apps.

Apps like Pocket, Evernote, and task managers provide a way to save and organize articles, books, and other content for later consumption. By utilizing these apps, you can create a pool of options drawn from a longer time period, allowing you to make decisions about what to read based on a higher perspective that aligns with your priorities and interests.

In addition to helping manage your reading list, 'Read It Later' apps also offer other benefits. They can increase the consumption of long-form content, which is often more substantive and valuable than shorter, bite-sized pieces. Moreover, these apps provide better filtering options, allowing you to curate and prioritize the content that you want to read.

But the power of 'Read It Later' apps goes beyond just managing your reading list. They also enable you to assimilate and build on the ideas of others more efficiently. Instead of trying to make every mistake yourself, you can learn from the experiences and insights of others, incorporating their ideas into your own understanding in a fraction of the time it would take otherwise.

Ideas are high leverage agents, and they become even more powerful when arranged in highly cross-referenced networks. The human brain is the only tool capable of creating and accessing these networks on demand. By utilizing 'Read It Later' apps, you can tap into this network effect and accelerate your learning and growth.

Now let's shift gears and explore the concept of luck. Luck is often seen as a random occurrence, something that happens by chance. However, there is a way to position yourself in a way that captures more luck and increases the likelihood of positive random events.

Jason Roberts coined the term "Luck Surface Area" (LSA), which refers to the amount of luck that comes your way based on the actions you take and the opportunities you create. By doing more things and telling more people about your actions, you increase your LSA and create more opportunities for luck to find you.

This approach embodies a more active attitude towards luck, similar to the concept of a growth mindset. Instead of passively waiting for luck to find you, you actively hustle and prepare your mind to be sensitive to chances that others may miss. As you become the best at what you do and refine your skills, opportunity will seek you out, and luck becomes your destiny.

There are several quotes that encapsulate this mindset:

• "I have never heard of anyone stumbling on something sitting down." - Charles Kettering
• "You don't get extreme results without extreme actions." - Derek Sivers
• "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Seneca
• "Chance favors the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur.

In conclusion, both 'Read It Later' apps and cultivating luck require active engagement and intentional actions. By utilizing these tools and mindsets, you can enhance your learning, expand your perspectives, and increase your opportunities for success.

Actionable Advice:

1. Utilize a 'Read It Later' app like Pocket or Evernote to manage your reading list and create a pool of options that align with your priorities and interests. This will help you overcome the fear of cognitive dissonance and enable you to consume more long-form content.
2. Actively hustle and create opportunities for luck by doing more things and telling more people about your actions. This will increase your Luck Surface Area and position you for positive random events.
3. Develop a growth mindset and cultivate a prepared mind. Continuously refine your skills and become the best at what you do. This will attract opportunity and increase your chances of achieving extraordinary results.

Remember, reading and luck are not passive endeavors. They require intentional actions and a proactive approach. By incorporating these practices into your life, you can unlock the secret power of 'Read It Later' apps and create your own luck.