Fighting Infomania: Why 80% of Your Reading is a Waste of Time - Nat Eliason

Fighting Infomania: Why 80% of Your Reading is a Waste of Time - Nat Eliason

In today's information age, we are constantly bombarded with an overwhelming amount of content. From blog posts to news articles, social media updates to industry insights, it's easy to get caught up in the never-ending stream of information. But what if I told you that 80% of what you're reading is a waste of time?

Let's first distinguish between two types of knowledge: tactical and philosophical. Tactical knowledge refers to the specific strategies and tactics we use in our day-to-day lives, such as search engine optimization or personal finance tips. On the other hand, philosophical knowledge deals with broader concepts and understanding, like our tendency towards biased thinking.

When it comes to overdosing on information, we should focus on tactical knowledge. Conventional wisdom tells us to follow what people in our industry are talking about tactics-wise, but this is just noise. Instead, we should have a clear strategy and set of tactics that we're working on and execute them. It's important to strike a balance between expanding our horizons and understanding that our time is limited. Spending all our time on tactical knowledge is not productive.

One way to filter out the noise is to pay attention to the frequency at which a site publishes about tactics. The more frequently a site publishes about tactics, the less we should listen to it. Instead, we should look for content that has stood the test of time. Following the Lindy Rule, anything that has been around for 50 years will likely be around for another 50 years. This principle helps us focus on timeless and valuable knowledge.

But how do we know if something is worth reading? If it doesn't answer a specific question we're currently asking, cover philosophical knowledge, or entertain us, then we shouldn't read it. This emphasizes the importance of having a specific outcome or goal in mind when consuming information. Output-driven actions, where we apply what we learn right away, provide a higher return on investment compared to just-in-case learning. However, just-in-case knowledge can still bring new ideas or perspectives, even if we don't remember the details. Our subconscious mind retains the information, allowing it to influence our thinking in subtle ways.

Now let's shift our focus to the concept of success. Absolute success is often attributed to luck. We've all heard stories of individuals who stumbled upon a groundbreaking idea or were in the right place at the right time. But relative success, on the other hand, is a result of hard work.

Tu Youyou's story is a prime example of the importance of hard work. As part of Project 523, she volunteered to be the first human subject to try a new medication for malaria. Her persistence and diligence paid off, as the artemisinin treatment she helped develop has saved millions of lives. Despite not having a postgraduate degree, research experience abroad, or membership in any national academies, Tu's hard work led to her becoming the first Chinese citizen to receive a Nobel Prize.

When comparing ourselves to others, the role of luck becomes more apparent. The wilder the success, the more extreme and unlikely the circumstances that caused it. However, when we compare ourselves to those who have experienced similar levels of luck, the difference lies in our habits and choices. As Nassim Taleb wrote, "Mild success can be explainable by skills and labor. Wild success is attributable to variance."

In his book "Atomic Habits," James Clear emphasizes the importance of habits in determining success. He states that what matters is not our current results, but rather whether our habits are putting us on the path toward success. The slope of our success is within our control, not our initial position. As time passes, the head-start others got matters less and less.

It's important to note that luck alone is not enough for sustained success. At some point, good luck requires hard work. The mathematician Richard Hamming summed it up by saying, "The prepared mind sooner or later finds something important and does it." By working hard, pursuing opportunities, and trying new things, we increase our chances of stumbling upon a lucky break. As the saying goes, "The harder I practice, the luckier I get."

To combat infomania and ensure our time is well-spent, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Define your goals: Before consuming any information, ask yourself what specific outcome or goal you have in mind. This will help you filter out irrelevant content and focus on what truly matters.

2. Prioritize timeless knowledge: Look for content that has stood the test of time. The Lindy Rule can serve as a guide, helping you identify valuable and enduring knowledge.

3. Cultivate good habits: Success is a result of consistent effort and hard work. Focus on building habits that align with your goals and put you on the path toward success.

In conclusion, the majority of what we read is a waste of time. By filtering out the noise and focusing on what truly matters, we can combat infomania and make the most of our limited time. Remember, success is a combination of luck and hard work. While luck may play a role in absolute success, hard work is the key to relative success. So, define your goals, prioritize timeless knowledge, and cultivate good habits to set yourself up for success.