Do less but better

Entrepreneur Jodie Cook on how to structure your time and find your personal success system

A November 2023 episode of Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal

“I think that people are more scared of success than they actually realize, and that leads to self-sabotage and not doing the things that you know would work.”
–Jodie Cook

Quick Summary

Podcast host Ali Abdaal and entrepreneur Jodie Cook discuss tools and systems for unlocking your entrepreneurial and creative potential. Jodie, also a writer and competitive powerlifter, shares her frameworks for deciding what ideas to pursue and how to bring them to fruition.

You can catch the complete episode (1 hour, 50 minutes) on YouTube.

Key Takeaways

• When Jodie was 15, her mom started a business. This gave her a front-row seat to all things entrepreneurship—for example, finding clients, creating invoices, and networking. For people who haven’t had such firsthand exposure, Jodie encourages looking for role models to shadow and learn from. Or in her words, “become an entrepreneur by osmosis.”

• We fear success because of the challenges it might bring. Jodie believes that many people are more scared of success than failure. According to her, we fear the changes that come with success, like being viewed differently—and potentially rejected—by those who already know us as we are.

• Do less but better. When we face a problem or challenge, we tend to add stuff. For example, when asked how to improve a product, we typically add more features. This is the addition bias at play. When it comes to problem-solving or improving one's life, Jodie advocates for a "less but better" approach. Instead of adding things, consider subtracting. Take a step back and audit your business or lifestyle. Identify activities that aren’t serving you; then remove them.

• A recurring theme throughout Jodie and Ali’s conversation is the importance of introspection. Jodie emphasizes being very intentional about how she spends her time and decides what projects to pursue. Some questions for reflection:

  • If you won the lottery, would your life change? “If it’s a yes, then you’re probably not living your dream life right now,” Jodie says.

  • What do I want, and why do I want it? Mimetic desire is a social phenomenon describing how our desires are shaped by other people’s: we want what other people want. Your social circle can influence much of your decisions. Jodie cautions against copying other people’s desires without questioning whether they align with your own values and goals.

  • What is your personal success system? This is your unique approach to achieving something—the exact mindset, actions, and habits that help you find success. For example, Jeff Bezos has long used a “future press release” ritual, where he writes a press release for a product before launching it. The document isn’t for the public; it’s purely internal and helps him and his team define their goals before moving forward with something. To find your personal success system, think about your biggest achievements and try to identify the steps and processes that led to their success.

• Avoid multitasking. Jodie shares her framework for structuring her day-to-day activities, describing it as a three-circle Venn diagram representing profession (work), obsession (a serious hobby outside of work), and decompression (ways to relax and recharge). The overlapping sections in the Venn diagram are off-limits. “Multitasking is the enemy,” she explains. “Like responding to emails in between bench press. Or doing something that’s meant to be completely relaxing, but not being able to switch off work stuff.” For Jodie, deep intentional focus helps her be more present and perform better in each area.

Thoughts

Years ago, I read some advice about the value of saying yes. You know, “Say yes to everything.” I think I’ve followed this for the most part, if not only because of this advice but also to avoid FOMO.

Saying yes has been good to me, especially in a professional sense, and I’d generally recommend it. Except that while saying yes can bring a lot of exciting stories and opportunities, it can also lead to overwhelm and burnout.

…Which is why I loved hearing about this idea of “less but better.” 

These days, I’m trying to slow down and be more thoughtful about the ways I spend my time. A lot of that involves saying no, or at least setting boundaries. The less but better approach offers another angle, which is that a “no” in one area translates into more focus and attention in another. Here’s hoping it sticks!

---

If you made it this far, thank you for being here! The best way to support Sketch Pad is by liking this post on Substack or sharing these notes with someone who might enjoy them. And if you’d like to, reply to this email (or leave a comment on Substack) with your podcast recommendations.

–Joyce