How to Use Structure to Become a More Effective Entrepreneur | Hacker News Reader

How to Use Structure to Become a More Effective Entrepreneur

scalablestartup.berkeley.edu

63 pointsjasonshen15 comments

"Eat the frog" is an interesting concept: "Wake up 45 minutes earlier and work on one of your big action items."

It's so easy to get bogged down in day-to-day tasks and not focus on moving your product / business forward. Often, all it takes is 30-60 minutes of focus a day to really make some progress.

The pivotal moment of my entire day is the first half hour when I sit down at my desk. I have a rule that I won't touch anything less than my first priority for a half hour once I've begun the day. Absolutely nothing.

Like most things, sometimes I get the bear and sometimes the bear gets me. I do a pretty good job of it, but it's stunning the difference that first half hour makes when I get it right (or wrong).

Especially when day to day tasks are used to procrastinate. Hmm, doing x is hard, why don't I check my email instead...

It's based on Brian Tracy's book "Eat that Frog!" which is a great book on stopping procrastination.

http://www.amazon.com/Eat-That-Frog-Great-Procrastinating/dp...

I would argue it's more important to constantly discover your weaknesses. You don't have to fix them, just realizing them will let you compensate in any number of ways.

Most founders have will in spades, but have never had their skills tested in such in incredibly broad way.

For some structure may be the key to success, for others it's a different demon. Find it, kill it, or build a wall around it.

"The training is nothing! The will is everything!" - Batman Begins

Having the will to train?

"The will to act."

Probably my favorite line in the movie. I wrote an article about habits and willpower a while back based around that line, actually: http://collegeinfogeek.com/hack-your-willpower-by-building-u...

I love the quote, but unfortunately, it's not always the right way to think about it.

http://sebastianmarshall.com/on-willpower-and-why-its-not-en...

"15 minutes of physical activity"

Sounds about right.

45 minutes is better, and you can have 1 on 1 conversations while walking if you can't spare the time otherwise.

IMHO, if you are walking, and only 15-45 minutes a day, you aren't getting anywhere near enough exercise. And, if you can talk while you are doing it, then you are verging on lip-service.

Depends on what you're doing in those 15 minutes. I'd argue 15 mins a day is better than 2 hours, once a week.

Probably better than 2 hours once a week. However, if the author is going to make a list of 'ways to be a more effective entrepreneur' and then pay no more than lip service to daily physical activity, then it's reasonable to question their authority on the subject.

Question away. The fact is, many entrepreneurs do not have a habit of regular exercise - and some of those entrepreneurs are pretty successful! So it's not like you have to do it. But it definitely helps.

Research shows [1] that you can gain significant benefits from a fairly low volume of light-to-moderate exercise.

I personally workout A LOT more than 15 minutes a day, but the point of this post is to create a series of habits that is realistically achievable by the vast majority of founders.

[1]http://www.amazon.com/First-20-Minutes-Surprising-Exercise/d...

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