How to Do Great Work
19 hours ago
- Choose work you have a natural aptitude for and deep interest in.
- Learn enough to reach the frontiers of knowledge in your field.
- Notice gaps in knowledge and explore promising ones.
- Follow your curiosity as it drives the entire process.
- Work hard on excitingly ambitious projects without overplanning.
- Be strict, willing to break conventional rules, and seek overlooked ideas.
- Avoid affectation; be earnest and intellectually honest.
- Maintain morale by staying optimistic, taking care of your health, and finding good colleagues.
- Start small, iterate, and be prolific to increase chances of discovery.
- Carry unanswered questions; they often lead to new discoveries.
- Use the advantages of youth (energy, time, fresh eyes) and later advantages of age.
- Don't let fear or modesty prevent you from trying to do great work.