Work Efficiently, Learn Slowly

The Quest for Efficiency

Is there a way to work more efficiently and quickly? Sure, there is, but sometimes these methods aren't that crucial.

From a technical perspective, we've got tools, automation, AI, and programs. In terms of human resources, it's more efficient to let professionals do their specialized jobs. When it comes to methods, learn from and communicate with those who are best at it. Regarding processes, the simpler, more fixed, and shorter the path, the better. From a business point of view, high efficiency and low cost are not just goals but also a matter of survival.

However, there's a scenario we need to consider: personal ability.

A lot of people are after quick results. For example, AI - powered writing can indeed help you write fast and well, but it can also kill a person's growth and progress.

AI can play two roles: assistant and teacher. When it comes to writing, I see AI as a teacher. A teacher's job is to teach, correct, and give advice, not to write for you.

An assistant's job is to do things you don't like, find troublesome, can't do, or don't want to do.

Learning and growth can't be rushed. No matter what it is, it requires an accumulation of quantity.

The only difference is that everyone has different talents, learning abilities, and methods.

Efficiency in Work

When it comes to work, as long as the quality doesn't drop or is within an acceptable range, the higher the efficiency, the better.

If someone can make one video in an hour and you can make one in five minutes, that's your edge. But the quality can't be too bad. If it's far worse than others', one of their videos might be more effective than your ten or twenty. One truly high - quality piece of content is worth a hundred mediocre ones.

Growth through Repetition

If it's about growth, you need to repeat, repeat, and repeat. Deliberate practice means having a goal and a plan, taking on challenging tasks, and practicing them over and over again until you master them.

Lately, I've had this feeling that when a person has nothing, they're more likely to settle down and learn, practice, and train.

Here, "nothing" means having little achievement, few resources, few methods, few choices, few tools, and few temptations.

Since they have nothing, know nothing, and only have a stick in their hand, they'll master the stick - fighting skills to the extreme, instead of trying stick - fighting one day, sword - fighting the next, and spear - fighting the day after.

Then the next month, they think it's too tiring to practice martial arts and wonder if they should switch to calligraphy.

AI has indeed helped many people, but it has also made many lazy. For example, with the idea of "making money effortlessly", many people's writing and thinking abilities have declined because of AI.

When they pick up a pen to write, they think, "I might as well ask AI and see how it writes." Seeing that the article they spent an hour on is not as good as what AI wrote in a few minutes, they start to doubt themselves and wonder why they should write by themselves.

When there's only one book around you, you have to read it. But if there's a phone beside the book, even if you know you should read the book today, you'll probably end up touching the phone or spend less time on the book.

For example, you might think, "I'll read the book for half an hour and then play with the phone." But without the phone, you might read for an hour. That's human nature.

Conclusion

It's okay to pursue efficiency in work. As long as the quality is guaranteed, the higher the efficiency, the better. But when it comes to growth, try to have fewer choices and temptations, practice more, do more, and go slower.

Daily Reading & Writing by Xiaolu 02/07/2025 [Day 522]