Category: How do I

How do I: pick a space for deep work

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Doing deep work like writing a book, or planning out the details of a new project can be some of the solitary work we face at some point. There are a number of factors that help you find or create the right space for your own deep work. See if these factors apply to you.

Work Space

You decide how much room you need to work. Working remotely has its advantages since a desk is optional. If it is just enough space to hold a drink and a laptop, go for it. Some prefer an airplane seat with that size table just for their laptop. If you need a massive table, seek one out or use the floor. Having a focus-friendly workspace is key.

I finished a book in a matter of a few days at an outdoor cafe where I was able to order breakfast, lunch, dinner, and limitless drinks since that was just what I needed for that amount of deep work in order to be more efficient.

Limiting Distraction

A door can (sometimes) keep with distractions with legs on the other side of it.

If a door is not an option, noise-canceling headphones reduce noise distractions.

Mentioning to people around you that uninterrupted time to focus on a deep work task for a scheduled period of time can be respected. After all, respect is either mutual or non-existent. Don’t forget to respect your own time when focusing. Do not waste your own time.

Seating

Having comfortable supportive seating is key. Nothing too hard or too soft. High enough so legs do not fall asleep. Not causing back or neck strain. Ergonomics is a domain that I won’t cover here beyond seating.

Standing desks can work for those brief “stand up” meetings if the standing desk option is used.

Some people believe having some discomfort may actually help motivate you to get the work done, however, I don’t believe suffering from bad seating or poor posture due to seating should not be part of that. Your neck and back will thank you if you pick a good ergonomic seating option for your workspace.

Lighting

Find a well-lit spot for work. Not too bright that you need sunglasses. Not too dark that you need a flashlight to see the details. The right amount of sunlight can be very beneficial to your state of mind.

Sound

Quiet is excellent, if obtainable. The white noise of a coffee shop is sometimes welcome, but not optimal. Sometimes I need to wear noise-canceling headphones or listen to music with no lyrics (that does not put me to sleep). Deep work is not sleeping, however, rest is very important.

Temperature and humidity

Regarding temperature, I noticed that I get significantly more productive when it is cooler, but not too cool. Above 55 degrees and under 82 degrees is my preference, especially when working outside.

The air should not be too humid or dry. The humidity of 50% to 60% can feel great.

Airflow

Air in motion is a big factor while in a deep work state. Stagnant air rarely helps deep work.

Well-ventilated area. An open window. A ceiling fan can be ideal whether indoors or outdoors.

A screened-in porch with a ceiling fan works well too at the right time of the day in the right weather.

Other factors?

What other factors help you find or create the right space for your own deep work?

Also, this book about Deep Work by Cal Newport could help too:

How do I: deal with doubt

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Progress towards any goal or vision erodes doubt, whether fast or slow. More people will believe what it will be once they see it, hear it, understand it, and want it too. Not everyone will share your doubt. Even fewer will share your goal or vision. Don’t let that stop you.

Will I take missteps? Yes, reevaluate when that occurs. Doubt does not result in failure. Failure occurs after starting due to a lack of persistence and forethought. Doubts might derive from forethoughts or considerations.

You can move in baby steps, a leisure walk of progress, and eventually, in full sprint forward.

New ideas are sometimes like infants, so treat them like one. Hear, see then move just like a baby does. Remember crawl, walk, run. Yes, there will be falls, and then you get right back up.

Doubt should be a brief pause and think, not endless stalling due to “I am not ready because [fill in the excuse]”. If your target market is not ready, the market will give you clear signs that say so. When we believe in it more than doubt it, we should act on it. Even if we go at it alone until we have something to show for it. Move forward around constraints, obstacles, and most importantly, your own doubts.

If your idea is solving a problem, if it has an audience, and clients willing to pay for your solution, keep pushing forward despite doubts. We will not free everyone from doubts, and that should not be anyone’s goal.

Perfection does not exist. Stop stalling and doubting whether you are ready to launch something if your idea’s minimum viable product (MVP) works and sells. You can continue to iterate and improve it as you move forward and need to in a prioritized manner.

Doing something new is not about waiting for anyone’s acceptance or permission. We do something new despite our fears, uncertainties, and doubts (FUD). We do the uncomfortable things to finish a phase we started, be first, win, and keep moving forward toward what we still need to improve.

Doubt can cause frustration. Frustration can be refocused as fuel toward that progress we need to see. We want that thing to become real to the point that we manifest it into some form we need it to be.

Make a list of the pros and cons of doing what you think about doing.

Take account of the ‘what-ifs’ to get them out of your head and note them as documentation in your little book of doubt. Some doubts might be risks or just opportunities to tackle in the future. Many doubts you can laugh at sooner rather than later. Enjoy the journey even if you don’t travel.

How do I: deal with uncertainty

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Take the unpopular perspective that when it comes to uncertainty, I would prefer to deal with uncomfortable unknowns than comfortable knowns. Why? It is more challenging. It makes us think and do more. Dealing with uncertainty is more fun to work with than even chess or puzzles because the outcomes and rules are already known for both of those games. Making things that don’t exist yet is far more uncertain and more challenging. Embrace uncertainty and immerse yourself in it like a pool of water. Bring some hypothesized outcomes to test. Learn to swim in a shallow pool of uncertainty before exploring the deep, dark underwater caves of uncertainty. As you explore the depths of uncertainty, be sure to leave proper markers along that new path to get back to reality as we know it. Document your journey as well as your escape.

Avoid drama and ego. Question all fears, not just your own. What partly matters during the journey is that you are being listened to and valued by the few, not because you are right, for your vision of what could be and/or should be. This will evolve over time into something recognizable, useful, and valued. Clarity and conciseness will eventually hit the right chord.

Multiple perspectives matter more, not to reach a consensus, but because we need to understand multiple diverse points of view of how to see, hear, and feel something new, even if it may be partly familiar. While it could be so new and unknown, does it matter, to whom and why?

No matter how much is uncertain, there will be known unknowns and unknown unknowns. We should plow forward toward incremental improvements, iterations, and baby steps because this is how we get through it and make that new path. This path may be taken by a few others who want to do this work, to follow up, and even improve upon. By bringing the dark areas of uncertainty into the light, we may find possibilities and value to more.

Our future audience may want or need this. Having conversations and experiencing this are the only ways we will know if and when those barriers of uncertainty have been broken. How else will we reveal that certain need or certain desire for this that you build?

Keep making new things and create new paths. New uncertainties will follow up.

How do I: deal with fear

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Everyone has fear, however we can question it.

We can negotiate.

We can take precautions.

We can have backups.

We can weigh risks vs. rewards.

We can make a list of pros and cons.

We can ask what if we did the opposite fear tells us to do.

We can line item outcomes to either extreme.

We can fail and learn from it.

We can try again with a different strategy.

We can ask ourselves what we are really afraid of and dive deep into why.

Ask yourself why repeatedly and answer why 5 to 11 times to get to the root cause of what you are really afraid of.

What if you ignore the comfortable, normal, reasonable, and safe?

What if we blow off our own image?

We can ignore what people think of us and other people pleasing efforts.

We can stop delaying and planning to finally move forward.

If we are not in extreme pain nor danger, even if it is displeasing or discomforting, keep going as long as there is a goal.

Nothing that matters happens without discomfort and fear.

Face the fear. Bare the discomfort to make you stronger. Deal fear another hand.

Move forward and ignore it wisely.

We will all die at some point.

Did we live life to the fullest or die in regret due to fear by just existing?

I choose to not simply exist. I move past fear with confidence. What do you choose to do?

How do I: evaluate any work opportunity

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We can all find work opportunities for ourselves if we look today. How do you evaluate any work opportunity?

We all have the opportunity to find meaningful work if we know what we’re looking for and how to evaluate it. When I consider any work opportunity, I use six key criteria to help guide my decision-making:

1. Is it remote work?

Remote work has been a priority for me since early 2019, well before the pandemic changed how many people think about work. For roles that don’t require physical handling of objects, being on-site isn’t just unnecessary, it can be counterproductive. As an extrovert, I value connection, but I also value how our time is spent, adaptability, and flexibility even more.

Remote work reduces wasted hours commuting, expands opportunity beyond geography, and supports both global and local relationships through technology. Leading organizations have embraced this shift, realizing that top talent can thrive anywhere. If a company still insists on in-person digital work without a clear need, it may be holding onto outdated assumptions instead of evolving toward the future.

2. Am I paid well?

Compensation should reflect both the value and the impact of the work. Remote work doesn’t diminish the quality of services provided; it often enhances them. I’ve seen consistent demand for my expertise, and as a result, my rates have increased, not decreased. When clients recognize the value I bring and how easy it is to work with me, we both win. Fair pay remains a baseline for mutual respect and commitment.

3. Are they listening to me?

Mutual communication and respect are foundational. If my input isn’t being heard or considered, it limits the impact I can make. I want to work with people who are open, curious, and willing to collaborate. That’s where progress happens. Active listening, thoughtful feedback, and shared understanding are all signs of a healthy work relationship.

4. Can I make a difference?

I look for opportunities where I can make a real contribution, where my skills and insights lead to positive change. If no one is listening or there’s no space to create value, then it’s not a fit. My goal is never to clock hours; it’s to deliver meaningful outcomes. Being able to make a difference is not just good for the client, it’s motivating and fulfilling for me, too.

5. Is it what I want to do?

Work should align with evolving interests and priorities. As circumstances change, so do our definitions of fulfillment. I regularly ask myself: Am I still energized by this work? Am I learning and growing? Am I aligned with the mission and values? We all deserve to work in ways that are both effective and rewarding. The goal isn’t just to get by. It’s to thrive.

6. Am I treated well?

Respect and collaboration matter. I value a culture where people treat each other with professionalism, empathy, and integrity. While challenges and disagreements are part of any job, how we engage with one another defines the quality of the work environment. When expectations are clear and conversations are respectful, we build trust, and that leads to better outcomes for everyone.

Other factors?

When any of these six factors starts to break down, it’s worth pausing to reevaluate. We all have different standards for what makes work meaningful, and those standards evolve over time.

What matters most to you when evaluating any work opportunity?
What are your non-negotiables?