Chapter 4
Productivity

Motivation may be what we need to get started, but productivity is the tangible measure of success. This chapter is about maintaining a consistent level of impassioned work every day.

The corporate world, as it does with just about any concept, equates productivity to some calculable metric. In this case, it’s a metric like utilization or throughput. Productivity is often distilled into a formula that determines how much work we do or how many things we juggle at once, not the quality of our work. Real productivity is about quality work.

Take multitasking, for instance. It’s the quintessential act of feeling like we’re being productive but rarely a great way to actually do good work. “Working through lunch” is one of these acts. How much quality code is really being written typing with one pointer finger while the other hand grips that footlong sandwich?

More importantly, that’s just not an enjoyable way to work. Leave your desk. Eat your lunch in peace, and get some fresh air. The code will be there when you come back.