Conversely, when you start with parameters like “I’m going to take all of July off,” or “I’m going to finish work by six o’clock every night,” it forces you to be creative in the systems you develop. You can spot inefficiencies—whether it’s a slow-running computer or an awkward scheduling system—because you can’t afford not to. And you’re compelled to ask big-picture questions: Should I be doing this task at all? Could I delegate it to someone else, or stop doing it altogether? Where should I focus my effort in order to get the biggest return?
