The CIA Cheat Code to Never Getting Overwhelmed

[@BasicFolders]

Oh Jeez. How is this not taught in high school? Or maybe if it were we wouldn't appreciate the value. If I had been taught this (and understood it) in my 20's it would have changed my life. Thanks for this now. 💙

[@Generichjm]

It is because sick adults playing war games and pretending to be peter pan, decided they need more privacy than children and the innocent.

[@MiscaTiberiuSorin]

School isn't designed to teach you anything except getting you ready to be a "good" submissive worker in life in front of "authority" . As a kid when you enter school you are excited ...when you leave , you leave sad , depressed and not knowing anything .

[@Miami7]

I taught this to myself at work. It only made sense to me to get the easiest thing out of the way first, not to rush through it, but to just do it. They really should teach this at school. Maybe when we get our public education system back they will.

[@hansolo9684]

😊

[@8daystillmonday]

I don't think I could have or would have been able to wrap my head around this in my 20s, as much as I wish that I had. I'm almost 33 and I understand what this is saying-- but it's very challenging. It requires humility. That's hard at any age.

[@unitynofear7758]

Operational prioritization (task triage) : 1. Accept some tasks that some tasks will not get done. 2. Do the task that takes the least time to complete. The fastest task. No matter what the task is. 3. Do the task that takes the next least time to complete. 4. Repeat this again and you've reduced the number of tasks and gotten closer to a manageable number of tasks.

[@FactsDontCare1]

Saw something once on "to do" lists, and why they are bad and it is for this very reason. People do the easy tasks first, just to say they got something done, rather than doing the priority tasks first. Doesn't matter how hard you work if you are working on the wrong thing...

[@paulscottfilms]

Also the emotional strain of some tasks are best tackled at a good timr of da 10:42 y. For me thats first thing in morning

[@btbb3726]

Creating a list makes the list manageable. If you keep in your head it can seem overwhelming that you can’t even get started. Doing the easiest tasks first alleviates pressure and anxiety and makes it easier to go on to the next task. ?

[@unitynofear7758]

Thanks for the upvotes. When you're not task saturated, an approach can be to 'Eat the frog' first. Doing the most unpleasant task resets your dopamine and your motivation in turn. I assume the next step is then to eat the next biggest frog.

[@destroytheboxes]

In the real world where tasks are added back daily, this is absolutely the path to the unemployment line.

[@KevinTempelx]

Andrew: How many tasks do you feel comfortable handling? Me: 1 Andrew: Now subtract that number by 2 because that's what you're really capable of. Me: -1

[@Meisha-san]

🤣🤣🤣

[@meatballhead15]

I kind of wish he spoke to this. I chose "2" as my safe number... -2... is 0 o.O

[@Meisha-san]

@@meatballhead15 I suppose the reasonable assumption is that everyone works best when they focus on just one task at a time. Reality, on the other hand, presents you with a variety of tasks of varying complexity and time constraints. These various prioritizing and triaging methods allow you to see how much you can comfortably and confidently do at any given time.

[@Kimberly34584]

Same 😅

[@LucaAnamaria]

My number is also 0. 😂 This explains why I procrastinate. 🤣

[@riledmouse4677]

I do writing by trade, and while my child was growing up no one could ever understand why I needed to get out of the house to get my writing done. Andrew’s summary of the constant vigilance that is required by parents is the best explanation I’ve ever found. I raised my child on my own, and I could never break that distraction when she was with me; I was always on guard in case she needed me. Somehow, being at a cafe down the street was enough of a break to allow me to focus.

[@MountainGirlwIPA]

Omg as a mom, I laughed when I read your reply..I totally get it!

[@WK-47]

From one writer to another, I'm so glad to see you know how to use the semicolon. Even better, you sound like a good mother.

[@annmalleybooks]

As a fellow writer & mother of three, I can't agree more.

[@WhatWhy42]

Probably why our parents told us to go outside and play

[@auggiemarsh8682]

Absolutely essential to get out of the house. And yes, as a writer myself, I also appreciate the use of the semicolon.

[@1xRacer]

15 years of military service and am being medically released. My brain can never relax or feel safe. Deeply affects my quality of life and relationships. Cannot understate the importance of feeling safe, without anything to do next. What I've learned is take time for yourself, so you can be better for everyone else.

[@risk5riskmks93]

I needed this. Thank you. Thank you for your service and I wish you happiness and healing.

[@storiesreadaloud5635]

That's reality though. Maybe your brain is working normally, and the normies is not.

[@probrickgamer]

Try EMDR and also read "The monkey Mind" . I have been there

[@juliecronin8820]

Praying you find healing, that sounds awful, I struggle with panic attacks I couldn't imagine what your going through. Don't give up you will find peace❤

[@jjg1501]

feeling safe is dumb when you think about it. you are NEVER safe. feeling safe is a lie. the trick is to understand you are never safe and safe at the same time. you should understand you are only safe in the one moment in time. the next moment can change and you will never know if you will be safe until it is here.

[@bonza007]

When applied to non spy - shootout situations, the problem with this technique is you might end up spending all your time on urgent things, not important things.

[@meowmix1569]

Or just that things. Could be neither urgent or important

[@VigilanceTech]

I can find some merit to it because when you don't have time to think at least you just automatically act

[@meowmix1569]

@@VigilanceTech or should (situationally). Fight, flight, or freeze. It's like rock, paper, scissors that you were hardwired for lol

[@WK-47]

I guess there's an implicit assumption that by doing the easiest tasks first instead of 'eating your frog' and starting with what's most difficult, you'll quickly be on to the more pressing stuff. Still, yeah, you have to trust you or whomever will actually go from task to task. If you just do the easy stuff and stop before getting anything significant done, you won't get anywhere.

[@nickbuletexal7896]

​@@WK-47Brian Tracy! Is that you?

[@SensSword]

This the exact same strategy as Dave Ramsey recommends for getting out of debt. It's the same strategy I thought of myself years ago when my life was in a tailspin. It's the same strategy I used to help the company I worked for get out of their rut. Now I know it works well spies too. At this point, this is a universal truth to me.

[@vanillacokejunky]

I was thinking the exact same thing. "Snowball method"

[@MJ-xl5jz]

Easier said than done. Doing the fastest tasks first isn't always helpful, especially if they are not as important as a bigger one. And urgency plays a role too such as different deadlines. Also, it's not so easy to see what a fast task is because 1) often you have not done it before and so eastimation is horribly inaccurate and 2) you could break down almost any task into smaller ones (or sum up smaller ones into a bigger one) at will. Time management is difficult and ridden with useless advice. However, what's true is that you can't do everything and that it may help (but not always) to do fast tasks first just to get them off your mind.

[@fatass-bass]

It's not supposed to always be helpful, it is meant to shine in the moment that you need to use it.

[@casey-zd5mj]

at work when given the option I always work easier to harder, because if I spend 3hours on this difficult thing then it's going to stress me out the whole time knowing I still have 10 other smaller easier things to do, but if I knock out all the easier stuff first it makes me relax knowing I only have 1 hard thing to do left.

[@smilerman]

If u don't know that much then u wouldn't have clicked on it.. it's a matter of common sense

[@EricLaspe]

@@casey-zd5mj I tend to have the opposite problem. With a daily stream of new tasks coming in, I know that I can feel good about myself by doing the next fastest task. It can seem like I'm getting a lot done. But this method can allow me to put off a big, important, difficult task for days or weeks. Having a hard task sitting on my to-do list for a long time can make it feel like a mental mountain to climb just getting started. One of the most embarrassing and shameful moments of my career occurred when I put off a difficult task while doing lots and lots of easier but less important ones until the deadline for that big one came and I had made almost no progress on it. I really dropped the ball. This advice is great if your task list has an actual end that can be reached in time enough to do serious work on the long-but-important task waiting for you at the end. And you can't be exhausted by the time you get there. Maybe, for some kinds of work, this method needs to be used on alternating days alongside "first, eat the frog."

[@NicholasW943]

There's definitely exceptions to the rule. If you know fully your tasks and that it'd be better for you to do one that is long, then you should do that. The rule should be used when you're overwhelmed with stuff to do, because in those situations you won't have a full grasp of all the tasks. In such an environment, it's best to not try to get a clear picture of all that is going on, because that'd take too much of your time. Simply start with the shortest task and go from there.

[@Hello-pl2qe]

I just went from 2 tasks to zero, good advice, I'm feeling good. Definitely works

[@dreamwhite2886]

😂

[@sammonroe3985]

I’m at negative one.. how do you think that makes me feel!

[@theyetti90]

I too was at 2, so I guess we just stay at 2, because 1 is the loneliest number that you'll ever do.

[@marcbernard2481]

It can’t hurt to listen. Wise men always listen.

[@taminutall6241]

I have done this the last 2 days and literally ALL of my laundry is washed AND put away (after 3 months), bed and bedroom cleaned, half of my junk boxes sorted and condensed, litter boxes washed and refilled, and a few other things...WITH 8-9 hours of sleep, naps/rest breaks, 3 cooked meals, movie marathons, and 😉 -- all after waking up at 11am both days. I have done this exact list for each day, btw. This method is life changing!!!! Thank you P.s. it feels sooooo good to sleep in a cleaner house

[@alex-ander-13]

summary at 13:00

[@ramencoke]

Thank youu !

[@johnshite4656]

I have struggled with procrastination, and this is basically how I get myself moving: do the quickest thing first and just keep going. It really does work. As long as you can do those first few tiny tasks, momentum continues from there. Nice to see this advice as government training.

[@paulisaaksohn9179]

As Jocko says: Discipline Equals Freedom. Consciously and Systematically Allocating Time for Self-Improvement and Education eventually leading to Freedom. Andrew's version of it is great, too. Knowledge is the means, not the objective. Have discovered your channel after watching SRS (hosted by one and only Shawn Ryan). Thank you, Andrew!

[@joannehart9624]

Along with task saturation, perception narrowing often follows hand in hand. During the early years of technical diving when techniques and procedures were being formulated, this was a big topic of discussion when a diver died during a dive. Focusing on one item to the exclusion of all others can be deadly. It would be very interesting to hear whether this was a talking point in your training.

[@dialedmedia_]

In Summary: Task Saturation - Understand Personal Threshold for Managing Tasks. (Parental Multi-tasking) - If a task takes less than 15 min to accomplish, task takes priority based on time sensitivity. - Take number of tasks in task management threshold, reduce by two. (Im able to complete 5 tasks simultaneously, I’ll commit to 3 for ease of mind and efficient completion.) - More tasks than able to immediately prioritize = Task Saturation. - Understand and realize some of the tasks you have ahead of you will not be completed. - Triage - Simplify your tasks down to brass tacks. - Least time to completion = first task taken. Break down tasks by time for completion. Complete in least to greatest order. - Emotions dominate your conscious thought if you’re in Task Saturation. - Do The Next Fastest Task! Thank you so much for this info, i have it saved in my notes and will cite and forward to friends and family who i feel get overwhelmed by tasks in their day-to-day lives.

[@jociecovington1286]

I need to apply this at my job. I am a psych rn at a state facilitated psychiatric hospital in Texas. Almost a year ago, I was attacked and physically assaulted by a patient whilst attempting to calm them with talking. In my 8 years of psych nursing, this was the first time a patient has laid hands on me. I always form a very good rapport with my patients from the start. It psychological traumatized me and I have yet to be allowed to return. I will be going back next month and I am planning on how I can do things differently to ensure better safety. It is difficult due to we are perpetually very under staffed and our patients are violent. Thank you for this information!

[@ArtSio443]

do not lose faith in your ability to establish a good rapport. It just can't work all the time and we can't control anything, just accept that. That is my humble advice. I appreciate your effort!

[@jociecovington1286]

@@ArtSio443 Thank you!! That is great advice! I'll take it!

[@icysurfer1]

You have to be OK with the fact that you cannot directly control these people. I think it is too risky.

[@Rhiannoncout]

My mom was a R.N. at a state mental hospital and the same exact thing happened to her. She was hurt pretty badly. She had worked several years before. The patients loved and trusted her as well. I'm sure you know but it usually happens when a paranoid schizophrenic comes in off their meds. You will heal mentally and physically. Give yourself time and space to heal. There is no time limit to get over something. Trust your gut, instincts and never turn your back on any distressed patient. When you return and feel yourself getting overwhelmed or stressed take 3 deep breaths or give yourself a few minutes alone even if it's in the restroom. Keep a work journal to process your thoughts. You will be fine. I hope this helps.

[@jociecovington1286]

@@Rhiannoncout Thank you! I hope your mom is okay!

[@shaun3566]

Thank you Andrew. I’m a child and youth worker and step dad to 4. I’m working through some PTSD from child welfare stuff at work; this really helped to put the simplicity back into my self-regulation strategies when being quicker to overwhelmed than my previous baseline before the PTS. Much thanks brother 🙏. Helping me to continue my growth as a husband, father, and professionally with greater accountability.

[@riledmouse4677]

Sounds like you’re killing it! Just focus on the next right task. I’m sending you strength and fortitude, and I tip my hat to you.

[@PolishBehemoth]

step dad to 4? did you really get with a single mom with 4 kids and accept all responsibility?

[@devin_3875]

God bless, Shaun. 🙏

[@incredulousd9408]

Youth worker, step dad, PTSD and all while still a child. Incredible.

[@devin_3875]

@@incredulousd9408 Hehe. Dad joke! 😅

[@jmrumble]

Key Takeaways: - Task saturation is where the number of tasks on your mind exceeds the number you're capable of comfortably dealing with. - Accept that some of the tasks you have ahead of you will not get done, period. - To recover from task saturation, do the task that is quickest to accomplish. Repeat this as many times as necessary to regain comfort with the number of tasks on the table. - The first clue to task saturation is feeling uncomfortable with the number of tasks. Don't trust emotion at this point - do the next fastest thing you can do. - To stay ahead of saturation, estimate the number of tasks you can comfortably manage, then reduce that number by two. When you have more tasks than that result ongoing, apply the recovery technique.

[@ralphmccawley1554]

Hi Andrew, I subscribed to your site after watching this video, which then lead me to your other work. As I was watching it my partner was getting ready for work and a glance from her informed me she was also listening to it, so I turned the sound up a notch. As she left the room to go downstairs she turned to me and said, "I do some of that at work," and briefly explained what she meant. She asked me if I'd forward the link to her so she could watch it from the beginning and retune her performance. She works in a relatively high pressure administration role where the unbalanced dynamics of the workplace makes... anyhow, I'm rambling. Thanks for the information, anything that may make her work life more manageable is always welcome. I look forward to watching more of your work. Good luck, mate

[@deannevictor536]

Thank you for sharing this knowledge. It will certainly come in handy sometimes... but as an autistic person with ADHD, many times task saturation happens with 1 task. And that's why it's a disability. ☹️

[@PeterCooperUK]

I started knowing the number was 1 and then he said to deduct 2 from it.. 😂

[@YZracer316]

If your task saturation threshold is 1, then you need to split that task into 2 subtasks. Continue to do this until you have a task that is small enough for you to complete.

[@randomizer2240]

​@@YZracer316good idea

[@peterziggyw]

In the spy scenario, "preserve your life" seemed to be a major factor in prioritizing action choices. Like the first aid prompt "first, do no harm".

[@jimo680]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share this. I work in a job where the organization's management model has forced me to operate in triage on an almost daily basis. I don't wish to remain there much longer; however, ... this just may have saved my sanity for the time that I do remain. Much thanks!

[@joanneblack7697]

Weird how often "experts" suggest the opposite. i.e. "Do the most difficult or overwhelming task first." I like your way better Andrew.

[@wintermatherne2524]

Once everything is under control, it’s best to eat the frog first thing in the morning

[@newagain9964]

@@wintermatherne2524fax. Eat the frog first. Or second. It pays far reaching multiple dividends than just “getting stuff done”

[@theyetti90]

​@@wintermatherne2524I'm currently mulling the 2 over in my head. Maybe how you've said it is the best way.

[@KR_11117]

This is the basics of taking an exam, you always take on the questions you can do faster first

[@Miami7]

I like that! The same thing applies to getting out of debt when everything is coming at you. Work on paying off the smallest one first and get it done, then the next, etc. It is the only way to prioritize things.

[@n1c704]

I’ve literally been struggling with this lately and this is a godsend.

[@robustry]

Thanks, Andrew! You helped me to realize that I have been trusting my own intuition as I have been facing incredible obstacles for the past several months. Oftentimes my back was against the wall and my heart was grieving painfully as I stood to lose all, but I listened to the little voice within and it has always lead me out from the jungles of confusion.

[@JeffreyBenzodiazepines]

Stop talking in vague emotional metaphors

[@Rhiannoncout]

Listening to your intuition, gut instincts and common sense will get you far.

[@dialedmedia_]

If it takes less than 15 min to complete, go ahead and take care of it. One of the best things ive learned to combat procrastination, which works hand-in-hand with Task Saturation discipline.

[@c3d_ultra499]

Then you spend a bunch of time doing trivial stuff instead of addressing larger important tasks that need a lot of time given to them to resolve. You will be constantly putting out tiny fires while the main fire rages and is never put out. Here is a scenario where doing the quickest task first falls completely apart: little johnny is hungry and wants you to make him a bowl of cereal, he also broke his arm while playing outside. By following the advice given to complete the quickest task first we must give little Johnny a bowl of cereal to eat since he is hungry instead of taking him immediately to the hospital to get him the help he needs before any complications to his injury arise.

[@ScottPalangi]

@5:35... That's huge, "reduce it by two" brilliant. Wish I heard this long ago before being the first to raise my hand in the past.

[@magistralben1344]

How is it possible that a channel providing such invaluable information has not yet reached a million subscribers? On one hand, I genuinely hope for this channel to reach the one million subscriber milestone. On the other hand, there's a part of me that appreciates the exclusivity of this content, desiring it to remain within a community of devoted seekers who truly value it. Thanks Andrew🎩

[@inthe_k_now]

everyone is stumbling around blind and no one wants to admit it to themselves.

[@newagain9964]

Bruh. It’s just another self-help/ life hack channel with minimal transformative or even unheard advice.

[@AaaronRCorrea]

"Just do the next fastest thing" Beautiful 🔥💯

[@huntsail3727]

Just came accross your channel, this is great advice. As a manager, other than lack of motivation, I have noticed the biggest problem most people have is trying to do too much all at the same time. We all want it all, but trying to have it all, at the same time, often results in not much getting accomplished successfully. The next fastest thing will work provided the 'things' on your list are important and should be there. Prioritize and execute - yes, but also - know what is important, know your limits and stay within them as you establish your priorities.

[@AR-gh1pc]

I absolutely suck at this. I can manage a LOT… or I used to be able to. I’m more prone to feeling overwhelmed now. I am very big picture and bite off too much sometimes considering I have lower energy than I did and I keep myself in an overwhelmed state… or a state of task saturation way too much of the time. This framework seems very useful. I suppose my task management threshold was very high and it’s not the same now and I haven’t adapted.

[@Essential4Life]

At least you are honest with yourself. Apply what you can, rather what others expect.

[@LauraKrause-d8i]

Nurses need this in school …would help a lot in the beginning. Somehow I have learned it on my own but this clarifies how to do it even better.

[@Liahs333]

Actually nurses do learn this in school. It’s called triage. You triage your patients and you triage your work.

[@TheFormerTeam]

6:33 I learned this from my IFR training when I was trying to learn instrument flying for airplanes. A common scenario for the IFR pilot where task saturation easily occurs is getting ready to land, for example... setting up the approach, talking to ATC, flying the aircraft, maintaining situational awareness of where I physically am right now and where other traffic is right now, getting the current weather for the airport I'm flying into, briefing the approach (I brief on the ground before the flight now), and verifying that i am getting the performance I'm expecting. When all of those things are slamming into you at once you have to begin prioritizing what to do right now, and what to do 10 seconds from now. We break it down into Aviate, Navigate, Communicate which means anything related to keeping positive control over the aircraft is ALWAYS numero UNO! After that is handled we thing about where we are, where we're going, and where everyone else is, then we can start talking to ATC. Hearing you put that process directly into words was definitely eye opening as if someone asked me "How do you deal with task saturation?" I really wouldn't have been able to answer, but now I can. Thank you.

[@bryanlittle4647]

It's good to have a familiy-man's perspective on this. A lot of people in this field do not have a family/kids so it's nice to hear analogies with family/kids. You killed it on the Lex Fridman podcast btw!

[@joanneblack7697]

I listen to this one every few months Andy. During difficult times, it really helps. Ty for this.

[@cchanc3]

andrew has never been an air traffic controller. his sense of priorities are out the window

[@ioannplatte]

It's crucial for system design to address every conceivable failure mode that could bring things to this crisis level. This video is not at that level. This is about: what happens after all that? What does the ATC do when everything is failing and/or there's a flood of traffic? It's going to have to look a bit like this, I suspect. That said, I would love to hear what ATC or 911 training does about this problem.

[@cchanc3]

@@ioannplatte there is no "9/11 training." if you want to reroute an airplane you say cleared to (new airport) via (route), (altitude) and (further instructions). on 9/11, we just had to do that 3000 times in a few hours. the only people you hear saying how amazing it was were the media and other non-controllers. every enroute controller has rerouted an airplane many times.

[@cchanc3]

@@ioannplatte aditionally, ATC has "priority of duty." you do what needs to be done first, first. and so forth. the key is having the knowledge and experience to know what comes first, second, third. then, know that you can truly do only one thing at a time. ever.

[@ioannplatte]

@@cchanc3 By "911 training" I meant the training for 911 telephone dispatchers.

[@ioannplatte]

@@cchanc3 That's the system design I was referring to, and isn't talking about the catastrophic failure scenario I was referring to, but rather "every conceivable failure mode". This video is covering situations that for whatever reason don't have that available. That was my point. Fully agree that in any scenario where there can be a system to determine priorities reliably, using that system would be better than throwing it away in favor of the advice in this video. In fact, needing to use this advice repeatedly should be seen as a sign that there's system design work to be done.

[@Kris10Ortego]

Super helpful. Not everyone is organized so this clarity and the procedures can help clear head trash.

[@MrBeefsnorkel]

for the next 60 days im going to implement this into my everyday life, on a hardcore level. will report the results. thank you

[@Rafirufi]

Going strong?

[@mattfirman3877]

It's really interesting how I learned all of this just by doing retail for so long and having a limited amount of time to complete a bunch of tasks. I guess I had so much time to think about it that I was able to formulate this strategy naturally.

[@ianbossi4549]

Thank you so much for this content. Nobody ever showed me how to organize myself. This has been truly vital information.

[@AdrianMark]

I'm so glad I found your channel. Your teachings are too expensive for me right now, but I'm already saving up money to learn from you. I'm an ex-banking operations guy, turned business owner, and I absolutely relate to your concept of managing time. Thanks for making this, I hope you keep teaching and I'm looking forward to when I can get more into your stuff.

[@maxonmendel5757]

don't spend money on some guru. it's a waste.

[@maxonmendel5757]

this guy can't even edit his videos

[@charlesclintonmd]

As a Dr, you cannot do this. For example: you have 2 patients waiting to be seen. You can see both in front of you. One looks pale, looking bad, and the other one is smiling and thought they saw a new dimple on their arm. The fastest task would be to see the dimple but you prioritize the severity of the sick patient first. You go on to the long complex task of the ill patient. You let the other patient wait till you make sure the complicated patient doesn’t die on you. The healthy patient is pissed off because nobody has seen them in 30 minutes… well, that’s what had to be done. This leads me to the conclusion: When everything is equal-> prioritize the fastest task. If not, prioritizing should not be decided upon speed of completion. What do you think?

[@jkgkjgkijk]

I think human life is the priority and trumps all other modalities.

[@KingcoleIIV]

In life things are rarely equal. That is when pragmatism can help.

[@wodantheviking]

You do not need to count as a task something that has no urgency. For instance, in the spy situation the operative might need to send a birthday card to his wife, but in the circumstances of the arrival of an enemy hit team, it will simply not be on his to do list. Routine tasks can simply be erased in a high pressure scenario.

[@ScottPalangi]

I think what's also instructive here with the vehicular example of reflexes, is this: those reflexes the mature driver (now) has, were learned over years of non-stressed driving (Royce Gracie explained this to me live in 1995 at a seminar he was hosting, it's a famous talk he gives at seminars during the headlock escapes (and everyone is usually trying to kill each with strength) and he brings up the "smoove is fast" from his first time on the gun range with a pro coach.

[@samsmusichub]

I feel saturated at work. I constantly feel like I need to sacrifice quality in order to complete the tasks I'm given, and I'm a recovering perfectionist so i appreciate this video because I'd love to learn how to better manage my time and tasks.

[@scubarubanzaii]

I learned this concept in mountain biking from a young age. It’s gotten me to be able to safely do major evasive and recovery moves in semi trucks.

[@BlackJack..]

I didnt realise this is something I've been learning by myself. But this helped solidify things much better

[@Shesanultra]

The people at the CIA need to get real jobs, instead of being hard core criminals.

[@aWomanFreed]

They’re destroying the world by focusing on their individual tasks instead of looking at the cumulative effects of their “work”

[@canadiancombatwombatthe3rd782]

Agreed, the CIA is gaeeee

[@sovereigncosmicwildman]

Exactly!! they are nothing but criminals in action (scum)

[@bananaboyTS]

real and true

[@newagain9964]

….What if I told u being hardcore criminals is the job…😎

[@maxcarter3413]

Yeah. I like it. Good advice. Thank you.

[@fixfaxerify]

It seems to me a weak point of this method is how you define a "task". Depending on how you cut the cake, you are either task saturated or totally fine. If you decide you have one task: "Deal with reality and life", you are never task saturated. On the other hand you can cut that task in to almost endless sub-tasks and almost always be task saturated.

[@WorldTravelerCooking]

Interestingly I came to a variant of this intuitively some years ago. Note, I suffered as a kid from attention deficit issues and this became one important mitigating mechanism as an adult. However it occurs to me that there is one aspect to this (and my own variation of it which I won't discuss here) which is very much about energy management. Longer tasks take a lot more focus and more energy, and so knocking out a couple of short tasks first can both build momentum and make it easier to take on another high priority task. So also if you find yourself unable to get started with a large task for other reasons also, it can make a lot of sense to bypass it, and knock out a couple of short tasks first in order to reduce your load. Additionally, it is worth noting that multi-tasking is error-prone for everyone and so reducing the number of immediate tasks you have to worry about also increases accuracy.

[@wintermatherne2524]

Same

[@CarelessGamer15]

Can you tell us more about your strategy?

[@WorldTravelerCooking]

@@CarelessGamer15 I maintain a task list and note short quick tasks. I usually understand I will never get everything done. When I am stuck I pick up two quick tasks in succession to build momentum. Then I will usually (for a while) do two quick tasks followed by a longer one and repeat until either there is a big imbalance of short vs longer tasks or priorities need to shift towards something urgent. It's a lot easier to tackle a big task when you have got some smaller ones done than when you are making a cold start.

[@CarelessGamer15]

@@WorldTravelerCooking thanks for the idea! i will try that the next time i'm stuck

[@explainingpolitics]

When I was in 2nd grade we would do these math sheets. we naturally did them in order, from the top starting with the left and going right. Early on I would scan the paper and start finishing the simplest problems first and I would finish my word so much faster than everyone else. I have been putting this strategy into work my entire life since, glad to know this is how the pros do it. I missed my calling 🤦‍♂

[@MetaPhysStore0770]

Therapy for depression directs one to accomplish something, no matter how small ,each day

[@sojournsojourntraveler1203]

This why I have do list , more inefficient use of time is getting caught up on your list and have no idea about what I need to do next .

[@rubberbiscuit99]

I appreciate your perspective.Until we value our freedom and think for ourselves nothing will change.

[@George999Welch]

Helpful hint on crying. If a kid gets hurt and looks around to see if someone is there, but isn't already crying, don't say anything and they will usually walk away. That's how narcissists are made.

[@Eleventyeleventh]

I got confused while reading, Are they made by saying anything or by not saying anything?

[@dickdiamonds3410]

​@@Eleventyeleventhhe's saying they are made from negative attention reinforcement. That's absurd of course. Most children will cry from embarrassment. Narcissism is far more complex

[@Ed_Gein_crafts]

Make them cry for real. Assert dominance. ( sarcasm)

[@theyetti90]

​@@Ed_Gein_crafts😂

[@philliesblunt247]

In 4th grade we had a coaches son on our baseball team. He honestly sucked. And after every failed attempt to play the game or hit the ball he would freak out, cry and blame his dad. And he always started by crying. This was 4th grade btw

[@AnthonyCurley]

Even though the video is 1 year old, it's new to me, and it's fantastic. This is how computer processors prioritize their work, and it has the added benefit of reducing total wait time for all tasks. Some comments seem to be missing the point. I don't think the "subtract 2" is set in stone. It's a way to combat those of us who overestimate our capabilities. For those who underestimate, you should probably stick with the original number you came up with. Also, I think, since we're already accepting some of these tasks won't get done, maybe before we see which task is smallest, that we first see which tasks we can just say "no" to immediately. Then start with the smallest task.

[@DigitalBard1]

Please do a work order sequence, for a chef working in a professional kitchen, during a busy lunch service. Its common to be doing upwards of 20-30 tasks simultaneously. It isn't always an option to disregard a particular individual task. It becomes more a case of getting certain tasks going, then moving to some more, set them off, then flip back to the others, then set some more off, and then bring them all together in a simultaneous moment. The stress and time management of a chefs mind, is comparable to a super computer. As the basic sequencing model, gets rather complex. With tasks being shuffled around, grouped together, and juggled at a fast pace, with a constant steady stream of new tasks being added and completed at the same time. The alogorithmical, and prioritising processing speed, seems faster than lighting, and sometimes it feels like time is bending. Giving in to stress is never an option though, for if you stop, the whole process grinds to a halt, and the whole system collapses. The pressure is immense. The order of sequence becomes important, as some tasks will be more efficient to be perform with certain other ones, and some less efficient, so the mind is continuously working to collate and group and shuffle, then complete 3 or 4 or 5 tasks together, to make room for the next grouping. Its a phenomenonal pattern to study. And the variables multiplied with more variables, make no two task sheets the same.

[@michellewoodson4696]

Ive never heard it so precisely described. The sheer vume of calculations performed during a dinner rush is amazing & exhausting & can be thrownn of by 1 stupid question or piece of advice by a manager lol. Helps alot if the whole kitchen crew is a little bit psychic

[@DigitalBard1]

@@michellewoodson4696 Yeah a bit psychic really helps. You kind of get into a groove with each other right? And yeah if a waitress drops a plate. Or if someone fucks up an order. Then your in trouble.

[@Kingsper69]

“Many people can hand 5-7 things at the same time, like my wife.” Shit sounds so funny out of context😭

[@EnkiSvohden]

A dude who worked for the CIA playing a song singing "freedom." Bwahahahaha!

[@Sud0F1nch]

Just watched this for the first time. Got a vibe this is something I needed to hear Thank you.

[@ika32]

I can do maybe 2 tasks at a time. So I'm just going to be using this technique constantly even when I'm not doing anything.

[@ib1ray]

7:42 dang it man 'irregardless' is not a word and I can't trust anybody that uses it LMFAO

[@davidescobedo5965]

man this is gold. It'd be great to learn of any goal saturation management / recovery systems. essentially "long-term" tasks. I would imagine it could be similar to this.

[@joanneblack7697]

"What did the kids just break?" 😂😂😂 Classic! 💓

[@UnrebornMortuus]

Wether or not you teach me these tools directly, I will continue to learn and surpass you.

[@namepending155]

“Irregardless” is a non-standard term for “regardless”.

[@GOTHAM21]

I love this format and intro. Sets my mood right.

[@nickfitz9800]

Love hearing your stories and experiences and learning from them. Thank you.

[@GarrettBryan-q7l]

So helpful and well-conveyed. Truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge here!. So helpful and well-conveyed. Truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge here!.

[@beezneez2056]

Kind of like the debt snowball for tasks. I like it

[@BrandonSL500]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🤖 Mistakes happen, but avoiding them is essential in both espionage and professional fields. 01:00 🛡️ Take short breaks when working to maintain focus and productivity. 02:48 💼 Set achievable goals and appreciate progress to stay motivated. 04:18 💼 Embrace simplicity and prioritize tasks to manage overwhelming situations. 06:05 🛡️ Break complex tasks into smaller parts for easier completion. 07:40 🤖 Stay aware of time and plan strategically for better time management. 10:00 🤖 Focus on completion rather than perfection to avoid unnecessary stress. 11:14 💼 Review and improve your work to enhance efficiency. 13:30 🛡️ Repeatedly practice and revise to reinforce learning and memory. 14:22 💼 Embrace new challenges and opportunities for personal growth. Made with HARPA AI

[@elsuperpollo2273]

Ironically I heard about this lesson working EP/PSD for a security company. I wouldn't be surprised one of my on the job training supervisor was one of your guys

[@ErrorOptik]

“Take the amount of tasks you think you can do and subtract 2.” Me: 3-2=….well damn.

[@AuthorWilliamMiller]

As a business owner, this advice is gold!

[@COM70]

If the tasks are connected, eg walk, mix multiple microphones, swing a boom, monitor (on Mike), monitor lines/ script, monitor sound continuity, hit frame edge/shadows/mark, no problem. Drive through a simple junction and answer a simple question about plans for day nope only 1

[@Corteum]

From the CIA's perspective, what is right with the current educational system in America, and what is wrong with it? What is it doing right, and what is it doing wrong? Andrew!

[@slappy8941]

From the CIA perspective? Well, what's right with the system is that it's turning out a bunch of brainless morons who utterly lack the capacity for critical thought. What's wrong with the system is that a few slip through the cracks.

[@ArlenGunClub]

@@slappy8941 Too bad your comment was hidden. It's true.

[@ArtSio443]

​@@ArlenGunClubwhat did it say?

[@ArlenGunClub]

@@ArtSio443 If you sort comments by newest first you can see it. In a nutshell, the CIA would prefer that our educational system be anything but educational.

[@tatie7604]

Why?

[@storynory7076]

Thank you. Your advice applies exactly to me and my life.

[@TeddehSpaghetti]

You're preaching to an ADHD choir. Haha. A choir that keeps endlessly sweeping and cleaning the office while major projects pile up in the backlog.

[@colem1423]

Thank you for the knowledge! I appreciate this as it helps me regain my brings after my car wreck.

[@jamielake-boyd3600]

Man i dont know how i could servive without someone telling me how to live my life.

[@culbinator]

I’ve actually been tackling my tasks list the same way without knowing any of this. Love the content

[@brendonmasters]

Drummers are the original CIA agent. 4 tasks at once. And that’s not counting the mind wandering during all the above. 5 tasks. ❤️ the drums

[@Atezian]

There is some serious holes in this logic. Firstly, my task threshold is -1 according to 1 minus 2. Also, 6:48 doesn't make sense. If people could ignore the head-trash as you name it then people wouldn't be overwhelmed by task saturation in the first place. It's the fact that you are overwhelmed that makes it such that you can't prioritise and organise. How do you explain that? You can't simple say "ignore being overwhelmed when you're overwhelmed" as an argument to dealing with being overwhelmed.

[@timb4248]

It's frustrating when you have a micromanaging boss who NEEDS the thing that THEY think is most important done first. Even if it takes the longest, by far. I naturally prioritize the quick and easy things, and save the most difficult for last. But some people will think you are avoiding the most obvious problem or are too dumb to see it.

[@vincentbatson4523]

Yo Andrew that soundtrack by tone Jones is Nice. I'm definitely going to support and continue to listen to you and figure out my next moves in life

[@anduchanzz867]

I am confident doing 1 thing. 1 - 2 = -1. My task saturation level is delegating one task.

[@thegreypath1777]

LOL

[@travisleabeck2572]

I find this interesting as I've taught people how to manage and overcome addiction through a very similar method. What is you upper limit with any particular substance. What will break you in a day? Half that. That's your new upper limit. But then you half that again and the moment you approach that quarter point you need to be doing foundational checks to make sure that no cracks are appearing at the seams of your self. Maintaining self is the key to mastering one's drug usage and the same is true in task management.

[@parkerstroh6586]

Single best thing I've heard in a long while

[@Buzca]

Loved it! 💯 Thank you for sharing this!

[@Aliens-Are-Our-Friends2027]

The tasks have to be done IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

[@stankrajewski8255]

Knowing myself, I started with 3 simultaneous tasks. DOH! That takes me to one--and that is hair in my oatmeal. However, I am pretty darn productive and creative in auto-pilot. I drive my truck in auto-pilot mode--no actual "trying" to drive safely. I focus on stimuli and a perceived critical action, but I trust my instincts to prioritize. Heading out to the shop now to work with sharp objects moving at high speeds--while keeping all my blood on the inside as a primary goal.

[@fontainerouge]

Unlike a CIA agent, you can determine which tasks need to be done & which can fall of by the wayside. 1. Negotiate at work 2. Negotiate at home If you are de facto overburdened by too many tasks, there are not enough hours in the day. The vid is about simultaneous tasks (ie, everything deemed urget to complete over a limited time) & brain overload, not about biting more than you can chew.

[@tomthibodeau1444]

This is also a CPU task scheduling technique I've applied on and off since learning about it. It's good in general but can lead to programs freezing (ie some things never getting done) if you don't make time for them.

[@sueelliott4793]

I love this guy, seen quite a few of his talks.

[@bzeuzsak]

I haven't heard this in a LONG time! Thank you for posting this. 📫

[@Andrea-us2ge]

Fantastic advice! I subscribed to your site because of it

[@troller3155]

I was a restaurant server in my teens and a manager in my twenties and I was good at multitasking, but this would be great for anyone in that line of work. When either a bartender, busboy or server was overwhelmed I would help by doing the fast and easy tasks and tell them to do the most urgent ones first.