The distinction between volume and leverage was probably my biggest takeaway. A lot of writers assume growth comes from publishing more but some of the biggest improvements I’ve seen came from strengthening the underlying skills. Better structure, better opening and better observation. One improvement compounds across every future piece. That’s a much more powerful investment than simply increasing output. Interesting topic today, thank you Idris Elijah and have a great weekend!
The part about efficiency compounding really resonated with me. A few years ago I would start every painting from scratch and make the same mistakes over and over. Eventually I created a simple process for studies, reference gathering and color planning. None of it felt creative at the time but it freed up so much mental energy for the actual painting. The work improved not because I worked harder, but because I stopped wasting effort. Thank you Idris Elijah for the enlightening read and Happy Friday to you!
The older I get, the more I realize that working harder and making progress aren’t always the same thing. There have been times in my life where I was putting in a lot of effort but not necessarily moving forward in a meaningful way. This newsletter reminded me that sometimes growth comes from improving the process, not increasing the pressure. That’s a lesson I’m still learning and I appreciate the way you explain these concepts in a way that actually sticks with me. Thank you Idris for another great read and Happy Friday!
The distinction between volume and leverage was probably my biggest takeaway. A lot of writers assume growth comes from publishing more but some of the biggest improvements I’ve seen came from strengthening the underlying skills. Better structure, better opening and better observation. One improvement compounds across every future piece. That’s a much more powerful investment than simply increasing output. Interesting topic today, thank you Idris Elijah and have a great weekend!
The part about efficiency compounding really resonated with me. A few years ago I would start every painting from scratch and make the same mistakes over and over. Eventually I created a simple process for studies, reference gathering and color planning. None of it felt creative at the time but it freed up so much mental energy for the actual painting. The work improved not because I worked harder, but because I stopped wasting effort. Thank you Idris Elijah for the enlightening read and Happy Friday to you!
The older I get, the more I realize that working harder and making progress aren’t always the same thing. There have been times in my life where I was putting in a lot of effort but not necessarily moving forward in a meaningful way. This newsletter reminded me that sometimes growth comes from improving the process, not increasing the pressure. That’s a lesson I’m still learning and I appreciate the way you explain these concepts in a way that actually sticks with me. Thank you Idris for another great read and Happy Friday!