What Are Some Distinctive Things about You?

  • Academic background: I’m almost a doctor of political science, having concentrated on studying political psychology, public policy, and research methodology. I’m working one hour a day every day first thing in the morning to finish my dissertation—essentially, a book. So if you’ve got a big project to complete, I feel your pain. If you’re having problems with insomnia, I can cite the theories behind a lot of what I do.
  • Efficiency geek: Minimum input for the maximum output, that’s my motto.
  • Productivity geek: I’m constantly hacking my own work life, inspired chiefly by the self-experimenterTim Ferriss. Right now my system is:
    • Gmail inbox zero through effective filtering of two email accounts to three labels.
    • Google Calendar for major recurring events, printed to paper a week at a time for daily planning.
    • Paper to-do list on the Google Calendar printout.
    • Evernote for note taking when I’m at a computer and a Reporter Moleskine when I’m not.
    • Everything batched. I open postal mail once a week, for instance.
    • Checking email just twice daily while still responding quickly. (Here are instructions.)