work and output should be non-linear

Mahmud Asrul
2 min readAug 19, 2024

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Work and output should be more than just linear. Take Warren Buffett as an example — his legendary status comes from understanding and leveraging the power of compounding. Yet, what if this concept, the compounding effect we can implement not only on stock, yet in our everyday lives?

In the era of hustling & toxic productivity, this isn’t about relentless hustle; it’s about working smart and strategically.

Consider the street vendors on the sidewalk. Their effort is undeniable, yet I bet you wont beable to fight their working spirit to woke in the dark, and come back home in the dark.

What if we shifted our perspective? Imagine a graph where X represents effort and Y represents results. A linear relationship suggests a direct, one-to-one correlation — more effort equals more results. But to truly excel, we need to create a curve. This curve represents a non-linear relationship where less effort can produce disproportionately greater results.

The real breakthrough lies in the quality of work. Time is the ultimate currency we all trade in, and those who have amassed great wealth are also trading in time — but their time yields far greater returns. To harness this, focus on areas where compounding can occur. This isn’t limited to financial investments. Think about relationships: investing in them thoughtfully can lead to compounding benefits, enriching your life and those around you.

Work smarter by prioritizing quality. Imagine dedicating a few hours of deep, focused work to achieve what would normally require eight hours of scattered, less deliberate effort. This shift in approach doesn’t just maximize your productivity; it also aligns with how we naturally learn and grow.

If you have read Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, they also emphasize this paradigm — the more diverse your knowledge, the faster and more effectively you can learn new things. By understanding a wide range of topics, you build a reservoir of analogies and insights that make acquiring new skills faster and more intuitive.

When we move beyond the simplistic notion of working hard or smart, we begin to see that the true art lies in optimizing the relationship between work and output. This perspective isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about creating a life where your efforts lead to profound and compounding returns.

It’s about making thoughtful choices about where to invest your time and energy, leading to a richer, more fulfilling existence.

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