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aria-hidden="false" aria-describedby="postFooterSocialMenu" aria-labelledby="postFooterSocialMenu"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><button aria-controls="postFooterSocialMenu" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Share Post" data-testid="headerSocialShareButton" class="af fk ah ai aj ak al md an ao ap ex me mf lt mg mh mi mj mk s ml mm mn mo mp mq mr u ms mt mu"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M15.218 4.931a.4.4 0 0 1-.118.132l.012.006a.45.45 0 0 1-.292.074.5.5 0 0 1-.3-.13l-2.02-2.02v7.07c0 .28-.23.5-.5.5s-.5-.22-.5-.5v-7.04l-2 2a.45.45 0 0 1-.57.04h-.02a.4.4 0 0 1-.16-.3.4.4 0 0 1 .1-.32l2.8-2.8a.5.5 0 0 1 .7 0l2.8 2.79a.42.42 0 0 1 .068.498m-.106.138.008.004v-.01zM16 7.063h1.5a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v10a2 2 0 0 1-2 2h-11c-1.1 0-2-.9-2-2v-10a2 2 0 0 1 2-2H8a.5.5 0 0 1 .35.15.5.5 0 0 1 .15.35.5.5 0 0 1-.15.35.5.5 0 0 1-.35.15H6.4c-.5 0-.9.4-.9.9v10.2a.9.9 0 0 0 .9.9h11.2c.5 0 .9-.4.9-.9v-10.2c0-.5-.4-.9-.9-.9H16a.5.5 0 0 1 0-1" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><div class="j i d"><p class="bf b bg z du">Share</p></div></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p id="0c6e" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mv mw gu mx b my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns gn bk">👋 <strong class="mx gv">Welcome back to the Medium Newsletter<br/></strong><em class="nt">Issue #141: Obama’s summer sounds, saying the quiet part loud, and 30/30 feedback<br/>By </em><span class="is"><span class="is" aria-hidden="false"><a class="nu it fe" href="https://medium.com/u/7428661d5cfd?source=post_page---user_mention--49cebc3fff9f---------------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em class="nt">Harris Sockel</em></a></span></span></p><p id="64d7" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mv mw gu mx b my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns gn bk">One of the best things I ever did for my productivity — and it’s a super small thing — was to hide my dock on Mac OS. Actually, first I removed all the pre-loaded apps I’ll never use on my work computer (Pages, News, Garage Band). Then I hid it. Finally, no more <a class="af nv" href="https://medium.com/@yousefcloud/manipulative-red-dots-1acf78b525a3" rel="noopener">manipulative red dots</a>! Only after getting rid of those dots and ever-present icons do you realize how much energy tech companies have poured into drawing your attention away from whatever you’re trying to do.</p><p id="7976" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mv mw gu mx b my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns gn bk">Even if you don’t use a Mac, the underlying principle applies: the best way to help yourself focus is to <a class="af nv" href="https://riikkaiivanainen.medium.com/the-secret-life-of-people-with-high-self-control-its-easier-than-you-think-7dd26fb5282c" rel="noopener">control your environment</a>.</p><p id="8c83" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mv mw gu mx b my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns gn bk">We tend to think of our workspace as a physical location, but as <span class="is"><span class="is" aria-hidden="false"><a class="nu it fe" href="https://medium.com/u/e4d971c7eba7?source=post_page---user_mention--49cebc3fff9f---------------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Niklas Göke</a></span></span> writes, <strong class="mx gv">“your computer screen is </strong><a class="af nv" href="https://betterhumans.pub/how-to-set-up-your-mac-for-focused-work-ab3565750059?sk=v2%2Fcc8511cd-56b0-4ae8-abaa-65c039806dc9" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><strong class="mx gv">an environment you choose to enter</strong></a><strong class="mx gv">, consciously or unconsciously.”</strong> There are a few things you can do proactively to make it a more focused zone for deep work, like turning on Do Not Disturb and cutting down on open tabs. I loved these <a class="af nv" href="https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/time-management-techniques-that-actually" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">10 time management techniques</a> from former Airbnb product lead Lenny Rachitsky, each of which doubles as a way to take back your attention. One of them I practice religiously — using my calendar as a to-do list:</p><figure class="nz oa ob oc od oe nw nx paragraph-image"><div class="nw nx ny"><picture><source srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:768/format:webp/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 768w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 384px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:768/0*0u-E7a_8BLjMdv6t 768w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 384px"/><img alt="" class="bh mc of c" width="384" height="424" loading="eager" role="presentation"/></picture></div><figcaption class="og ff oh nw nx oi oj bf b bg z du"><em class="ok">A screenshot from my Google calendar, which doubles as my to-do list so I know exactly when I’m doing what. I block mornings for writing this newsletter and try to save meetings for afternoons, when I’m naturally a little less focused.</em></figcaption></figure><p id="c3d7" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mv mw gu mx b my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns gn bk">If any of this resonated with you (and this is not remotely sponsored, I’m just a fan!), I recommend <a class="af nv" href="https://arc.net/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Arc</a> — it’s a browser that <a class="af nv" href="https://www.theverge.com/23462235/arc-web-browser-review" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">automatically deletes your unsaved tabs after 12 hours</a>. As someone whose Chrome tabs regularly ran amok (and crashed my computer), I can say that Arc made me considerably more sane.</p><h1 id="15a4" class="ol om gu bf on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi bk"><strong class="al">⚡ Lighting round: Great, recent Medium stories in 2 sentences or less</strong></h1><ul class=""><li id="7ade" class="mv mw gu mx b my pj na nb nc pk ne nf ng pl ni nj nk pm nm nn no pn nq nr ns po pp pq bk">Highlights from <span class="is"><span class="is" aria-hidden="false"><a class="nu it fe" href="https://medium.com/u/9e422a605dc5?source=post_page---user_mention--49cebc3fff9f---------------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barack Obama</a></span></span>’s <a class="af nv" href="https://barackobama.medium.com/my-2024-summer-reading-music-lists-b097561ba000" rel="noopener">2024 summer listening and reading lists</a>: “365” by Charli XCX, <span class="is"><span class="is" aria-hidden="false"><a class="nu it fe" href="https://medium.com/u/69b5834e76d3?source=post_page---user_mention--49cebc3fff9f---------------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hanif Abdurraqib</a></span></span>’s memoir <a class="af nv" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/695817/theres-always-this-year-by-hanif-abdurraqib/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><em class="nt">There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension</em></a>, and LA-based indie hip hop producer Calimossa’s “<a class="af nv" href="https://soundcloud.com/calimossa/whats-in-the-tea-1" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">What’s in the Tea?</a>”</li><li id="0859" class="mv mw gu mx b my pr na nb nc ps ne nf ng pt ni nj nk pu nm nn no pv nq nr ns po pp pq bk">A leader’s main job is to <a class="af nv" href="https://medium.com/onebigthought/say-the-quiet-part-loud-3981850d74b5" rel="noopener">say the quiet part loud</a>. If everyone on your team is talking about something and you haven’t acknowledged it, you’re already too late.</li><li id="4740" class="mv mw gu mx b my pr na nb nc ps ne nf ng pt ni nj nk pu nm nn no pv nq nr ns po pp pq bk"><span class="is"><span class="is" aria-hidden="false"><a class="nu it fe" href="https://medium.com/u/ab6ad468bbaf?source=post_page---user_mention--49cebc3fff9f---------------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Alexa V.S.</a></span></span> challenged herself to walk <a class="af nv" href="https://medium.com/in-fitness-and-in-health/i-walked-20k-steps-per-day-for-6-months-heres-what-happened-9da7a92d2523?sk=v2%2F3eff49a0-a793-46c9-93d8-36e3f04108cb" rel="noopener">20K steps/day</a> — and found that while she was exhausted at first, a few months into the experiment she started to feel an energy boost like never before.</li></ul><h1 id="ed9b" class="ol om gu bf on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi bk"><strong class="al">🗣️ Your daily dose of practical wisdom: about ongoing feedback</strong></h1><p id="6f9c" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mv mw gu mx b my pj na nb nc pk ne nf ng pl ni nj nk pm nm nn no pn nq nr ns gn bk">Most companies do performance reviews (affectionately known as “perf” here at Medium) <a class="af nv" href="https://www.prdaily.com/the-demise-of-the-annual-performance-review-has-been-greatly-exaggerated/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">once or twice a year</a>, if that. Business strategist <span class="is"><span class="is" aria-hidden="false"><a class="nu it fe" href="https://medium.com/u/82e5339094d5?source=post_page---user_mention--49cebc3fff9f---------------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amanda Swim</a></span></span> offers a better option: <a class="af nv" href="https://medium.com/management-matters/why-are-30-30s-the-best-way-to-discuss-feedback-085bfa4872e9" rel="noopener">a quick 30-minute feedback sesh every 30 days</a>. Your manager and you each bring three pieces of positive and constructive feedback for each other. Boom. That’s it. Now maybe you won’t need to wait until December to find out if your boss thinks you’re doing okay or not.</p><h1 id="f85b" class="ol om gu bf on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi bk"><strong class="al">Quiz: Zoom In</strong></h1><p id="a56a" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mv mw gu mx b my pj na nb nc pk ne nf ng pl ni nj nk pm nm nn no pn nq nr ns gn bk"><em class="nt">Below is a zoomed-in version of an image related to one of the stories linked above. If you know what it is, email us: tips@medium.com. First to guess correctly will win a free Medium membership.</em></p><figure class="nz oa ob oc od oe nw nx paragraph-image"><div role="button" tabindex="0" class="px py fj pz bh qa"><div class="nw nx pw"><picture><source srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/0*Ho5draPyPbltiBVv 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"/><img alt="" class="bh mc of c" width="700" height="718" loading="lazy" role="presentation"/></picture></div></div></figure><p id="f637" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mv mw gu mx b my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns gn bk"><em class="nt">Congratulations to </em><a class="af nv" rel="noopener" href="/a-classics-professor-on-the-decline-of-the-humanities-b9c5521cc7ba"><em class="nt">yesterday’s</em></a><em class="nt"> winner, </em><span class="is"><span class="is" aria-hidden="false"><a class="nu it fe" href="https://medium.com/u/9d4313c65c05?source=post_page---user_mention--49cebc3fff9f---------------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em class="nt">Mariam Hassib</em></a></span></span><em class="nt">, for deciphering a blurry, sparse image — it’s the second circular figure in </em><span class="is"><span class="is" aria-hidden="false"><a class="nu it fe" href="https://medium.com/u/375dbbe87bd5?source=post_page---user_mention--49cebc3fff9f---------------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em class="nt">Ralph Ammer</em></a></span></span><em class="nt">’s “</em><a class="af nv" href="https://medium.com/@ralphammer/why-perfection-is-boring-1079cb3bf5d1" rel="noopener"><em class="nt">Is perfection boring?</em></a><em class="nt">”</em></p></div></div></div><div class="ab cb qb qc qd qe" role="separator"><span class="qf by bm qg qh qi"></span><span class="qf by bm qg qh qi"></span><span class="qf by bm qg qh"></span></div><div class="gn go gp gq gr"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><figure class="nz oa ob oc od oe nw nx paragraph-image"><a 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