Only 8% of people finish their yearly goals. At the same time, the percentage of people feeling a sense of meaning of purpose in their life is falling. These two numbers are connected: the more we struggle to accomplish meaningful projects, the less meaningful our lives might feel. In this episode, Cal looks back to a classic article he wrote nearly twenty years ago to both better understand why this problem is getting worse and how we can solve it.

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Below are the questions covered in today’s episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE:

(0:00) How do I finish meaningful projects?

QUESTIONS:

(39:36) A new study about children with cellphones having poorer reading comprehension

(43:14) A nurse practitioner in search of deep work

(45:45) Using AI to improve both your work and life

(52:24) A recent Wall Street Journal article about AI and jobs

WHAT CAL IS UP TO:

(1:00:07) What Cal is up to

Orality and Literacy (Walter Ong)

Lost (Rachel Harrington)

Sapiens (Yuval Harari)

More Everything Forever (Adam Becker)

Disneyland the Rise of Automation (Roland Bethencourt)

A Brief History of Intelligence (Max Bennett)

YOUTUBE TITLE:

– How to Actually Achieve Your Goals (a Proven System)

LINKS:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow
Order a signed copy of “Slow Productivity” here: https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/science-says-92-percent-of-people-dont-achieve-goals-heres-how-the-other-8-perce.html

https://news.gallup.com/poll/711836/gen-zers-missing-sense-meaning-purpose-life.aspx

https://calnewport.com/the-einstein-principle-accomplish-more-by-doing-less/

https://www.wsj.com/business/big-companies-are-starting-to-hire-again-defying-predictions-of-ai-wipeout-f4974e99?mod=hp_lead_pos10

https://futureoftuesday.substack.com/p/techno-analog

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/owning-a-cell-phone-associated-with-poorer-reading-comprehension-schoolchildren

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music,  and Kieron Rees for episode music.