>**This note is semi-private.** It is visible to anyone with the link. Please ask before sharing. ## Next 3 months ### September (last 3 weeks) Focus: - (1 week) P32: Learning, mainly by writing and talking with peers. - (1 week) Review Amble 2, update year plan, plan Amble 3, life admin. - [Project sheet](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WqqEvCXaQgB7fx-2v67OlZ34vclNglL7c3u5CQ5fwKA/edit#) - (2-4 days) "Special project" for 80,000 Hours: draft and share [[Career advice ala Hartree]]. - (1 day / week) 80,000 Hours - (1 day?) Expressions of interest for Reykjavík Coworking Retreat Key dates: - 20: Start Amble 3 (5 weeks) Location: - 13-17: Cornwall - 18: Cornwall => Chichester - 22: London, overnight at Stanstead - 23 onwards: Reykjavík - [Travel doc](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vbtqI8kFeIKhg5Wv1tbL9wcTBvtisIJhc_x5i31qE6A/edit) ### October Focus: - (3-4 weeks) P32: Learning, mainly by writing and talking with peers. - (1 week) London / Oxford meetings and social around EA Global - (2-4 days) "Special project" for [Joseph Walker](https://josephnoelwalker.com/): improve his episode archive - (1 day, maybe) Prep to make Penne d'Agenais Coworking Retreat happen. Key dates: - 24: End Sprint 3 (5 weeks) - 25: London / Oxford social week. Location: - 1-24: Reykjavík - 25: Reykjavík => London - 25-31: London / Oxford ### November Focus: - (3 weeks) P32: Learning, mainly by writing and talking with peers. - (2-3 days) Christmas holiday with parents - (2-3 days) Reykjavik Bridge Club / Penne d'Agenais Coworking Retreat Key dates: - 1-8: Parents visiting in Penne - 7-13: Reykjavik Bridge Club / Penne Coworking Retreat - Florent, Freyr 7-13 - Max, Valgeir 8-13 Location: - 1: London => Penne d'Agenais - 2-30: Penne d'Agenais ### December Focus: - (4 weeks) P32: Learning, mainly by writing and talking with peers. Location: - 1-31: Penne d'Agenais --- ## Amble 3 plan _5 weeks from 20th Sept._ ### Focus projects P32 - (2-3 weeks) [[>Psychology vs moral philosophy]] - [x] First day of reading - [x] First day of writing - [x] First call focussed on this - [ ] ... - [ ] \>= EA Forum post - [ ] \>=1 tweet - (2-4 days) "Special project" for 80,000 Hours: draft and share [[Career advice ala Hartree]]. - [x] \>1 day spent drafting - [x] Shared a draft to at least 2 of BT/AK/HL - [ ] (maybe) Published a semi-public note. - (2-4 days) "Special project" for [Joseph Walker](https://josephnoelwalker.com/): improve his podcast archive - [x] (Sep 17) Confirm spec - [x] Share first draft for feedback - [ ] [delayed due to client timeline] Second draft for feedback - [ ] Release - (2-4 days) Host 1 or 2 Interintellect salons - [x] [[>ii Salon—Most important century]] - (1-4 days) Logistics and planning - [x] October: book London visit accommodation; travel to Penne - [x] Schedule London / Oxford / EAG meetings; prep for EAG - [ ] Personal and family finances - [x] Book Oxford accommodation for 2022Q1 - [x] Confirm Penne d'Agenais setup with Jerome. ### Side projects I will work on these for fun, rest, or if I'm feeling temporarily blocked or low energy about my main projects. I will spend 0-20% of my time on them: - Reading (not directly related to main projects) - Will's manuscript - ... - What is going on with the Deutsch / Popper anti-Bayesianism / anti-probaility thing? - https://www.incrementspodcast.com/14 - https://www.incrementspodcast.com/11 - https://www.incrementspodcast.com/6 - https://www.incrementspodcast.com/7 - https://www.incrementspodcast.com/29 - https://www.incrementspodcast.com/19 - [mtv.pjh.is](https://mtv.pjh.is) - [The Valmy](https://thevalmy.com) - Dating - (probably) Make something for Obsidian October - https://publish.obsidian.md/hub/Events/Obsidian+October+2021 - Trial a TopTal developer for this. - (maybe) Minor IWR update - [Project sheet](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sY6mOEn0Vn8CE91lwVkoNs8Me2WQm5RqLyS0vBC9KG0/edit) - (maybe) Prep for Penne d'Agenais Coworking Retreat, if I'm going to do it. - (maybe) something SaaS-y - Ask a dev to spend 1-3 days making something to a spec I've designed in Figma. #todo - C.f. [[_Micro-SaaS ideas]] - (maybe) Groundwork for EA podcast factory ### Dashboard and metrics See also [[P32 dashboard & lead metrics]]. Lead metrics: - "Showing up" metric: days where I started before 9am, and got in >4 hours focussed work - [ ] Target: 6 / week, unless vacation - EA Forum posts - [ ] Target: >=1 (actual: X) - EA Forum comments - [ ] Target: >=3 (actual: X) - Tweets sent - [ ] Target: >=3 (actual: X) - 1-1 calls with peers - [ ] Target: >=5 (actual: X) - New connections - [ ] Target: >=2 (actual: X) - Notes written / edited - [ ] Target: >=20 (actual: X) - Peer helps (#todo what's the bar here?) - [ ] Target: >5 (actual: X) Lag metrics: _N.B. These don't track "rate of learning"very well, they're much more correlated with "other people getting stuff out of my writing" and "me promoting my stuff"._ - EA Forum karma - [x] Target: >200 (actual: X) - Twitter engagements - [ ] Target: >10 (actual: X) - Twitter follower growth - [ ] Target: >10 (actual: X) - notes.pjh.is unique visits and reading time - [ ] Target: >5% month-on-month growth (actual X) ## Week-by-week outline **W37: Review; planning; life admin & logistics** **W38: Sprint 3 starts; 80K special project; travel to Reykjavík; life admin & logistics** **W39: Psychology & Moral Philosophy; Joseph Walker special project** **W40: Psychology & Moral Philosophy; Joseph Walker special project** **W41: Psychology & Moral Philosophy** **W42: Last week of sprint 3; ii Salon; last week in Reykjavík** **W43: London, Oxford, EAG** ## Do not do - Schedule too many calls and meetings. - Raise my bar compared to Amble 2. - #todo Block out more slots as "busy" on my calendar. - More than 3 days on SaaS side-projects - I really do want to get a few things built, so I am very tempted to try hiring a contractor developer again. - But I don't want to get sucked into this. - Get non-trivially drawn into other people's projects. During this period, hours is okay, but days or weeks is not. ## Key uncertainties; alternatives considered; ideas that didn't quite make the cut - As before, main uncertainty is whether to try hiring a developer, an RA, other assistance. - Maybe start Swagman early and use it to trial a web developer recruited via Toptal.com. #todo - I don't feel I have much more to write here. - Skip this time. ## Prompts and trigger questions - [x] Life areas check - [x] What is the 10x more ambitious version? - Find world class philosophy mentors / tutors and spend hours/days engaging with them. - Yes, try a version of this. #todo - Revisit the exemplar list. - Develop 1 or more fantastic collaborator relationships - Hmm. Make a longlist of candidates, places to find more candidates; maybe advertise that I'm looking for this; 0-3 small trials with top leads. #todo - Recruit an informal "Hartree advisory board"–a couple of people who understand what I'm up to and are willing to share reflect and comment on my amble plans and reviews. - #todo - Do a version of this. - Hire a great research assistant to help me on the "psychology and moral philosophy" question - No idea how I'd find or manage such a person. - Maybe ask: - Jason how he's getting on with his RA. - Fin if he knows someone. - Reduce 80K time commitment by about 50%? (Or: switch to hourly billing rather than fixed commitment) - Default: no. Reconsider if bored. Discuss with BT at next 1-1 (mid-October). - Aim for much more written output, e.g. Tweets, EA Forum posts, blog posts - Hmm. #todo - [x] Pre-mortem: it's the end of the period and something went badly wrong. What was it? - I started dating the wrong gal. - Keep this risk reasonably top of mind. - Stress-test early; front-load hard conversations. - Injuries - I got RSI or back or neck pain. - I crashed my car. - Some other injury due to doing something something silly. - I got a bad case of COVID. - I annoyed someone, or otherwise damaged a relationship. - Hypomania leads to impulsive behaviour that I later regret OR hypomania leads to exhaustion then crash then severe depression OR hypomania becomes manic psychosis. - I've never experienced manic psychosis, or any other moderate-to-severe trouble during "high" periods. No particular reason to think this is on the cards. - This current "high" period has been unusally great and long-lasting. I suspect that's mostly because I've been in excellent conditions to make the most of it. - **Several times over last few years I've wonderered if I should double down more on organising my life around making the most of high phases.** #todo - What might this imply for my next big project / 2-10 year vision...? - I used to consciously organise everything around mitigating low phases, but that's no longer necessary, thankfully. - I've not had significant trouble with impulsive behaviour since early 20s. I'm widely regarded as unusually high on self-control and self-awareness, and I agree with this assessment. - I just re-read some articles on hypomania, mania and bipolar II. Reinforces my belief that, if the Freschines period was hypomanic, it was a pretty mild case, at "worst". - I halved my SSRI dose while at Freschines, per the usual advice. - If things get too intense, I have a bunch of cards in hand. E.g. super obvious super easy thing is further reduce and more strictly regulate caffeine intake. I know who to call. Etc. - Key measures to continue are: - Regular self-awareness prompts. - Regular check-ins with friends, family and colleagues who know my story and who I've recently asked to give me self-awareness feedback. - I messed something up with personal finances, such that either long term prospects are much worse than they should be, OR I'm on course to get a bunch of hassle from French tax authorities. - Suck it up and do a 1-4 day push to sort this stuff. - Read and seek advice. - [x] What should I cut? - Cut the philosophy, skip to something more useful - No—not yet. These themes have been bugging me for a decade, pretty sure there are insights and more stable views nearby. - Joseph Walker? - Nah, I said I'd do it, and I still want to. He's a really cool cat. - Maybe: design in Figma, hire a developer for the coding. - 80K special project? - No, I'm motivated, plausible high upside, I have several sources of "edge". - [x] Does this plan play to my strengths? Does it exploit, develop or help reveal my "edge"? - Yes. - [x] Does this plan make sense from perspective of 2-10 year vision? - Yes - [ ] Thinking sideways; refactoring - Can I do the psychology vs moral philosophy thing in days not weeks? - The right article, or the right conversation, could plausibly get me there. Hm. - I'm coming up fairly blank on this. Try again later. #todo ## Weekly pattern, routine, structure See [[Weekly pattern, routine, structure]]. ## Rough notes Projects brainstorm / longlist: - Learning, mainly by writing and talking with peers. - Continue / wrap on "[[> Big picture]]" - Experiments - write a couple of book reviews - post > 25 tweets in a month - start an actual blog, in addition to the notes site, with a monthly post target. - start keeping a private journal, or start another public one. - put a couple days focussed work into attracting 50-100 new Twitter followers that I'm excited to have. I want to low quantity but high quality, so that my replies are really good. - Read Hewitt-Rawlette PhD properly, plus Gus stuff, then discuss - Another EA forum post - Notable criticisms and alternatives to Bostromian world view. - Hedonism, Hewit-Rawlette - Meta ethics something - Intro to Nietzsche - ... many candidates, e.g. c.f. [[§Interesting questions]] - Autumn-winter logistics / fun - Penne d'Agenais Coworking Retreat? - Attend Yoga retreat at Vero's place? - Organise work retreat at Vero's place? - Not mostly learning projects - Improve The Valmy - [[_Micro-SaaS ideas]] - [[_Next big project longlist]] --- ## W37 List - [x] Review Amble 2 - [ ] P32 - [ ] Girard / Luke Burgis salon - [x] Prep - [x] Attend - [ ] Follow up - [x] Wrap and publish Scheffler post to EA Forum - [x] Reply to ADS - [x] Reply to JC - [x] Publish - [x] Notify HG, SS, others - [ ] Plan Amble 3 - [x] First draft - [x] Seek comment - [ ] Refresh plan for next 6 months - [ ] Final draft - [ ] Decide about Reykjavík Coworking Retreat (lean: no; alt: extremely minimal proposal to a couple friends) - [ ] Life admin and logistics - [ ] France admin ([Project sheet](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WqqEvCXaQgB7fx-2v67OlZ34vclNglL7c3u5CQ5fwKA/edit)) - [ ] Figure out how to receive EA Funds grant - [ ] Find a French accountant I trust - [x] Renew mail redirection - [ ] Parents personal finance - [ ] October London / Oxford visit - [ ] Book refundable London hotel - [ ] Jan - March Oxford visit - [x] Ask CEA about desk - [ ] Accommodation - [ ] Book Oxford AirBnB, ideally refundable - [x] Message people who might know places / flatmates ## W38 Day-by-day **Sprint 3 starts; 80K special project; travel to Reykjavík; life admin & logistics** Mon - [x] \>4 hours 80K day - [x] (afternoon) 4x calls - [x] Start packing - [x] Check EA Forum for Scheffler comments Tue - [x] \>3 hours 80K special project - [x] 12:00 Call: Lynette - [x] 15:00 Haircut - [x] 17:00 Parents personal finance - [x] Finish packing - [x] Check EA Forum for Scheffler comments Wed - [ ] \>1 hours 80K special project - [x] 10:00 Travel to London - [x] 14:30 PCR test - [x] (afternoon) 6x walks / hangs / calls Thu - [ ] \>2 hours 80K special project - [x] 9:00 Coworking - [x] 11:40 Fly to Reykjavík - [x] Check EA Forum for Scheffler comments - [ ] https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/NnYrFzXiTWerhTTkK/link-post-sam-scheffler-conservatism-temporal-bias-and#comments - [ ] Life admin & logistics overflow - [ ] Next steps on assistant search - [ ] (afternoon) Life setup / off Fri - [ ] \>2 hours 80K special project - [ ] (afternoon) Life setup / off Sat - [ ] ? 80K special project - [ ] Plan next week - [ ] Life admin & logistics overflow Sun - [ ] Off / 80K special project ## W39 Day-by-day **Psychology & Moral Philosophy; 80K special project; Joseph Walker special project** Mon - [x] 80K day Tue - [x] 09:00 Call: Accountant - [x] 11:30 Call: Joe W - [x] 16:00 Call: Ben H - [x] 18:00 Call: Parents re Atkins-Ferrie - [x] Day-by-day plan for week - [x] \>1 hour on 80K special project - [x] \>1 hour on Joe W special project - [ ] \>30 mins open reading/writing - [x] \>30 mins on life admin & logistics overflow Wed - [x] \>1 hour on 80K special project - [x] \>30 mins on life admin & logistics overflow - [x] 15:00 Call: Daniel K - [x] 16:00 II Salon prep - [x] 19:00 II Salon: Clowns & Prophets Thu - [x] NO CALLS DAY - [x] \>4 hours on psychology & moral philosophy project kick-off OR start on Joe Walker? - [ ] \>1 hour on 80K special project & share drafts - [x] \>30 mins on life admin & logistics overflow Fri (A: X/Y; G: 1/180) (A: X/Y; G: 1/180) - [x] \>4 hours on psy or Joe Walker - [x] 18:00 Call: Julia Wise Sat - [x]\ >4 hours on psy or Joe Walker - [x] 22:00 II Salon: Envy & Evil — skipped Sun - [x] Morning off. - [x] \>1 hour on 80K special project & share drafts - [x] 17:00 Bridge ## W40 Day-by-day **Psychology & Moral Philosophy; Joseph Walker special project** Mon: - [x] 80K half day - [x] First draft II salon, pencil in date Tue: - [ ] Publish II salon, start promo - [ ] 1400 Call: Lynette B - [ ] 1700 Call: Mike M - [ ] 1815 Call: Rob W - [ ] 1930 Dinner: Michelle B Wed: - [ ] NO CALLS DAY - [X] 1800 Liga Thu: - [X] NO CALLS DAY - [ ] (?) \>4 hours on Joe Walker project - [ ] (afternoon) Pamela prep - [ ] (afternoon) Nigel prep Fri: - [x] MOSTLY OFF - [x] 1800 Nigel Warburton Public Philosophy salon Sat: - [x] \>4 hours on Joe Walker project Sun: - [x] \>4 hours on Joe Walker project - [x] 1500 Walk dog - [x] 1700 Bridge ## W41 Day-by-day **Psychology & Moral Philosophy; Joe Walker overflow** Mon: - [x] \>4 hours on Joe Walker and share - [x] 1x philosophy call with Pamela - [x] 1x 80K ala Hartree call with Pamela Tue: - [x] 80K day Wed: - [ ] INCREDIBLE SMALLS AND LIFE ADMIN DAY - [ ] \>30 mins on II Salon promo - [ ] \>30 mins on Joe Walker Thu: - [ ] PHILOSOPHY DAY - [ ] EA Forum post... Fri: - [ ] (?) JOE WALKER DAY Sat: - [ ] (?) JOE WALKER DAY Sun: - [ ] OFF ## W42 Day-by-day Last week of sprint 3; ii Salon; last week in Reykjavík Spare / stretch: - EA Forum post - Joe Walker website Pause / do not do: - Psychology and moral philosophy (beyond morning writing/reading sessions) Mon: - [x] Morning writing - [x] 80K 1/2 day - [x] 1700 Bridge Tue: - [ ] Morning writing - [ ] Finish "must-do" ii Salon prep - [ ] Finish London & EAG prep - [ ] Life admin clear out - [ ] 1700 Helgafell hike - Kristjan? Kasia? Wed: - [ ] Morning writing - [ ] "Nice to have" / overflow ii Salon prep - [ ] 1300 Afternoon OFF / open reading - [ ] 1800 ?? - [ ] (?) Go to Fljotsdalur or similar for 2 nights Thu: - [ ] Morning writing - [ ] 1500 Off - [ ] 1800 II Salon Fri: - [ ] Morning writing - [ ] 1330 Call: Daniel Kestenholz - [ ] 1730 Huge workout - [ ] 1900 Liga Sat: - [ ] Morning writing - [ ] 0930 Call: Joe Walker as tutor - [ ] 1900 Call: parents - [ ] Pack to leave Sun: - [ ] Morning writing - [ ] 1300 Geraldine - [ ] 1700 Bridge - [ ] (?) Overnight in a nice AirBnB near Keflavik Mon: - [ ] Travel days ## W43 Day-by-day **Writing, Networking (London, EAG), Life admin** ## W44 Day-by-day **A3 review, A4 plan; Swagman; 2-3 days off with parents; life admin** Wed: DAY OFF - Dad birthday - [ ] 0600 Morning writing, blog post - [ ] 0800 Breakfast at Carlane - [ ] 1300 Lunch somewhere nice? - [ ] 18/1900 Dinner somewhere nice ? Thu: A3 review, A4 plan, JW site - [ ] 0600 Morning writing, blog post - [ ] 0800 Breakfast at Carlane - [ ] 0900 S1 - A3 review A4 plan - [ ] 1100 Workout and shower - [ ] 1200 S2 - A3 review A4 plan - [ ] 13/1400 Lunch - [ ] (afternoon) JW site - [ ] 18/1900 Dinner with parents Fri or Sat: - DAY OFF Fri or Sat: A3 review, A4 plan; JW site; life admin - finance - [ ] 0600 Morning writing, blog post - [ ] 0800 Breakfast at Carlane - [ ] 0900 S1 - A3 review A4 plan - [ ] 1100 Workout and shower - [ ] 1200 S2 - OVERFLOW - [ ] 13/1400 Lunch - [ ] (afternoon) JW site - [ ] (afternoon) Life admin - finance - [ ] 18/1900 Dinner with parents Sun (half day): Overflow - [ ] 0600 Morning writing, blog post - [ ] 0800 Breakfast at Carlane - [ ] S1 - Overflow - [ ] Parents last full day Mon: - [ ] 0600 Morning writing, blog post - [ ] 0800 Breakfast at Carlane - [ ] 0900 S1 - [ ] 1100/1130 Leave for Agen - [ ] 1300 Lunch in Agen? - [ ] 1540 Parents train Agen to Paris - [ ] 1550 Max arrives on train Agen W45 A4, 2-3 days off with friends