The 2x2 Matrix
I’ve been thinking radical strategy that Steve Jobs used to turn apple around. A simple 2 by 2 matrix that focuses the large and failing company. Just get these 4 things right, all of them perfectly explained and all will be well.
It’s so perfect that I want to use it for my own life. I have a problem focusing on what I want to do. I’m impressionably and my attention is fleeting. ADHD and the lack of Adderall makes it worse. I’ve become a lot better at finishing what I start, but I’m always looking for improvements.
I like the radical simplicity, if it doesn’t fit in the quadrant I don’t do it. The reason Steve managed to do so much in life is radical focus. He literally only focused on what he cared about and did none of what he didn’t. This got especially pronounced since joining Apple again and even more as he got sick. I’m not there yet and not sure I want to be. But I’ll try it.
Matrix Vi
I won’t exactly fill it with products, I’m not a company. Just the fields I want to focus on.
Looks simple enough, but let me mind dump what each square has behind it:
- Design & Development - keep doing my work, improving on my craft;
- Broadcast - share my work across channels, something I’ve really struggled with over the years;
- Education - continuously learn new things, improve my workflow, try different tools and languages. There’s always more to learn;
- Video Game Work - I want to build a video game I’m proud of and I’m as close as I’ve ever been. I just need to prioritize it.
Further Inquiries
That’s it. Anything that doesn’t fit goes. I do wonder if the first quadrant is too broad. Design & development are separate fields. I mix them together because I want to control the whole widget and prefer working with small teams. Education is mostly research in both of those fields. Maybe I’ll change it in the future.
But for now I think intentional learning is separate from working. In work I learn bits of what I need to get the job done. Intentional learning is committing yourself deeply to your subject. Learning as much of the whole as possible. It is the groundwork of improvement.
Sign Off
So wish me luck with focusing my life through a matrix. If you do the same, please share your matrix with me. I’d be fascinated to see it. ▲