#29 / In the Bustle of Life, You Need Your Own Pace Controller
Hello my friend! š
This week, my work pace was incredibly hectic, almost pushing the limits of my normal capacity. However, thanks to two days of serious rest over the weekend, Iām now feeling energized. So, my biggest takeaway this week is:Ā Amidst various busy rhythms, you must have your personal pace controller.
Elaborating on this, due to a work project, I had to complete a concept design within two days as part of the submission to our CPO. Itās a part of the strategic planning for our companyās future mobile project group, thus the standards were high and the pressure intense. With limited time, it required intense, brain-draining, high-energy team collaboration. Meanwhile, one of my personal projects outside work also needed design updates due to an approaching deadline. The convergence of these two tasks significantly amplified my anxiety.
My approach was to focus exclusively on one task at a time during work hours, prioritizing work tasks over personal projects and maintaining good communication. These are the specifics of the work, which I can discuss in detail later.
Midweek, I started planning the weekend, how to best use the time. Though there was still a lot to do on the project, and working overtime could have eased the pressure for the following week, I decided to dedicate these two days for self-regulation and rest.
So, over Saturday and Sunday, I devoted my time and energy entirely to family, leisure, and relaxation: watching series Iām following, playing games, exercising, walking, reading, organizing personal notes, etc. All these activities helped rejuvenate my energy. After two days, Iām fully recharged and ready for the upcoming week. Even if it remains busy, my energy is replenished. This is my rhythm, used to restore my energy. And this kind of restoration is long-term and sustainable, helping me continue to face work pressures.
Iāve always adhered to this principle:Ā Donāt push yourself to the limit. You can get close, but the closer you are to the limit, the shorter that intense state should last, and always leave time to relax and buffer. People are like springs; you can compress yourself to the edge of elasticity, but you must let it relax afterward. This principle is simple, but in practice, it seems everyone struggles with it to some extent.
This is my biggest takeaway for the week, which I wanted to share with you, hoping it might be helpful or inspiring.
Hereāre a few other things Iād like to share with you today š
Redefining Execution
The Fine Line of Humor
What are the priorities of learning AI for us?
Getting an Eye Exam
How to Generate a UX Design Poster with Dall-E (Without Knowing Prompt)
Redefining Execution
In the past, I equated execution with the personal ability to get things done. However, my current understanding of execution has deepened to encompass persuasion as well. Often, oneās efforts alone arenāt enoughāitās about using various methods to persuade and motivate people with differing opinions to work towards a common goal. That is the essence of true execution.
A personās individual expertise can be substantial, but without the power to execute and influence others, taking on significant projects becomes unfeasible. My own journey has been about mastering self-management, yet I recognize that my ability to impact others professionally still needs enhancement.
The Fine Line of Humor
Itās crucial to be mindful of the boundaries of humor. The highest level of humor should bring joy and laughter without offending others, reminiscent of the styles of Chen Peisi, Zhu Shimao, and Charlie Chaplin. However, itās all too easy to inadvertently cross the line.
I recall a job interview I attended shortly after arriving in New Zealand, which included two Westerners and an individual of Asian descent. I naturally gravitated towards the Asian interviewer, referencing examples from my work experience in Asia more frequently. To my surprise, a French lady accused me of racial bias on the spot for focusing solely on Asian-related matters.
Nowadays, to ensure my humor is āsafer,ā I resort to self-deprecation. Many high-caliber international comedians employ self-deprecating humor not only for safety but also because itās more readily accepted by others.
What are the priorities of learning AI for us?
I tweeted that to learn AI, one needs to grasp the main trunk before the branches. But for the average person, what constitutes the main trunk, and what are the branches? Here are some of my thoughts:
First is the relationship between the individual and AI. In your daily work and life, which aspects could potentially involve AI? Which aspects do you not want AI to intervene in? You need to have your own sorting out first. For example, for me, I donāt want AI to be involved in my family and child-rearing relationships. I also donāt want it to help me do those āexercises,ā such as reading, exercising, etc.
Secondly, regarding your current job, which tasks could be replaced by AI? Treat it as a tool you can hire at a low cost, rather than a threat.
Additionally, consider the things you want to do; which are the tasks you donāt want to do or donāt have the time and energy for? Could you delegate them to AI?
These three steps are the reflection phase. After completing them, you can start preparing for specific learning and application
Getting an Eye Test
The optimistic optometrist: āWow, your nearsightedness has improved! Congratulations! Great job, buddy!ā Me: šš
The realistic sales associate: āYour nearsightedness has decreased. Thatās normal for your age.ā Me: š“š
How to Generate a UX Design Poster with Dall-E (Without Knowing Prompt)
Ever wondered how a single image can capture the essence of a UX designerās career? Welcome to Bear Academy, where your curiosity sparks creative genius! Today, Iām pulling back the veil on the process thatās had Twitter abuzz: using Dall-E to create an iconic image for my blog. Get ready to embark on a visual journey, a step-by-step tutorial thatās as enlightening as it is practical.
Have a great one and see you soon!
**Bear Academy Newsletter@2023**
Bear Academy Newsletter
Non-crap tips and thoughts on design, product and technology āØ
š»Ā Bear Who?
Hi there š, Iām Bear, a seasoned Product Designer with 15 years of overall design experience and six years in product design, transforming the user experiences for millions š
As an Apple Award-Winning Podcast Host at BearTalk and a Design Mentor at Springboard and CareerFoundry, I apply my self-taught design skills and science background to solve complicated problems and mentor budding designers š
In my downtime, youāll find me reading, drawing, podcasting, and making videos about everything from tech to design and productivity šØāšØ
š¤Ā Work
š¼Ā What I doļ¼Product Designer at Xero
šĀ I also doļ¼Design Mentor at Springboard and CareerFoundry / Founder at Bear Academy
š¤Ā Side hustleļ¼Podcast host at Award-winning podcast BearTalk
š” Goodies
Bear AcademyĀ - my courses around UX Design, AI, etc
Bear Academy NewsletterĀ - my free newsletter, which you are reading now
Beartalking.comĀ - all my posts, English and Chinese
Youtube.com/@BearliuĀ - A video is worth a thousand words
š¬Ā Contact
https://twitter.com/bearbig](https://twitter.com/bearbig) - Majorly I post in Chinese
bear@beartalking.comĀ - The old fashion email way
LinkedIn.com/in/bearliuĀ - My professional life