Ask HN: How do you decide what's worth working on?

[KennyFromIT]

The HN community is full of capable and driven individuals. Many can solve almost any problem they put their mind to. When this is the case, it's often important to focus on the most important things worth working on. I'm wondering, how do you chose what's worth your time and energy?

[TheAlchemist]

To quote Derek Sivers "Hell yeah, or No" !

When you have the choice (which a lot of people here do), you should only do things that you think are really exciting and meaningful for you. In case you have doubts (or rather your brain train to rationalize a bit too much), you can always judge with a coin toss if it's worth it or not ! Not the actual result of the toss, no. But as soon as the coin is in the air, you will immediately know which side of the coin you want to appear.

[tikkun]

For me: I only do the "activities that I can't help but do" or the "goals that I can't not reach"

The inputs that I can't not do, and the outputs that I can't not have.

This is a good way to simplify things. I have so many things I want to do. So I ask - am I so compelled to do this certain activity that I can't help it? Or, am I so compelled to get this certain outcome that I can't not make it happen?

If you're struggling with too many things, it's a helpful filter. And you can further filter by asking 'and will that remain true for the next X weeks/months/years' - i.e. was it something that I couldn't not work on 5 years ago? If so then it'll probably also be a can't not 5 years from now.

If you're not struggling with too many options then I don't think it's a good filter, but if you are then it's helpful for stripping your list down to the essentials.

[082349872349872]

> Do only, what only you can do — EWD

[scrapheap]

I think I'll carry on doing somethings that other people can do as well. After all I'm quite fond of breathing, eating, drinking, etc. :D

[KennyFromIT]

Yes, but what if the one skill you are lacking is the ability to identify what only you can do?

[dkga]

Usually the tasks within my ability bounds and technological and time constraints that seem to have the greatest marginal contribution to the community I serve. But I always reserve a slot for whack blue-sky thinking ideas that might bomb but might push the envelop if just a little bit if they pan out. Sometimes they do...

[ineedausername]

I will choose what pays the most.

That way i can buy time in the future to work on what i enjoy or find meaningful. At least that's how i think about it lately.

[abdabab]

I tried that. It didn’t work out for me. Politics, organizational instability, bad executives and a never stopping pager are all insufferable. It kills the very thing, the entirety of joie de vivre that is the main reason for making money.

Now choosing job is a multi-variable analysis for me. I pay more attention to the executives.

[ineedausername]

How do you figure out anything about them? You can't really tell from an interview right?

[abdabab]

Mainly Blind, LinkedIn and searching. After an offer is made and if you’re taking time to decide, recruiters often sets up a meeting with an executive to talk to you.

[gregjor]

Whatever I will get paid for.