Do this and you’ll thank yourself on Jan 1st
Executive Summary
A My First Million conversation (episode 865) in which Shaan Puri and Sam Parr talk about using the last 99 days of the year, Parkinson's law, building systems around your weaknesses, running events, and a bathtub analogy for warming up creative output. Sponsor: the description links a HubSpot resource; no HubSpot read appears in the parts covered. PARTIAL COVERAGE: this note covers the 99-days opening, the Parkinson's law and quarters discussion, the systems and events discussion, the bathtub analogy, and the closing, and does not cover every part of the roughly 60 minute episode, including the sections on jelly beans, thinking hats and notebooks. Personal stories and claims are the speakers' own and not independently checked. This is a business and habits conversation, not medical, legal or financial advice.
Key Takeaways
99 days left
Shaan says 99 days sounds short but is long enough to make a mark on the year, and asks listeners whether they have yet.
Quarters should be months
A host says quarters are too long and four-week blocks are better because the increments you measure in decide how long things take.
Parkinson's law
A host says work expands to fill the time you give it, so a default 30-minute meeting finds a way to take 30 minutes.
Systems for weaknesses
A host says you rarely turn a weakness into a strength, so create a system where it cannot show up, like prepaying a trainer.
A weekly venting slot
He says he and his co-founder talk about business complaints only one day a week for 45 minutes, written in advance, which cools him down.
An in-person event
He says the digital world raises the value of real-life events, and he wants to create a second one after his annual basketball event.
The muddy bathtub
He says creative output starts like brown water from an old tub, and those who keep it running see it clear, so the system is warmed up when needed.
The Conversation Breakdown
99 days left
⏱ Untimed topicShaan says 99 days sounds short but is long enough to make a mark on the year, and asks listeners whether they have yet.
Quarters should be months
⏱ Untimed topicA host says quarters are too long and four-week blocks are better because the increments you measure in decide how long things take.
Parkinson's law
⏱ Untimed topicA host says work expands to fill the time you give it, so a default 30-minute meeting finds a way to take 30 minutes.
Systems for weaknesses
⏱ Untimed topicA host says you rarely turn a weakness into a strength, so create a system where it cannot show up, like prepaying a trainer.
A weekly venting slot
⏱ Untimed topicHe says he and his co-founder talk about business complaints only one day a week for 45 minutes, written in advance, which cools him down.
An in-person event
⏱ Untimed topicHe says the digital world raises the value of real-life events, and he wants to create a second one after his annual basketball event.
The muddy bathtub
⏱ Untimed topicHe says creative output starts like brown water from an old tub, and those who keep it running see it clear, so the system is warmed up when needed.
Core Frameworks & Ideas
Parkinson's law - time boxing
Shrink the container and work compacts to fit.
Systems over willpower - the co-founder rule
Design a process so your weakness cannot show itself.
Keep the water running - the warm-up idea
Keep producing through the muddy output so good ideas come.
Actionable Next Steps
- ✓Shorten one recurring meeting by a third and see what happens.
- ✓Set a weekly written slot for business complaints instead of reacting daily.
- ✓Pick one weakness and design a system that blocks it.
- ✓Write for ten minutes a day, even badly, to warm up.
Notable Quotes
“Quarters should be months.”
“work expands to fill the time you give it”
“I'm a big fan of creating systems.”
The One Thing to Remember
The hosts say shorter time boxes, systems that contain your weaknesses and a regular creative warm-up help you get more done.