“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!’” — Hunter S. Thompson
Hot Spots are a simple approach I use to organize and prioritize where I put my focus.
They help me shine the spotlight on what’s important.
Hot spots are a heat map for my opportunities as well as for my pain or friction. By focusing on the hot spots, I can unleash the best results. The sum is more than the parts.
Hot Spots Help Identify Where to Invest Time and Energy
I can use hot spots to identify, clarify, and simplify where to spend my time and energy, before I maximize and optimize.
It’s first stepping back far enough so I can see the forest from the trees, but then getting close enough to know the differences that will make the difference.
It’s figuring out where my levers are in the system.
Why Hot Spots
There are several reasons for using Hot Spots for mapping out a particular focus:
- Hot Spots help with rapid learning
- Hot Spots are where the action is or should be
- Hot Spots help you see the forest for the trees
- Hot Spots act as your “heat map”
- Hot Spots help you invest your life force across your portfolio
- Hot Spots help you balance what’s important
- Hot Spots help you Sasifice for better results
Let’s walk through each of these ideas about Hot Spots in a little more detail.
Hot Spots Help with Rapid Learning
There’s too much to do, too little time. Mapping out the hot spots helps me quickly identify what’s important.
It helps me frame out a problem space before drilling deep.
It’s an iterative process of learning. Before going too deeply down a dead end, the Hot Spots help me see where I’ll get the most ROI.
I can then explore the finer points in more detail, but at least I have a map of where the gold is.
This has been my single best way for learning domains quickly and effectively.
It’s exponential too.
Once I know where to look, I have an effective filter to find relevant information faster, as well as ask experts in those areas.
Hot Spots are Where the Action Is Or Should Be
It’s where my attention, energy, and focus should be.
By thinking in terms of hot spots, I can imagine a heat map.
On this heat map are the most important things.
The heat map can show either opportunities or pain points.
On the opportunity side, I can imagine new interests, business ideas, or potential game changers.
On the pain side, I can imagine areas that I’ve neglected and are now causing pain. I can also imagine areas that have a lot of friction.
Maybe they are just a little tougher than they should be.
Maybe a bit of focus would help me debottleneck these hot spots.
Hot Spots Help You See the Forest for the Trees
When I’m in the thick of things, it can be tough to see the bigger picture.
This is especially true if I don’t know what to look for.
When I’m right up against a tree, it’s tough to know my next move.
Hot Spots can help you see the forest from the trees in a few ways.
For example, at the macro level, I can think of hot spots in terms of work, personal, and life.
I can think of my life hot spots in terms of mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun. Within each of those hot spots, I can then identify the main things for me that are important.
I can do the same for work and personal.
For example, if I’m not sure where to start, I can at least think of work in terms of my projects, activities and roles.
On the personal side, I can also think of my roles as well as any personal projects.
Hot Spots Act as Your “Heat Map”
What’s on the radar?
I don’t need to know all the details and my map doesn’t need to be complete.
In fact, that would get in the way. I’d spend all my time updating the map to be complete and what’s important would get buried among the details.
Instead, I need to know the threats and opportunities. When I know where to look, I gain insight. I can start to see patterns.
I get a better lens for what’s working and what’s not working. When I know what to look for, I can figure out which levers matter most.
I want to find the right levers to either get unstuck or maximize my results.
I should be able to know at a glance where the pain or opportunity is.
My hot spots are my heat map.
Hot Spots Help You Invest Your Life Force Across Your Portfolio
The hot spots are a portfolio.
They help me more thoughtfully spread my life force across the portfolio.
I already spend my time and energy on a variety of things. Hot spots help me answer the question, where should I invest my time for maximum results?
When I think of my results as a portfolio, it helps me manage risk. I might be over-investing in some areas, while ignoring or over-investing in others.
For example, am I investing in my relationships? Am I investing in fun?
My portfolio will have its ups and downs, but now I can focus on monitoring my hot spots.
They can help me find key indicators for my personal performance.
The portfolio metaphor helps me carve out time for what’s important.
Hot Spots Help You Balance What’s Important
Hot Spots give me a bit of scaffolding to help structure my life.
When I have a set of hot spots, I can better balance my life.
This works in conjunction with the portfolio metaphor.
For example, am I investing the same time and energy in my wok as in my personal life?
Am I making time for fun?
With the hot spots I have a frame for balancing my results.
Hot Spots Help You Satisfice for Better Results
Satisficing is a decision strategy.
It’s how experts can quickly and effectively make decisions under time pressure.
Rather than optimizing, or trying to find the ideal solution, satisficing is about finding the first option that works.
When I have a heat map of hot spots, I can more effectively satisfice across them.
It helps prevent me from robbing Peter to pay Paul, or from spending too much in one area at the expense of the others.
How to Find Your Hot Spots
Here are some of the ways I use to find Hot Spots:
- Look at where the action is.
- Ask experts.
- Know the buzz.
- Find the centers of gravity.
- Think in tag clouds.
How To Test Whether You’re Using the Right Hot Spots
Here are some simple questions I use to test whether I have found a good hot spot:
- Is it actionable?
- Is it relevant?
- Is it a lever? (i.e. If I spend time and energy there, does it produce significant results?)
I’ll be providing examples of Hot Spots I use in future posts.
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