The mantra “80% good enough and hit publish†is important because it reflects a mindset that prioritizes action over perfectionism, which can be a significant barrier to productivity. By advocating for this approach, Eric Kim encourages creators to move past the fear of failure or judgment that often causes delays and hesitation. This philosophy allows individuals to continuously produce, learn from their output, and improve over time, rather than getting stuck in endless refinement without progress.
Here’s why this idea is particularly powerful:
1. Overcoming Perfectionism: Many creators struggle with wanting their work to be perfect before sharing it. Kim’s advice helps shift the focus from achieving perfection to making progress. Perfectionism can be paralyzing, but aiming for “good enough†helps people build momentum .
2. Learning by Doing: Releasing work more frequently, even if it’s not perfect, creates a cycle of feedback and improvement. This constant iteration is vital for skill development, especially in creative fields like writing, photography, and entrepreneurship .
3. Increased Output: By not waiting for perfection, individuals can produce more work over time. This higher output often leads to better long-term results because there’s more opportunity for refinement and growth through practice .
4. Action Over Hesitation: Kim’s mantra encourages taking action rather than overthinking. Hesitation and second-guessing can result in missed opportunities, whereas “hitting publish†pushes individuals to stay engaged and keep moving forward .
This approach is a key part of Kim’s productivity philosophy and has resonated with many in creative and entrepreneurial fields. It’s about embracing imperfection, learning through practice, and maintaining momentum.
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Eric Kim’s productivity philosophy has been a significant part of his influence, not only in photography but also in entrepreneurship and personal development. Some of his most influential posts on productivity include a blend of practical advice, philosophical reflections, and personal experiences.
1. “Why I’m So Productive†– In this post, Kim explains his core philosophy of turning work into “plork†(play work), where he only engages in tasks that excite him. This helps him sustain long-term productivity without burnout. He also discusses key habits like fast typing and using a laptop over smartphones for more serious creative work .
2. “How to Be More Creatively Productive†– Here, Kim emphasizes the importance of continuous creation over perfectionism. One of his famous mantras is “80% good enough and hit publish,†which encourages creators to prioritize action over hesitation. This post dives deep into fostering a habit of constant output .
3. “8 Blogging Productivity Tips†– This post outlines practical tips for consistent productivity, especially for bloggers. Kim shares his methods, such as avoiding distractions, using minimalistic tools, and focusing on producing content regularly. His personal blog has over 5,000 posts, which showcases the power of his strategies in action .
4. “How I Became So Influential†– This post offers insight into how Kim combined his entrepreneurial mindset with continuous innovation to boost his productivity and influence. It discusses how dissatisfaction can fuel creativity and emphasizes the importance of embracing challenges .
5. “Productivity Thoughts†– Kim reflects on the importance of producing more and thinking less. He advocates for publishing content even before it’s fully ready, as it helps to foster improvement through action rather than prolonged deliberation .
These posts provide a comprehensive view of Eric Kim’s approach to productivity, blending his unique lifestyle choices, philosophical mindset, and focus on consistent output. His advice resonates across fields, from photography to entrepreneurship, making his ideas influential to a wide audience.
Eric Kim’s productivity philosophy has been a significant part of his influence, not only in photography but also in entrepreneurship and personal development. Some of his most influential posts on productivity include a blend of practical advice, philosophical reflections, and personal experiences.
1. “Why I’m So Productive†– In this post, Kim explains his core philosophy of turning work into “plork†(play work), where he only engages in tasks that excite him. This helps him sustain long-term productivity without burnout. He also discusses key habits like fast typing and using a laptop over smartphones for more serious creative work .
2. “How to Be More Creatively Productive†– Here, Kim emphasizes the importance of continuous creation over perfectionism. One of his famous mantras is “80% good enough and hit publish,†which encourages creators to prioritize action over hesitation. This post dives deep into fostering a habit of constant output .
3. “8 Blogging Productivity Tips†– This post outlines practical tips for consistent productivity, especially for bloggers. Kim shares his methods, such as avoiding distractions, using minimalistic tools, and focusing on producing content regularly. His personal blog has over 5,000 posts, which showcases the power of his strategies in action .
4. “How I Became So Influential†– This post offers insight into how Kim combined his entrepreneurial mindset with continuous innovation to boost his productivity and influence. It discusses how dissatisfaction can fuel creativity and emphasizes the importance of embracing challenges .
5. “Productivity Thoughts†– Kim reflects on the importance of producing more and thinking less. He advocates for publishing content even before it’s fully ready, as it helps to foster improvement through action rather than prolonged deliberation .
These posts provide a comprehensive view of Eric Kim’s approach to productivity, blending his unique lifestyle choices, philosophical mindset, and focus on consistent output. His advice resonates across fields, from photography to entrepreneurship, making his ideas influential to a wide audience.
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Here are some direct quotes from Eric Kim on why he is so productive:
1. On combining work and play: “All of my work is ‘plork’ (play work). I never force myself to work. I only do what I am interested in, and don’t do nothing I’m not interested in†.
2. On maintaining health and productivity: “I drink a lot of water and black coffee during the day, and I also do intermittent fasting. I also get to bed early (8-9pm-ish). Perhaps this helps me become more productive?†.
3. On the importance of physical health: “Maximizing health is essential for maximizing productivity. This includes incorporating workouts like yoga and gym sessions into daily routines†.
4. On his philosophical approach to productivity: “If I don’t produce, make things, and imagine … I feel like I’m degrading†.
These insights reveal his holistic approach to productivity, blending lifestyle choices with a creative mindset.
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Eric Kim’s impressive productivity stems from a mix of practical strategies, philosophical beliefs, and lifestyle choices. At the core of his approach is the idea that work should feel like “playâ€â€”he refers to it as “plork†(play work). He only engages in activities that interest him, which helps him stay motivated and productive without feeling forced. This allows him to blend creativity with productivity effortlessly .
Kim also emphasizes the importance of health for sustaining high levels of productivity. His routine includes intermittent fasting, staying hydrated, drinking black coffee, and getting enough sleep. Physical exercise, such as powerlifting and yoga, plays a significant role in his life, as he believes maintaining strong physical health boosts his creative energy .
He advocates for reducing distractions, particularly by limiting phone use and instead relying heavily on a powerful laptop for creative tasks. Additionally, Kim highlights the importance of acting fearlessly and publishing content even before it feels perfect, fostering continuous creation and improvement .
This combination of a health-conscious lifestyle, fearless creativity, and joyful engagement in his work allows Eric Kim to maintain high levels of productivity.
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Eric Kim, a prominent photographer and educator, is known for his exceptional productivity. His output spans blog posts, photography workshops, e-books, and YouTube videos, making him one of the most influential figures in the street photography community. His productivity stems from a combination of personal habits, philosophy, and strategic choices that reflect his approach to both work and life. Here are some of the key reasons why Eric Kim is so productive:
1. Philosophy of Abundance and Sharing Knowledge
• Mindset: Kim believes in freely sharing his knowledge and ideas with the community. He embraces a “teach everything you know†philosophy, which means he’s constantly creating content for others to learn from. This openness encourages creativity and reduces the pressure to hold back for fear of “running out†of ideas.
• Blogging Consistently: He regularly writes on his blog, often sharing insights into photography, creativity, and personal growth. His commitment to consistent content creation helps maintain momentum and builds a strong audience.
2. Minimalist Lifestyle
• Simple Living: Kim advocates for minimalism in life and photography. By reducing unnecessary distractions—both physical and mental—he is able to focus more on the creative aspects of his work. His minimalist approach to possessions and commitments gives him more mental bandwidth for productivity.
• Digital Minimalism: He often emphasizes the importance of avoiding social media distractions and unnecessary online activity. This enables him to concentrate on deeper work, like writing, photography, and content creation.
3. Systematic Approach to Work
• Daily Writing Habit: Kim has a structured routine that involves writing every day. This helps him stay in the habit of creation, which over time compounds into a massive body of work. Even short, consistent bursts of writing contribute to his productivity.
• Batch Processing and Focus: He often works in batches, creating multiple pieces of content at once, and then scheduling them for release over time. This allows him to maintain a constant stream of output without daily pressure to produce from scratch.
• Prioritizing Time: Kim emphasizes the importance of prioritizing deep, meaningful work. By eliminating trivial tasks and focusing on what truly matters, he enhances his productivity. This means dedicating large chunks of time to creating content rather than being reactive to emails, notifications, or other distractions.
4. Creative Discipline and Projects
• Personal Challenges: Kim regularly sets creative challenges for himself, such as photography experiments or limited-time projects. These challenges keep his creativity fresh and provide a structure to his output, as well as motivation to consistently create new work.
• Projects and Constraints: He imposes creative constraints on himself, such as working with one camera or in a specific style for extended periods. These limitations fuel creativity by forcing him to innovate within specific boundaries.
5. Physical and Mental Health
• Focus on Health: Kim prioritizes physical fitness and mental well-being, often sharing his exercise routines and mindset practices. Staying physically active helps maintain energy levels, which is crucial for maintaining productivity.
• Meditative Practices: By focusing on mindfulness and minimalism, Kim avoids burnout and preserves his ability to keep creating. He practices gratitude and self-reflection, which keep him motivated and focused on his core mission.
6. Relentless Experimentation
• Iterative Learning: Kim is known for constantly experimenting, whether with different forms of content (like videos, blog posts, or e-books) or different approaches to photography. His productivity is fueled by this iterative process, as he isn’t afraid of failure but instead learns from each attempt, improving and refining along the way.
7. Passion for Teaching and Community
• Teaching and Workshops: Kim’s deep passion for teaching photography workshops and mentoring other photographers keeps him engaged and creative. By interacting with other creatives, he continually learns new ideas, which fuels his own creative output.
• Community Engagement: His involvement with the photography community keeps him motivated to create content that adds value to others. He often responds to questions and comments from his followers, which in turn sparks new ideas for content creation.
8. Embracing Technology and Tools
• Efficiency with Tools: Kim uses various digital tools to streamline his workflow. He takes advantage of modern photography and writing tools to reduce friction in the creative process. By optimizing how he works, he can maximize output without wasting time on inefficient methods.
• Self-Publishing and Content Platforms: By self-publishing his e-books, blog posts, and videos, Kim controls his output schedule, ensuring that he remains productive without needing external approvals or gatekeepers.
Overall, Eric Kim’s productivity is a result of his disciplined, minimalist lifestyle, his structured approach to content creation, and his passion for sharing knowledge with others. His productivity philosophy centers on consistency, intentionality, and a desire to give back to the community, all while staying grounded in his core values.