After 27 years, I finally beat productivity! (Simplest ADHD System)

Summary

Ali Aluli, a systems engineer and post-doctoral fellow at NASA, shares his strategy for boosting productivity and managing ADHD. He simplifies the concept into increasing 'signal'—activities that align with goals—and decreasing 'noise'—distractions. Aluli encourages viewers to define their goals, identify signals and noise in their lives, and stay accountable by keeping a visual reminder of their objectives and the actions needed to achieve them. He also hints at a follow-up video that will delve into the execution system for these signals.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Ali Aluli is a systems engineer and a post-doctoral fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• 🎯 The video aims to demonstrate a simple analogy for achieving high productivity and overcoming ADHD.
• 📊 Productivity is described as a balance between 'signal' and 'noise', where increasing signal and reducing noise is key.
• 🔬 Ali's analogy is derived from his PhD in electrical engineering, specifically satellite communication systems.
• ✍️ Viewers are encouraged to identify their personal 'signal' activities that help achieve goals and 'noise' that distracts from them.
• 🎯 Defining a clear goal is the first step to understanding what actions are 'signal' and what are 'noise'.
• 💡 Signal activities are those that directly contribute to achieving one's goals, while noise are distractions.
• 💼 Ali gives personal examples of signal activities like working on ads and optimizing systems for his business.
• 🛑 Noise examples include late-night Instagram scrolling, arguing on social media, and engaging with toxic individuals.
• 🔑 Understanding the 'why' behind one's goals can increase emotional connection and motivation.
• 📝 Writing down goals, signals, and noise can provide clarity and self-accountability.
• 📈 Having a visual reminder of the signal-to-noise concept can help maintain focus and productivity.

Q & A

Who is Ali Aluli and what is his professional background?

Ali Aluli is a systems engineer and a post-doctoral fellow at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

What is the main topic of the video that Ali Aluli is discussing?

The main topic of the video is about increasing productivity and managing ADHD by using the analogy of signal to noise.

What is the analogy Ali Aluli uses to explain productivity and ADHD?

Ali Aluli uses the analogy of 'signal to noise' where signal represents actions that help achieve goals, and noise represents distractions from those goals.

What are the two variables Ali suggests focusing on to improve productivity and manage ADHD?

The two variables are 'signal', which you want to increase, and 'noise', which you want to reduce.

How does Ali define 'signal' in the context of productivity?

'Signal' is defined as activities or tasks that help you achieve your goals.

How does Ali define 'noise' in the context of productivity?

'Noise' is defined as distractions or activities that prevent you from achieving your goals.

What is the first step Ali suggests to improve productivity according to the script?

The first step Ali suggests is to define your goal clearly.

Can you provide an example of 'signal' from the script?

An example of 'signal' from the script is working on paid ads, optimizing products, and meeting with teams to ensure client satisfaction and system improvement.

Can you provide an example of 'noise' from the script?

An example of 'noise' from the script includes scrolling Instagram late at night, arguing with people on Facebook, and having too many tabs or notifications open.

What does Ali suggest doing with the understanding of 'signal' and 'noise'?

Ali suggests making a list of what is 'signal' and 'noise' in your life and placing it somewhere visible for daily accountability.

How does Ali address the issue of memory and motivation in individuals with ADHD?

Ali suggests having a visual reminder of goals and the distinction between 'signal' and 'noise' in a place where it is seen daily to combat memory issues and maintain motivation.

What additional resource does Ali mention for executing 'signal' effectively?

Ali mentions a separate video he made about the right system for sitting down and executing 'signal' effectively.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Boosting Productivity with Signal-to-Noise Analogy

In this video, Ali Aluli, a systems engineer and post-doctoral fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, introduces a simple yet powerful analogy to enhance productivity and manage ADHD. He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between 'signal' and 'noise' in one's life. 'Signal' refers to activities that contribute to achieving one's goals, while 'noise' represents distractions that hinder progress. Ali encourages viewers to identify their personal goals and differentiate between what helps them move towards those goals and what detracts from them. He shares his own example of growing his business, 'Next Level Systems,' and illustrates how to focus on signal activities such as optimizing products and marketing strategies, while reducing noise like social media scrolling and engaging with toxic individuals. The analogy is drawn from his experience in satellite communication systems, where maintaining a strong signal is crucial to avoid being overwhelmed by noise.

05:00

🎯 Defining Goals and Prioritizing Actions for ADHD Management

Building upon the signal-to-noise analogy, Ali Aluli delves deeper into the process of defining one's goals and understanding the 'why' behind them. He suggests that a compelling and emotionally charged goal will naturally lead to better focus and productivity. Ali advises viewers to write down their goals and the reasons behind them, emphasizing the importance of self-accountability. He recommends visual reminders, such as printing out the goals and placing them where they are constantly visible, to counteract the forgetfulness and short-term focus often associated with ADHD. Ali also mentions the benefits of having a clear visual representation of signal and noise, like a graph, to serve as a daily reminder of the actions that contribute to or detract from productivity. He concludes by hinting at a follow-up video that will provide a system for executing these signal activities effectively, catering to those who understand what needs to be done but struggle with the execution.

Keywords

💡Productivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency with which an individual or system performs tasks and achieves goals. In the context of the video, it is the ultimate aim of the speaker to improve personal productivity, particularly for individuals with ADHD. The script mentions that productivity is often oversimplified and that the speaker aims to demonstrate a simple analogy to enhance it.

💡ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The video discusses how the speaker has overcome challenges related to ADHD to achieve high levels of productivity, using a specific analogy to manage distractions and focus on goals.

💡Signal-to-Noise Ratio

In the script, the signal-to-noise ratio is used as an analogy to describe the balance between productive actions (signal) and distractions (noise). It is a concept borrowed from electrical engineering, where it measures the level of a desired signal compared to the level of background noise. The speaker suggests that increasing the signal-to-noise ratio is key to enhancing productivity.

💡Systems Engineering

Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on designing and managing complex systems over their life cycles. The speaker identifies as a systems engineer, and this background informs his approach to tackling productivity and ADHD, by applying principles from systems engineering to personal productivity management.

💡Neurobiology

Neurobiology is the study of how the nervous system produces behavior. The script mentions that the speaker has made videos about neurobiology, suggesting that understanding the brain's role in behavior and productivity is important. It is implied that knowledge of neurobiology can help in managing ADHD and enhancing productivity.

💡Goals

Goals are the targets or aims that an individual sets for themselves. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of defining one's goals as a first step in managing productivity and noise. The script provides an example of a goal to grow a business to a certain number of users per day.

💡Signal

In the context of the video, 'signal' refers to activities or actions that contribute positively towards achieving one's goals. The speaker uses the term in the analogy of signal-to-noise ratio, where increasing the signal means focusing more on goal-oriented tasks, such as creating ads or optimizing products.

💡Noise

Noise, in the video's analogy, represents distractions or activities that do not contribute to achieving one's goals. Examples given in the script include scrolling through Instagram late at night or engaging in unproductive arguments on social media, which detract from the pursuit of goals.

💡Satellite Communication Systems

Satellite communication systems are used for transmitting signals over long distances via satellites. The speaker's experience with these systems during his PhD has influenced his approach to productivity, particularly in understanding the importance of maintaining a strong signal amidst background noise.

💡Self-Accountability

Self-accountability is the ability of an individual to recognize and take responsibility for their actions. The video suggests that having a visual reminder of one's goals and the distinction between signal and noise can increase self-accountability, thus improving productivity.

💡Frameworks and Algorithms

Frameworks and algorithms are systematic approaches or step-by-step procedures for solving problems or achieving objectives. The speaker mentions using these tools in his company to help entrepreneurs be more productive, indicating that structured methodologies can be beneficial in managing tasks and distractions.

Highlights

Ali Aluli, a systems engineer and post-doctoral fellow at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, discusses his approach to achieving high productivity and overcoming ADHD.

The video introduces a simple analogy of 'signal to noise' to explain productivity, emphasizing the importance of increasing signal and reducing noise.

Aluli shares his background in electrical engineering and satellite communication systems, relating it to the concept of signal and noise in productivity.

Productivity is simplified as a game of two variables, signal and noise, rather than a complex process requiring numerous tools or templates.

The audience is invited to participate in an exercise to identify signal and noise in their lives, starting with defining their goals.

Signal is defined as activities that help achieve goals, while noise is anything that distracts from those goals.

Aluli provides a personal example of his goal to grow his business, 'Next Level Systems', and identifies related signals and noise.

Examples of signal activities include working on paid ads, optimizing products, and meeting with teams to ensure client satisfaction and innovation.

Examples of noise include late-night Instagram scrolling, arguing on social media, and engaging with toxic people.

The importance of understanding why you want to achieve your goal is emphasized for emotional connection and motivation.

Aluli suggests writing down goals, signals, and noise, and placing them where they are visible daily for self-accountability.

For those with ADHD, having visual reminders is crucial due to potential struggles with memory and focus on long-term goals.

The video offers a visual graph as a tool to help viewers stay aware of productive and unproductive actions.

Aluli discusses the challenges of short-term focus and instant gratification tendencies in individuals with ADHD.

The video concludes with a teaser for another video by Aluli on systems for executing productive actions.

The analogy of signal to noise is presented as a universal method to improve productivity, regardless of the complexity of one's work.

Aluli's approach is based on personal experience and scientific understanding, offering a practical yet profound insight into productivity.

Transcripts

hey guys my name is Ali aluli I am a

systems engineer and a post-doctoral

fellow at the NASA jet propulsion lab

and in this video I want to show you how

I beat productivity and I beat ADHD and

I was able to finally achieve the final

level of productivity using a very

simple analogy and we're going to do

something really cool in this video

where I'm going to have you do an

exercise with me right now in the video

that once you see it the way I see it

you you'll never go back to the same way

and you'll be changed forever okay so

what I mean by um this this analogy over

here is is you can see over here there's

a graph that says signal to noise right

there's noise and their signal I've made

more videos that are like in-depth like

dopamine chemicals brain structure

neurology neurobiology Neuroscience all

that systems all that cool stuff um I do

have these videos that go diver uh

deeper uh into that stuff but I want to

make a very simple concept here very

very clear productivity and AD in

general like from the productive

perspective

is just a game of two variables signal

and noise you want to increase noise you

want to increase signal and you want to

reduce noise and I'll give you examples

of how I do that in my life and examples

of how you can do that in your life as

well and this is a concept I have

learned from doing my PhD in electrical

engineering with a focus on satellite

communication systems because very often

what we need to do is when two

satellites are talking to each other

from very very far distances we want to

make sure that the by the time the

signal reaches the other satellite uh

there's still uh it's still strong

enough where it does not get drowned out

by the noise of the other electronics

for ADHD or for productivity in general

is very simple again people make a

productivity to be very very complicated

you need all these million complicated

things that you need to do you need to I

Don't Know download notion templates and

I can't stand that notion templates if

you use them God bless I'm not judging

but you don't need it what you need is a

very simple understanding what's going

on here so what I'm going to go ahead

and do is have you with me right here if

you have a pen and paper or if you have

something uh to write with is we're

going to identify what is signal and

what is noise in your life right and

basically signal is things that you want

to do that help you achieve your goals

noise is things that are distracting you

from your goals that are that that

you're not trying to uh achieve and the

only way to achieve again Harmony is to

have a a strong gap between signal and

noise so we're going to go ahead and do

before we Define what is signal and what

is

noise uh you need to First Define your

goal right what is your goal so I'm

going to go ahead and give you a very

personal example so for example I have

my full-time at job I have my full-time

job at Nasa and then um and one of my

one of my companies that I'm running

Next Level systems uh we're trying to

help entrepreneurs uh be more productive

more useful to the world make better

decisions using systems using algorithms

using Frameworks I learned in

engineering um so let's say my goal

right now is to uh let's say grow my

business again it's kind of a very

simple uh goal let's say grow my grow

next level systems to 10 users per day

okay let's say that that's the goal that

I'm trying to optimize for right and

then it's I'm I'm it's going to be as

simple as what what is signal what are

the things I need to be doing right I to

like uh sit down and make paid ads work

obsessively on

product make systems more optimized

these are obviously things that I need

to do right like uh in order to to

increase likelihood because if I have a

great product then people are going to

be a lot more likely to buy it and if I

have a great uh if I have great Market

marketing and if I have great

advertising then people are a lot more

likely to find out that I have a product

in the first place that can help them

right uh so like uh signal uh meet with

Team to ensure um clients are happy and

system is improving meet with software

team to ensure we are innovating things

of that nature right this is signal

these are things I need to do right and

then noise is going to be something like

and I'm going to make this a bit smaller

just because I really want want it to be

like on a single page again this

exercise seems like very very simple but

it's very powerful noise is going to be

something like I don't know

scrolling Instagram late at

night um I don't know like something

like arguing with people on Facebook

having too many tabs open um having too

many notifications turned on toxic

people uh that's actually

something about ADHD is because like

people with ADHD especially higher up on

the ad spectrum because you're very

driven by curiosity and Intrigue and

because of your dopamine reuptake issues

unfortunately you can fall into uh

relationships or friendships or things

that nature with toxic people and you

have to kind of uh I don't know get

yourself aware to to avoid um these kind

of interactions but basically what you

go ahead and do is you figure out what

you're trying to do and and and if you

want to take it a level deeper you can

say why why do I want to do this well if

I do this then um like um I get to help

so many people live better Happy lives I

get to feel better by

myself knowing I'm helping people and

putting my knowledge to use and I get to

make some side income for example so I

can I don't know go do whatever I want

hire amazing people go travel the world

see all these these cool things uh

obviously the more compelling this is

the more emotional this is the more

likely your goal is going to make more

sense but I would strongly encourage you

just go ahead sit down write down what

is what what are you trying to do right

what is it really that you want to do

deep down why do you want to do it and

make a list of what is signal and what

is noise and if you want to be hardcore

print that print this page right here

you can go and you click print wherever

I don't know the print um over here and

put it somewhere in your face where you

see it every single day

because what that's going to do is going

to give you an extreme level of self-

accountability because now when you're

like scrolling Instagram late at night

or when you're arguing with people on

Facebook instead of I don't know sitting

down and running paid ads because that's

what you want to do because this is the

life you want to live that there's no

escaping that it's in your face right

especially if you're higher up on the ad

ADHD Spectrum you will tend to struggle

with memory and you're going to forget

what your goal is and you're going to

forget why you're doing it and because

again people who are ADHD are are kind

of more short-term focused instant

gratification focus a lot less likely to

be motivated by long-term goals having

the thing like straight up in your face

like is going to be very very helpful

because then at least like you can be

honest with yourself and say okay you

know what like this is what I'm doing

I'm doing too much noise and if you want

to be even more hardcore you can have

this graph over here this visual helps

me so much so what you can do is you can

basically in addition to having this

here um you can basically go

and um let's see we're going to insert

this guy here and have this picture or

like a picture similar to it and let's

again you can make this a little bit

smaller just so it all fits in one page

you can make you can make this one like

centered what not but the idea is like

having some type of reminder in your

face of like the actions that you can do

to be productive and the actions that

are not going to help you be productive

that alone is like 80 90% of the battle

again with distraction with things that

nature obviously this is not like that

and all be all cure but believe it or

not this is how I beat productivity it's

just by conscious reminding and

awareness of what I need to do now

here's the second part you need to

actually once you figure out what is

signal and how to eliminate noise you

need the right system for actually

sitting down and executing a signal

because you're telling me okay Ali I get

it I know I need to sit down and work on

my business I know I need to sit down

and write ads but I can't do them and

you are in luck because I made a video

about that should pop up somewhere over

here so go ahead and watch that peace l