Maker Manager Time Blocks

A framework for living an "unscheduled life" that maximizes creative output and personal freedom while maintaining productivity.

Core Philosophy of Unscheduled Life

• Do the most important/interesting thing right now, not what was scheduled weeks ago
• Focus on being effective rather than efficient
• Prioritize "offense" over "defense" - proactively choose what matters vs reacting to others' priorities
• Calendar should reflect true priorities, not others' demands

Time Blocking Structure

• Break day into "sprints"
  • Morning sprint
  • Afternoon sprint
  • Optional night sprint for night owls
• Each sprint is 90-120 minutes of focused work
• Schedule 3 hours but expect ~90 minutes of peak productivity
• Leave large blocks of open space between sprints

Implementation Strategy

1. Start with one "sacred" day per week
2. Expand to two days
3. Gradually transition role/work to support this schedule
4. Eliminate most recurring meetings
5. Keep calendar mostly empty for spontaneous important work

Key Principles

• Big thing is the first thing - do most important work early
• Focus on effect over efficiency
• Have one clear "win" defined each day
• Ask "What one thing would make today successful?"
• Avoid death by 1000 thirty-minute meetings

Relationship Management

• Use "barbell strategy"
  • Lots of quick, casual text exchanges
  • Few but deep, full-day interactions
• Be willing to say no to most meeting requests
• Accept there will be trade-offs with responsiveness
• Prioritize depth over frequency in relationships

Requirements for Success

• Must transition away from operational/management role
• Takes time (8-10 years) to fully implement
• Requires comfort with saying no frequently
• Need strong boundaries and ability to disappoint others
• Must be willing to accept relationship trade-offs