Time, intensity, and direction
Time, intensity, and direction are all generally force multipliers of progress.
Time and intensity — to focus greatly on a specific problem for a long period of time — are perhaps the most straight forward to deploy.
Direction, however, can be tricky. It requires really good judgement — the ability to consistently identify the most impactful activity or question to work on out of dozens or even hundreds of potential activities or questions.
Today I learned this lesson the hard way when I spent half the day working on a problem that was already solved. Had I scoped out my work just a little bit more carefully and exercised better judgement this morning, I would have accomplished the same amount with time to spare.
Developing good judgement requires you to not just be ready to work, but to think critically — and often — about how to work.