The Production Principle will change your life. Technology dominates our life. Everywhere you turn there is a television, a computer, and a mobile phone. In modern society, it is hard to do anything without being inundated with algorithms and screens. Many people are worried about the effect these new technologies will have on us over the long-run. Most parents try not to give their children computers or phones. Others do their best to limit their screen time. And adults are no better off. There is a growing body of research that suggests people are becoming addicted to their electronic devices at an unprecedented rate. But the problem with shutting off these devices and avoiding them all together is you will lose access to information and productivity. It is undeniable how helpful computers, phones, and other devices can be for anyone with curiosity and capacity for work. So what is the balance? How do you get the benefit of technology devices without being imprisoned by their negative side-effects? Venture capitalist @KTmBoyle has the best answer — she calls it The Production Principle. Here is how Katherine describes the principle: "My rule for tech is simple, one I call The Production Principle: “Produce more than you consume.” It’s easy to measure and remember. And it’s the rule guiding tech usage in our house for everyone, child or adult. If kids are sitting on their phones scrolling social media and consuming memes and slop without your knowledge, that’s not good and probably not very healthy. But if they’re making things, coding, interacting with videos that teach them to build things online and off, that’s generally a positive thing, especially if you’re engaged in these activities with them as a parent. Computers and screens govern so many fields today. By the time my children are teenagers, I imagine screens and code will govern much, much more of the world around us. I don’t plan to hide this from them because I don’t want them to be afraid of the modern world, or to sense that they can’t control their relationship to it. Instilling the Production Principle early changes their relationship with technology. It becomes theirs to master, not a nebulous thing to fear." This principle is great because it focuses on what you are doing with technology, rather than forcing technology to be classified in a binary good or bad designation. The truth is technology can be both. It really depends on how you use it, which is why The Production Principle forces you to be productive or to put down your device. Once I started implementing The Production Principle, my screen time decreased and my productivity increased. Double win. Now I try my best to use technology for what it was originally intended…being more efficient and productive. And it never hurts to have accountability partners. I have relied on @polinapompliano to constantly ask me, “Are you being productive or are you wasting time?” whenever I am on my phone. I do the same thing with her. Together we have done a great job of overcoming the perils of technology, while leveraging the great advancements to our advantage. Stay vigilant about how you use devices moving forward. The Production Principle works. This is an excerpt from my new book, How To Live An Extraordinary Life Volume 2. You can buy a copy of the book here: amazon.com/How-Live-Extraord…

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