375: Mute those “Dings”

Feb 14, 2025 11m

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Episode Description

When notifications prevent you from focusing on your actual work, you know you're in trouble. Here's how I approach the balance between keeping an eye on the critical parts of the business and focusing on the deep work that needs to get done.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/mute-those-dings/The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/375-mute-those-dings

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AI-Generated Summary

The Anxiety of Notifications

Arvid shares his past struggles with notifications while running Feedback Panda, experiencing high levels of anxiety and stress due to constant error alerts and needed reactions. As the sole technical person, he felt responsible for keeping the platform functional, leading to a taxing cycle of vigilance and response.

Managing Attention and Notifications

Transitioning to his new SaaS venture, Potscan, Arvid discusses the importance of attention management in handling notifications. He recognizes that while customer interactions are crucial, not every alert requires immediate action. Strategic notification management allows him to prioritize critical issues without losing focus on development.

Developing New Strategies

To cope with overwhelming notifications, Arvid has crafted personal protocols by categorizing alerts—only flagging those requiring immediate attention, while logging others for periodic review. This systematic approach helps him maintain productivity while ensuring customer needs are met without distraction.

Finding Balance in Customer Engagement

Arvid underscores the cyclical relationship between feedback from customers and product improvement. Engaging meaningfully with clients on specific needs provides insights, yet he emphasizes that not every minor update or alert needs to disrupt ongoing work.

Setting Boundaries with Monitoring

Discussing metrics and indicators, Arvid focuses on monitoring critical thresholds only, rather than every minor fluctuation. This approach aids in keeping tabs on essential performance indicators while allowing him to dedicate time to significant issues instead of dwelling on trivial alerts.