CISO Tradecraft® #267 - Busy is the New Stupid (with Ross Young)
13 snips
Jan 12, 2026 In this insightful discussion, Ross Young, a security leader and author of the 'Busy Is The New Stupid' framework, tackles the paradox of being busy yet unproductive. He outlines how distractions like excess meetings and multitasking undermine effectiveness. Young introduces techniques for defending time, such as calendar audits and task batching, while critiquing the always-on culture that erodes boundaries. He emphasizes prioritizing impactful work and invites the community to contribute to evolving the framework, offering new perspectives on productivity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Work On One Task At A Time
- Avoid multitasking and context-switching; work on one task at a time to preserve mental context.
- Close unrelated apps and silence pings while doing deep work to reduce memory-swap costs of switching.
Silence Distractions During Deep Work
- Turn off notifications and ignore messages while preparing presentations or during meetings.
- Use short dedicated periods to check messages after completing focused work to prevent interruptions.
Always-On Culture Erodes Boundaries
- Always-on culture and expectation erosion slowly make you reachable 24/7 and blur healthy boundaries.
- Clear escalation rules (call only for true emergencies) restore realistic availability and protect time.