#694: Sam Corcos, Co-Founder of Levels — The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Assistants, 10x Delegation, and Winning Freedom by Letting Go (Plus: Creating Leverage with Tools, Systems, and Processes) | Science vs

Intro

In this episode of the “Science vs” podcast, host Wendy Zukerman interviews Sam Corcos, the co-founder of Levels. They discuss the ultimate guide to virtual assistants, 10x delegation, and winning freedom by letting go. They also explore the importance of tools, systems, and processes in creating leverage.

Main Takeaways

Delegation and Virtual Assistants

• Don’t assume that one bad experience means you can’t have a good one with delegation.
• Reframing imposter syndrome can be helpful in delegating tasks.
• People often feel like they don’t have enough for a full-time assistant to do.
• Avoid creating busy work for your assistant, give them tasks that add value.
• Effective delegation requires a good relationship with your assistant.
• Effective delegation can lead to career growth for your assistant.

Communication and Meetings

• Lack of communication is a lack of performance, communication is part of performance.
• Recording meetings can provide first-person information and prevent misinterpretation.
• Default sharing of all meetings, including one-on-ones, can prevent gossip and encourage direct communication.
• Netflix has a policy to prevent gossip by asking if the person has spoken directly to the subject of the conversation.

Tools and Productivity

• Effective use of tools like Loom and Notion can save time and increase productivity.
• Recording Looms can be costless and useful for personal reference even if not shared.
• AI tools like Loom are improving searchability for recorded videos.
• Notion databases can be used to link tasks with Loom recordings for proof of work and bug fixing.

Time Management and Prioritization

• It takes time to develop the skill of estimating how long a task will take to complete, but with practice, it can be honed to about 90% accuracy.
• Having recurring blocks of time for tasks like processing emails can help with scheduling and ensure that tasks are completed regularly.
• Using email as a to-do list can create anxiety and make it difficult to prioritize tasks.
• Translating tasks from a to-do list into a calendar can help with prioritization and scheduling.

News Sobriety and Personal Growth

• “New sobriety” refers to avoiding consuming current events and news media, and instead reading books as a replacement.
• Separating from news media for a period of time can lead to feeling physically and mentally better, and realizing that most news is not important.
• Walking and reading two books a week, mostly through audiobooks, can also help reduce stress levels.
• Recommendations for books can be obtained through hosting salon dinners and asking for the last book read by attendees.

Summary

Delegation and Virtual Assistants

Delegation is an important skill that can lead to increased productivity and career growth. It is essential to reframe imposter syndrome and avoid creating busy work for assistants. Effective delegation requires a good relationship with assistants and can provide opportunities for their career development.

Communication and Meetings

Clear and open communication is crucial for effective delegation. Recording meetings can prevent misinterpretation and provide first-person information. Default sharing of all meetings can prevent gossip and encourage direct communication, as seen in the policy implemented by Netflix.

Tools and Productivity

Using tools like Loom and Notion can save time and increase productivity. Recording Looms can serve as personal references and aid in searchability. Notion databases can be used to link tasks with Loom recordings, providing proof of work and facilitating bug fixing.

Time Management and Prioritization

Developing the skill of estimating task duration can improve time management. Creating recurring blocks of time for specific tasks, such as email processing, can help with scheduling and task completion. Translating tasks from a to-do list into a calendar can aid in prioritization.

News Sobriety and Personal Growth

Avoiding excessive consumption of news media and replacing it with book reading can reduce stress levels and improve well-being. Walking and reading books, especially through audiobooks, can be beneficial. Hosting salon dinners and discussing books with attendees can provide valuable recommendations and foster intellectual growth.

Conclusion

In this episode, Sam Corcos shares insights on delegation, effective communication, productivity tools, time management, and personal growth. By implementing these strategies, individuals can optimize their work processes, improve collaboration, and achieve a better work-life balance.