Reflections in March
Unnoticed, two months of 2024 have already passed. As the end of the year approaches, with its many trivial matters, time flies, and soon it will be March, with all things awaiting renewal. People are once again busy with a new year’s work. Farmers are busy planting, workers are busy producing, and there is a scene of vibrant activity, quite different from the gloom of previous years.
In industry, although the hype around ChatGPT has subsided, the demonstration effect it has brought is sweeping across various sectors. While AI may not overthrow industries, it can certainly help professionals improve their work efficiency and quality, better serving customers. The advent of large language models is the most successful technological leap since the mobile internet, and it deserves close attention.
In economics, major stock market indices have hit new highs. In February, the three major indices of China’s A-shares led global gains, the Nikkei Index surpassed the historic high of 40,000 points, and Bitcoin broke through $60,000. The financial markets of 2024 seem to be rushing forward with an irrational fervor. However, the core reason behind all this growth is inflation and an overflow of cash flow.
At the end of 2023, I had decided to focus on making money this year and had already begun implementing it. So far, things have gone as expected. First, the market is picking up, and confidence is gradually being restored. Second, in January, I began laying out entrepreneurial projects and investment portfolios. After two months, some issues have gradually emerged, requiring timely reflection and correction.
Improving Efficiency: There is a lack of prioritization in tasks, often doing what I enjoy first and then tackling the challenging ones. Even tasks that require external collaboration often get stuck at my end, delaying the entire process. When one can freely manage their time, a high degree of self-management is required, demanding self-discipline. Tasks need to be prioritized, time allocated properly, and the aim should be to get things right in one go.
Focus: My concentration has been deteriorating, which can be attributed to constant phone use (short videos, tweets). It’s crucial to adopt appropriate methods to change this, such as using the Pomodoro technique to break down large tasks into smaller ones. Strictly control phone use and gradually change the habit of mindlessly checking the phone into scheduled viewing.
Regular Exercise: Previously, exercise was merely for maintaining health, without a scientific approach, leading to fatigue, boredom, and a sense of just going through the motions, with limited improvement in physical fitness. This year, the focus will be on scientific exercise, emphasizing muscle building, reducing BMI, strengthening the core, and increasing strength.
Reading Serious Media: Obtain information from quality sources to avoid the mind being flooded with junk information.
Consistent Writing: Writing is an effective way to express ideas. If thoughts are not expressed through writing, it becomes difficult to record what is read, seen, or thought. Writing is primarily for oneself, without the need to cater to an audience or stand out, just faithfully recording thoughts and observations. While writing, avoid constantly editing every sentence; instead, finish the draft first and then revise, as the sentence you were once fixated on may no longer seem important in the context of the entire piece, or it might even be removed.
Enhance a Skill: Purposefully improve a professional skill, ideally achieving multiple benefits from one effort. To do so, one must first have the mindset of achieving multiple benefits and then grasp the overall picture, knowing what gains can be made from a task. This year, I aim to qualify as a Senior Economist by studying courses, taking exams, and mastering basic economic principles while enhancing management skills. Additionally, the Senior Economist exam is computer-based, mainly involving case studies and essay questions, so the preparation process will also help improve typing skills.
Utilize ChatGPT Effectively: Over the past year, I’ve found that ChatGPT, with its abilities surpassing those of a municipal research office, can indeed handle tasks such as organizing knowledge frameworks, drafting outlines, writing filler text, and scripting. It’s essential to learn how to use it effectively.
