What AI Hides From You
Before you can teach AI to understand anything, you need to see what it is hiding from you.
11 April 2026
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Hi, I'm Richard. On this blog, I share thoughts, personal stories — and what I'm working on. I hope this article brings you some value.
Simplicity, minimalism and productivity
Minimalism, focus and deep productivity
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My name is Richard Golian. Amidst life's hustle and bustle, I've discovered that I require little. Time for personal passions and the joy of being with those who value my presence just as I value theirs.
Minimalism
My life's belongings might seem scant to some: a select number of books, clothing items in neutral colours, and essential tech gadgets. When it comes to meals, I like the consistency — almost every day the same breakfast and a few lunch rotations.
In short, my life is simple.
Simplicity
When navigating challenges, I veer towards uncomplicated solutions. Simplicity, in my experience, often yields the best results.
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Summary
Minimal possessions. Consistent routines. One or two tasks at a time — maximum. Clear performance metrics. Some complex subjects resist easy simplification, but clarity in communication is always worth pursuing. Focus is not a personality trait. It is a decision.
Common questions about this topic?
Does single-tasking really produce better results than multitasking?
Yes. Research consistently shows that what we call multitasking is actually rapid task-switching, which increases response times and decreases accuracy. Stanford research found that heavy multitaskers performed significantly worse on memory and attention tasks. Studies show it takes an average of 23 minutes to fully refocus after switching tasks. In the article, focusing on one or two tasks at a time is described as the core of productivity.
How does minimalism improve productivity?
By removing distractions and reducing the number of decisions you need to make. Research shows that clutter competes for attention, reduces working memory, and impairs decision-making. In the article, minimalism is not presented as deprivation but as a deliberate choice: fewer possessions, consistent routines, and neutral clothing eliminate the noise that fragments focus. The result is more energy available for the work that matters.
Why is clear communication linked to productivity?
Because unclear communication creates ambiguity, which requires additional mental effort to interpret. In the article, the tendency to overuse technical jargon — often without fully understanding it — is identified as a common obstacle. Simplicity and clarity in communication reduce misunderstandings and save time. The exception is genuinely complex subjects where admitting that something cannot be easily simplified is more honest than oversimplifying it.
Is it better to have one clear goal or many tasks?
In the article, having one goal with a clear metric is strongly preferred over managing many tasks from different areas. Clear performance indicators act as a compass, enabling focused effort toward a defined outcome. This aligns with research showing that organisations using focused performance metrics are significantly more likely to outperform peers in both revenue growth and employee retention.
Can a simple lifestyle lead to better professional results?
In the article, simplicity in personal life — few possessions, consistent meals, minimal shopping — is presented as directly connected to professional effectiveness. By reducing the cognitive load of daily decisions, more mental energy becomes available for deep work. This is not framed as sacrifice but as alignment: understanding what works best for you and building your environment around it.
How do you transition from multitasking to focused work?
In the article, this shift is described as moving from a chaotic phase of constantly juggling shifting responsibilities to a deliberate choice of singular focus. The key insight is that focus is not a personality trait but a decision. It requires recognising that multitasking does not suit everyone equally, and that for some people, deep concentration on one task produces fundamentally better outcomes than spreading attention across many.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, feel free to drop me a message at mail@richardgolian.com.