Streamlining Daily Tasks

⛔ No, PCA is NOT a feature selection procedure. I often get asked why I did not include PCA in my course "Feature Selection for Machine Learning". And the answer is: because it is not a feature selection procedure. Let me explain 👇 ☑️ Feature selection is the process of picking the most relevant features from a dataset. ☑️ The aim of feature selection is to remove redundant features and make models simpler, faster and more interpretable. ☑️The key piece of information: feature selection algorithms do NOT alter the data, they just select the best features from any given dataset. Now, let's talk about Principal Component Analysis (PCA). ✅ PCA is a dimensionality reduction technique used to transform the original features into a new set of orthogonal components, also known as principal components. ✅ PCA is used for compressing data while retaining its variability. The first few components tend to capture most of the variability in the data. ❌ PCA might seem like a feature selection technique, but it's not! ❌ Unlike feature selection, PCA doesn't focus on identifying specific important features. It rearranges the existing ones into a new space based on variance, often leading to loss of interpretability since the components are combinations of original features. ❌ In addition, we still need all original features to create the principal components. So it does not really simplify our deployment pipelines (or select features for that matter). Looking for methods that truly select features? Here are some options: ▶️ Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE): Iteratively removes less important features. ▶️ LASSO: Adds regularization to linear models, effectively shrinking and removing less impactful features. ▶️ Leverage feature importance scores derived from Tree-based methods (e.g., Random Forest) to remove less relevant attributes. ▶️ Permutation feature importance: remove those features that don't affect model performance when randomly shuffled. ▶️ Introduce noise features: Add random features, train a model, and then remove all features whose performance/importance is below the random noise. So to wrap up, the goal of feature selection is to fine-tune your feature set while keeping the essence of your data intact! 📊 To learn more about feature selection, including Python demos, check out my book (https://lnkd.in/dxFJhn-8 ) and my course (https://buff.ly/mRbqF6c). #pca #featureselection #machinelearning #datascience #datascientist #dataengineering #mlmodels #ai

I’ve worked with A-players for almost two decades. One thing that sets them apart is: Single-tasking Its an almost maniacal focus on one thing, one objective, one goal. Here are 8 reasons why single-tasking beats multitasking: 1. Higher Quality Output This one’s a game-changer. • Focus leads to better results • Attention to detail improves • Less room for errors Multitasking dilutes effort. Single-tasking sharpens it. 2. Reduced Stress Levels Juggling too many tasks creates chaos. Single-tasking brings calm. It allows for deeper concentration. Stress levels drop when you focus on one thing at a time. 3. Improved Efficiency Doing one task well is faster than doing many poorly. Efficiency rises when distractions fall. Single-tasking means: • Clear goals • Direct paths to completion • Fewer interruptions 4. Better Mental Well-being Multitasking can drain your energy. Single-tasking preserves it. When you focus on one task: • Mental fatigue decreases • Satisfaction increases • You feel more accomplished 5. Enhanced Creativity Creativity needs space to grow. Single-tasking provides that space. When your mind isn’t scattered: • New ideas flow • Solutions come easier • Innovation thrives 6. Stronger Memory Switching tasks often hurts memory. Single-tasking strengthens it. Focused attention helps you: • Retain information • Recall details • Build stronger mental connections 7. Greater Job Satisfaction Single-tasking leads to better work. Better work leads to more pride. Employees feel: • More engaged • More valued • More fulfilled 8. Practical Strategies Implementing single-tasking is simple. • Set clear priorities • Use time blocks • Minimize distractions Leaders should: • Encourage focus • Promote mindfulness • Create a supportive environment Single-tasking isn’t just a technique. It’s a mindset. Adopt it, and watch your productivity and well-being soar. --- Considering working with a coach? https://lnkd.in/dC4tYDSS

Humphrey Bogart claimed his first real break in Hollywood came from his ability to multitask: he could smoke a cigarette and deliver his lines at the same time. Multitasking is a daily fact of life for most of us. Heck, you may be reading this post while flipping between windows, sitting in a meeting, on even while on call. I hope you’re not driving! Truth is, though, the brain is crap at multitasking. So bad, in fact, it doesn’t even try. Instead it switches between tasks, doing one for a time and then putting it on hold and swapping to the next. What we think of as “multitasking” is actually task-switching and it comes with a cost. The cost of switching between two tasks is pretty significant too. Though the time cost may be only fractions of a second each time, these costs accumulate with each switch. So even someone who appears to be multitasking efficiently might be incurring significant costs of their cognitive processing time! Joshua Rubenstein and his colleagues conducted four experiments to measure how efficiently people completed tasks either in isolation or when switching between them. For example, in a really simple task where participants saw a letter and a number (e.g. “7H”) and were asked to name only of them, switching between letters and numbers slowed responses by approximately 40%. The true cost of multitasking is arguably not efficiency loss, but how it impairs our mental well-being. In one study which simulated an office environment, the researchers found that participants reported significantly higher stress, frustration, workload, effort, and pressure after only 20 mins of multitasking compared to participants who hadn’t switched between tasks. Focus is the antidote to multitasking. When you spend an extended period of time on a single task, focusing all your attention on it, you are capable of accomplishing far more than trying to do many things at once. There are many great ways to practice focus: reading, exercising, meditating or even going to the cinema. They key is to remain in the moment and not interrupt yourself with distractions. It’s a classic use-it-or-lose-it scenario. If you constantly task switch without giving yourself regular time to focus on a single thing, it becomes harder to focus when you really need it. What are some of your favourite focused activities to engage in? #Neuroscience #Multitasking #Productivity #BrainHealth

AI is powerful - your business expertise indispensable - and empathy irreplaceable. How are you integrating these three to secure your position and lead in the future of work? The question isn’t whether AI will change how we work anymore - it’s how you, as a leader, will adapt to lead. Integrating AI, Expertise, and Empathy: A Winning Formula 1️⃣ AI’s Power: Imagine leading a global sales team. AI can analyze market trends, predict customer needs, and optimize pricing strategies in seconds. But while AI provides the what, it’s up to you to determine the why and how. 2️⃣ Your Expertise: Your business acumen turns AI’s data into actionable insights. From deciding which market to prioritize to tailoring customer solutions or navigating tough negotiations, your strategic lens transforms data into impactful decisions. 3️⃣ Empathy’s Irreplaceability: AI might suggest the best time to send an email, but it can’t sense when a team member is disengaged or when a stakeholder needs reassurance. Your ability to connect, inspire, and build trust is the differentiator that transforms AI-driven strategies into real results. 🚀 Client Success Story: Merging AI with Leadership A senior operations leader at a multinational logistics firm sought to integrate AI into her team’s workflows to optimize delivery routes, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. While AI provided precise data, her team resisted the changes, fearing redundancy and feeling overwhelmed. In coaching, we prioritized on 3 areas: 1️⃣ Building Empathy: She led the way to open and vulnerable communication, shared her fears too, addressed concerns, and created psychological safety, transforming resistance into collaboration - as a team. 2️⃣Leveraging AI: Together they reframed AI as a tool to enhance capabilities, expanding the team’s perspective to focus on it as strategic, high-value partner. 3️⃣ Showcasing Expertise: Now that the resistance was being replaced by openness, and even enthusiasm, the team was in flow, blending their deep industry knowledge enhanced with their AI readiness. The results? 🚀 A 25% boost in operational efficiency, 18% fewer delivery delays, and a 30% rise in customer satisfaction. 🚀 Her leadership also secured her and members of her team promotions and broader responsibilities. The future isn’t just about what technology can do - it’s about what you can achieve with it. Let’s ensure you’re not just adapting to the future of work - you’re shaping it. DM me to discuss your game plan.

Neglecting AI advancements could prove detrimental: Is your organisation prepared to risk obsolescence? 🤖 Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this journey with confidence. Identify Key Areas for AI Integration → Start by assessing your current processes. → Look for repetitive tasks that can benefit from automation. → Pinpoint areas where data-driven decisions could enhance outcomes. Set Clear Objectives → Define what you aim to achieve with AI. → Are you looking to improve efficiency, reduce costs, or enhance customer experience? Gather Data → AI thrives on data, so ensure you have quality data to work with. → Map out where your data comes from and how it’s stored. 📊 Choose the Right AI Tools → Not all AI tools are created equal. → Research and select the ones that fit your specific needs and objectives. → Consider consulting with experts if needed. Pilot and Test → Before full-scale implementation, run a pilot. → This allows you to test AI tools in a controlled environment. → Gather feedback and make necessary adjustments. Train Your Team → AI is only as effective as the people using it. → Conduct training sessions to ensure your team is comfortable with the new tools. 🏋️♂️ Monitor and Optimise → Once AI is integrated, continuous monitoring is key. → Collect data on its performance and make iterative improvements. Scale Up → After successful testing and optimisation, scale up AI integration across other processes. 🚀 Remember, AI is a tool to enhance human capability, not replace it. With careful planning and execution, it can transform your business processes for the better. What’s your next step in your AI journey? 🌟

If you’re doing everything yourself, you’re not leading. You’re micromanaging. I learned this the hard way. Early on, I thought being involved in every task was a sign of commitment. But it actually meant I was slowing the team down and holding onto control. Delegation is not about giving away work. It’s about building trust, developing capability, and stepping back so others can step up. Here are the 7 secrets that helped me do it better ⤵️ 1️⃣ Hire the Right Talent → Start by identifying people with the right strengths not just experience, but mindset and initiative. 2️⃣ Mentorship and Training → Don’t just assign tasks. Teach the ‘why’, coach the ‘how’, and stay involved until they’re ready. 3️⃣ Trust in Team Capabilities → If you’ve hired and trained well, trust them to do the job without hovering. Let them lead. 4️⃣ Lead by Example → Model the behaviour you expect. If you want your team to take ownership, show what that looks like in your own work. 5️⃣ Provide Clear Guidelines → Be direct about expectations, outcomes, and timelines then give space for the team to deliver. 6️⃣ Foster Open Communication → Create a feedback loop. Make it safe to ask questions, flag risks, or share progress early. 7️⃣ Celebrate Achievements → Acknowledge initiative, not just output. Public praise reinforces private confidence. Delegation is an act of leadership. Done well, it builds people and frees you to lead where it matters the most. Question: What’s one delegation lesson you had to learn the hard way? -------------------------- Hi, I am Muhammad Mehmood. Helping you build what lasts.

How To Actually Transform Your Life Forget motivation. It's a neurological sugar rush that crashes when you need it most. I built 5 companies (and crashed spectacularly with my first) by learning this hard truth: your brain doesn't care about your goals—it cares about your habits. Habits aren't just behaviors—they're neural pathways hardwired into your brain. They're still running when motivation dies. Want real transformation? Start with these brain hacks: 1. Think microscopically small Your brain's reward system activates on completion, not effort. A 5-minute walk daily rewires your neural circuitry more than an ambitious gym plan you abandon in week two. I once tried transforming my entire routine overnight. I failed catastrophically. Now? I add one tiny habit monthly. My brain can handle that without rebellion. 2. Consistency beats intensity The dopamine rush from intense effort feels productive. It's lying to you. Your hippocampus (memory center) physically reorganizes with consistent repetition, not occasional heroic efforts. What transformed my productivity wasn't working harder—it was showing up at the same time, in the same place, day after day. 3. Layer, don't overhaul Your basal ganglia (habit center) can only process limited change at once. Start with one keystone habit. Once automated, it becomes a platform for the next. I began with a 2-minute morning meditation. Now it's the foundation for my entire morning routine. The paradox of change is powerful: attempting less accomplishes more. Start so small it seems ridiculous. Repeat until it's automatic. Layer gradually. Become someone new through neural repetition. Your future isn't built on motivation spikes—it's built on biological habit loops that run on autopilot. What's one microscopically small habit you'll start tomorrow? Share below 👇 - Follow me Dan Murray-Serter 🧠 🧠 for more on habits and leadership. ♻️ Repost this if you think it can help someone in your network! 🖐️ P.S Join my newsletter The Science Of Success where I break down stories and studies of success to teach you how to turn it from probability to predictability here: https://lnkd.in/ecuRJtrr

Multitasking kills productivity. But why does focusing on one task matter? Because 40% of productivity is lost due to task-switching. Believing multitasking is effective is a common mistake, especially among new project managers. Research shows that single-tasking leads to better results. When teams focus on one task at a time, they see: • Project completion rates increase by 30% • Error rates decrease by 50% • Overall team satisfaction increase by 40% Your team will feel: → More focused → Less stressed → More accomplished → Better organized It's a clear win-win. Start seeing these benefits now! Here are 3 proven tips to reduce multitasking: 1. Prioritize Tasks • Make a list of tasks in order of importance. • Focus on completing one task before moving to the next. 2. Time Blocking • Allocate specific time slots for each task. • Stick to the schedule to avoid distractions. 3. Use Task Management Tools • Use apps like Trello or Asana to keep track. • Break down projects into smaller, manageable tasks. • Monitor progress and adjust as needed. If you MUST multitask, always do this: ☑ Limit it to simple, routine tasks. ☑ Avoid doing complex tasks simultaneously. ☑ Take regular breaks to reset your focus. ☑ Use tools to track your time and tasks. ☑ Review and adjust your strategy regularly. Cut multitasking. Boost productivity. Watch your team excel. It's that simple.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝: 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 We live in a world obsessed with more—more features, more processes, more decisions. But the best businesses and designs succeed by simplifying, cutting excess, and focusing only on what truly matters. Toyota’s Lean Manufacturing eliminated inefficiencies and maximized output. When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, he cut down the product line from 350 to just 10, refocusing on core innovations. Simplicity creates impact. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 – Cut out redundant elements to clarify the core issue. 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 – Removing clutter leads to efficiency and elegance. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – Keep only what truly matters. 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 – Ask, "What can we remove?" instead of "What can we add?" 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – Continuously refine by subtracting the non-essential. So, how do you apply this? Identify the problem. List everything involved. Challenge each part—does it truly add value? Remove what doesn’t. Keep testing a simpler version. If it still works (or works better), you’re on the right track. The best solutions aren’t complex. They’re effortless because everything unnecessary has been stripped away. What’s one thing you could simplify today?  #BusinessStrategy #Innovation

𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵: Here's Why You're Doing It Wrong We've been sold the dream of multitasking. But let's face the harsh truth: it's a myth, especially when it comes to handling significant business tasks. If you're juggling big projects simultaneously, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Here’s why: 𝟭. 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Attempting to manage multiple large tasks at once means neither gets your full focus. This inevitably leads to mistakes or overlooked details. Quality suffers, and so does your credibility. 𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆. 🤯 Yes, ticking off multiple items on your to-do list feels good. But at what cost? Superficial completion of tasks doesn't equate to real progress. Deep work on a single task yields far better results. 𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹. Multitasking isn't just inefficient; it's unsustainable. Splitting your attention drains your energy faster, leading to burnout. And a burnt-out team member is a non-productive one. 𝟰. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀. 🐢 Remember the fable of the tortoise and the hare? Slow and steady wins the race. Focusing on one significant task at a time ensures it's done right and sets a solid foundation for the next challenge. 𝟱. 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻. Once you've taken a task as far as you can on your own, it's time to delegate. Hiring the right person for the job (slowly but surely) and giving them autonomy while holding them accountable allows you to move on to the next big challenge with peace of mind. Stop glorifying multitasking. Embrace the power of focused, deep work. Your business will thank you! 🙏 #productivitytips #multitasking #burnout #startups #entrepreneurship #leadership #mentalhealth