Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule

Overview

Paul Graham of Y Combinator first described this concept in a 2009 essay, distinguishing between two fundamentally different ways of using time in the workplace.

Manager's Schedule

Characteristics

• Hourly Intervals: Day cut into one-hour slots
• Appointment-Based: Traditional appointment book structure
• Tiny Slots: Each with pre-determined purpose
• Information Gathering: Bulk of time spent gathering information and making decisions
• For Bosses: Common among executives and managers

Maker's Schedule

Characteristics

• Half-Day Blocks: Prefer time in units of half a day at least
• Deep Work: Need extended periods for creative work
• For Creators: Common among programmers, writers, designers
• Can't Start in Hour: Barely enough time to get started on hard problems

Why It Matters

"You can't write or program well in units of an hour. That's barely enough time to get started."

The Conflict

Meeting Problem

When operating on maker's schedule, meetings are a disaster:

• Single meeting can blow whole afternoon
• Breaks day into pieces too small for hard work
• Interrupts flow and concentration
• Powerful people on manager's schedule can force everyone to their frequency

Solutions

Office Hours

Simulate manager's schedule within maker's schedule:

• Set aside specific chunks for meetings
• Consolidate interruptions into dedicated time blocks
• Protect maker time blocks

Organizational Awareness

• Recognize different schedule needs
• Respect maker time requirements
• Batch meetings when possible
• Consider async communication alternatives