There was a time when the tech industry understood that idle tinkering is valuable and explicitly provided’side project’ time as a working perk. The concept is still alive — I’m fortunate to work in a place that offers it — but the relentless drive for efficiency has overtaken it in recent years. This seems to be a shame. We can’t optimize the way to original solutions and quality. To try is to live a fantasy that will lead to failure. It is difficult to overstate the value of side-project time, and more employers should not only provide it but actively promote it. Here’s why. What is Side Project Time? There are many names for side project time. For example, at the Guardian, 10% time is used. It’s the same thing, no matter what the name is: a dedicated space and time for people to work independently, on personal projects, and to learn. Google founders Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and others highlighted this practice in 2004 as part of Google’s initial public offer. They wrote: “We encourage employees to spend 20% of their work time on projects that they believe will benefit Google.” This encourages them to be creative and innovative. This has been the basis of many of our major achievements. Most risky projects fail, and we learn a lot from them. Others succeed and grow into attractive businesses.”

Larry Page and Sergeybrin It’s unclear whether Google still supports this practice after 20 years. Other tech giants may talk a good show, but it doesn’t appear to be widespread. The concept was on the verge of becoming mainstream for a time, but has since faded. The Ode There are many benefits to having side projects, both for individuals and corporations. It should be on your radar, whether your priority is personal growth or making money. Individuals Side projects allow people to explore ideas or concepts that they are interested in. This is a good thing in and of itself. We all hope to develop our existing skills and learn new ones through our daily work. Sometimes, the work we do every day provides this. Sometimes it does. In either case, exploring new possibilities opens up with side projects. It’s also a place where the waters can be cleared. I’ve written before about the lessons learned from zen philosophy in relation to pet project maintenance. One of the most important aspects is the value of not acting. It’s not always the case that getting things done means making them better. The fog of constant productivity can actually prevent us from seeing better ways to solve problems. The side project time helps us to have a clearer mind that we can take into our daily grind. Dedicated side-project time promotes personal growth, learning, and exploration. This is good for both the individual and the project, as the benefits will be felt in the end. I’d like you to consider a few examples of companies that have similar outlooks. Pixar, as described by co-founder Ed Catmull, has a philosophy of protecting ‘ugly baby’s’. Unformed, rough ideas: “An idea is difficult to define, it’s not appealing, and it needs protection. When I was working as a researcher for DARPA, we had protections in place to protect what was not well-defined. Every new idea, in any field, needs protection. Pixar was created to protect our director’s ugly baby.”

Ed Catmull — He continues to say that they will eventually have to stand on their two feet to leave the sandbox but that this formative period is crucial to their development. Bell Labs is one of the shining examples of DARPA, a research and developmental agency. Over the years, its work has been recognized with ten Nobel Prizes as well as five Turing Awards. In The Idea Factory: Bell Labs, the Great Age of American Innovation, journalist Jon Gertner summarized that “it is now accepted wisdom that innovation and competition are closely related.” But Bell Labs’ history demonstrates that the truth is actually far more complicated…creative environments that foster a rich exchange of ideas are far more important in eliciting new insights than are the forces of competition.”

Jon Gertner This is a long-term perspective. One Bell employee said: “When i first came, the philosophy was: look, your work might not be important in ten or twenty years but that’s okay, we’ll still be there.” The cynic could say side project time is R&D for companies without budget allocation. Even if that is true, I believe the former speaks of a more integrated culture. It’s not business as usual here for these people, and innovation there for those others. It’s also a cultural statement that you and your interests matter here. It encourages autonomy, and innovation. Original thinking would disappear if we only used OKRs that had been proven to be effective. Let’s be honest: it benefits employers, even in pure Machiavellian terms. You’ll get happier, more knowledgeable workers and a higher retention rate. You might even end up with a new product that is surprising. Give It A Spin Side projects are a slow burn but a valuable thing to cultivate. Anyone who is able to take on side projects will reap the rewards in due time. Some of the most beautiful things in life are born from idle tinkering. Let people do what they want. Give them space to grow. They might even be brilliant. Further Reading “Side Project Programs can have major benefits for employers” by Tam Xu “What makes Bell Labs so special?” by Andrew Gelman. (PDF) “Why Bell Labs was so important to innovation in the 20th century,” Forbes “Google’s ‘20% Rule’ shows how much time should be spent learning new skills and why it works,” Dorie-Clark Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull