productivity
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You can count me in as one of the people that succeeds from an analog to-do list. I’ve tried countless to-do apps, and none of them push me to get stuff done like the written word. Keep yourself honest by adopting the bullet journal system, if only to remind yourself what actually deserves your attention.…
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The nothing special
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1 min read
Look for a way of life, unmoored from staring at the donut hole. Conversely, the hybrid of work and life is what makes the donut whole. The game of goal-setting is paradoxically non-interventionist. You don’t attack the carrot, you chew on it slowly. The policy of non-engagement holds into force the inertia of nature’s progress.…
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A little more audience, a little more action
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2 min read
It’s rough and ruthless, but criticism saves you time. People aren’t trying to be mean. They’re just trying to keep you from banging your head into the same wall. Scientists can’t continue publishing the same paper over and over again. Apple can’t just release another iPhone without drastic improvements. As they say, sameness destroys creativity.…
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Staying edgy…
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2 min read
The audience already exists. The hard part is getting them to pay attention to your story. How do you gain a fan base in the era of distraction? You select a specific audience, even one person, and write for them. Different is attractive The first few years of anonymity are the hardest but they are also…
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Freedom is slowing down
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2 min read
It’s a canard to think that you must use an electronic device for everything productive. A computer is a doing machine, not a thinking machine. Your best thoughts happen when you’re disconnected, in the shower or on a walk. They also happen when you slow down, pen in hand letting each idea match the pace…
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How to rest and reflect in the age of speed
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2 min read
As digital technology colonizes our minds, self-reflection is becoming ever more critical. But not just any reflection. We think best through slices of boredom, gratitude, and mental processing. Boredom No one ever died sitting and doing nothing or staring out into space. Quiet moments permit the mind to wander, dance with fear, and revel in…
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Train the mind to see
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1 min read
We all want to be ahead of the game. But nobody knows anything, nor do they want to do the work. They just want to hear advice that sounds good. The problem with advice is that what usually works for one person rarely works for another. Success happens in so many different ways. All that…
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Field Notes: One small step for notebooks
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1 min read
The new Field Notes ‘Three Missions’ Edition is out of this world, literally. Because when you’re out in the field gathering string, you don’t want to miss anything. I’m not writing it down to remember it later, I’m writing it down to remember it now. — Field Notes
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The hidden power of less
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1 min read
Less isn’t necessarily better than more. However, it appears that in most scenarios that it is most often the case. Less participants, more effective meetings Less worry, more action Less ownership, more renting Less eating, more exercising Less internet, more human interaction Less Instagram, more non-filter Less stuff, more happiness Less hate, more love Less…
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Write just one sentence
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2 min read
Stuck, in limbo, at the fright of starting. It is the activation energy that gets us over the hurdle of inertia. For Ernest Hemingway, writing one sentence motivated him to write more and more. Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one…
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Seth Godin updated his ShipIt journal in collaboration with Moo. The Shipit Journal works for a simple reason: It’s difficult to write things down. Difficult to break a project into small pieces and take ownership over each one. Mostly, it’s difficult to announce to yourself and to your team that you’re actually on the hook…
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Take action while you can
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1 min read
“Impatience with actions, patience with results.” Naval Inspiration is not a prerequisite for action. You don’t need emotional fuel, just as you don’t need a cup of coffee to start your day. The mystical spark inside you thinks that placebos fuel motion. But they’re the excuse. Excellence is the next five minutes. Small efforts drip…