The Simple Definition That Jolts Productivity
Why are you putting in the effort?Do enough to get the job done—not to be perfect.
2 Minute Action:
Ask yourself:What would happen if I stopped right now? What else could I do with my time? Would I be okay walking away?Is it really incomplete if you got what you needed from the project?Your definition of “done” is up to you.Be clear about that and you will reduce work waste by a factor of 3.
Why No One Cares About Iowa, And Why Everyone Should Be Like Iowa
No one cares about Iowa.Specifically, I'm talking about the University.And specifically, I'm talking about people who aren't interested in the neuroscience program.And, of course, specifically, I'm talking about people who aren't interested in the neuroscience of decision-making.Because it was here, at The University of Iowa, that the Iowa Gambling Task was developed.But truly, who cares about all that? Few people even know what that is!Without going into the mechanics of the experiments, it's important to note that no one cared . . . unless you were a very specific kind of person interested in a specific kind of thing.
It's not for everyone, it's just for some.
And Bechara, and the Damasios, and the other researchers at The University of Iowa didn't want everyone.They only wanted a specific, small group of people who cared intensely about the neuroscience of decision-making.What do you care about?Does anyone else care?Who else might care?Where might you find someone like that?
This is a principle.
You can use this idea in your marketing, in the way you talk to the people you love, or the way you find your passion.
2 Minute Action:
Choose your own future.Pick one of these three questions to answer in the next 2 minutes:
- What's something specific and small you can do to move you toward a goal you have?
- What's something specific that would make you more valuable to your field or your team?
- What's something specific that would turn away those who aren't obsessed with the same specific thing you are?
Okay, the rest is up to you.You've got this.
This Ridiculous But Effective Way to Think Outside The Box
I don’t have the money.I don’t have the time.I don’t have a team.I don’t have the intelligence.I’m just not creative.I don’t have any ideas.I can’t follow through.And then, this list just keeps going.
But here’s a ridiculous idea:
What if you had to start anyway?
And here’s an even more ridiculous idea:
What if you had to finish anyway?
How might you approach the problem then?
If you knew you weren’t going to get any more time, energy, or help.Maybe the answer is that you have to cut something else out of your life.Maybe the answer is that you have to eat rice and beans for a few months.Maybe the answer is that you need to sell the concept first and THEN build the software.The point is that you really don’t need any of these things to start. Most of the outcome is completely in your control.By reframing this problem as “what if you will never alleviate these excuses,” you give your brain the space to think of outside-the-box solutions.
2 Minute Action:
These question I’m asking you are just questions you can ask yourself later.Ask yourself right now:How would you solve this problem if you had no more time, money, or resources?Write down your answers.And most important: start today.You only have the rest of your life left.