Don’t look up
(not the movie, your life)
It’s our job to find something worth mastering. Something of value to others (whatever the scale may be)
We must practice it. Over and over again, don’t ask for anything from the world in return. Merely serve. Keep your head down for a long time.
100 days, maybe even one thousand.
But…
Don’t.
Look.
Up.
Practicing is enough, you don’t need to.
It’s not just Bruno
There are other things you shouldn’t talk about (like mostly).
Your goals.
Or at least be very selective. You don’t want to accidentally get the feeling of reward in the brain and body because you told a whole lot of people. You want to keep that hunger and save the reward for when you get there.
Specify the zone
It’s good to say out loud to yourself what zone you’re in. Are you in the work zone or are you in the rest zone?
If you’re not careful, you could think you’re in the work zone when really you’re not. And you probably won’t be quite in the rest zone (most likely an in between like the twilight zone which isn’t useful for anyone)
Choose one and be in that.
The reason we choose outlout is we don’t really like to make liars of ourselves, so stating it makes it more likely to come true.
Choose your zone, specify and stay for a while.
It’s equally as important to say “Im working now” as it is to say “I’m resting now”.
What you do and what it means
We have to be careful about what our behavior predicates.
I noticed that when I’ve done a giant bit of work, I ‘treat’ myself to some junk food.
This behaviour predicates the belief that this food is the ultimate reward for me. If I believe that then I also beleive that I’m missing out by not having it. And if I believe that, then not having that food will be difficult for me. See how one infers the next? These are hard to see on the surface, but fig a little deeper and the implications are obvious.
Careful what you do, it implies things behind the scenes that affect you.
Ideal ratio
Cooking rice is easy when you get the ratio right. 1:1 water to rice depending on the rice.
Great.
Yes ratios are important. A ratio I’ve been thinking of is:
Producing (making things, shipping them to the world)
Consuming (watching movies, reading consuming art)
Resting (Not engaging in an activity that takes you toward a goal)
Unlike with rice, the ratio is different for everyone. And it might change depending on your season. But I think it’s worthwhile to observe and calculate.
Just do the next thing
I wonder where the phrase ‘jump the gun’ came from? This is kind of about that.
When I was editing my film today, I caught myself wanting to create the background for this particular part I had in my head. The reason I caught the impulse was I was already low energy and knew that working out of order might be harder.
Instead, I simply started from the beginning; Choose the take I’ll use. Pick the length. Choose the next take. Trim it. Repeat.
There’s magic in simply doing the thing in order (or indeed the best order you can make) and then the next thing. And then the next thing.
You can’t build a pyramid by starting with the middle brick.
(Though the jury’s still out for me on how they did… maybe this is the way they did it).
But I’m not an ancient Egyptian so I’ll start from the bottom.
End your work day…
… on a high.
What do I mean?
Step 1. Make sure the last thing you do before you finish is the most enjoyable thing you can do for your work.
Step 2. Stop before you get bored.
Step 3. Throw out your alarm clock (you’ll be pulled out of bed to your work again tomorrow)
Sit like you mean it
The place I’m staying right now has got a computer chair that I’ve been using while I work. I’m not really used to working on a proper computer chair so I’ve been enjoying that.
The problem is, it’s a little too comfortable and after about 30 minutes of work I start to slouch, sink and set up my permanent retirement in the chair; it’s incredibly easy to relax in the chair.
As I sink more into my corporate leather coffin, I relise I’m working much slower than usual. Surprise, surprise; my rate of productivity is mirrored exactly by my posture.
Each time I catch myself in my CFO slumber, I radically change my posture and think to myself, how would the most efficient and excited worker sit?
I do that and would you believe it, I’m getting more done.
Do nothing at the gym
Anyone I’ve talked to recently will no doubt giggle reading this, I’ve been telling anyone who will listen.
My rule at the gym is the only thing I can do on my phone is update my workout tracker via Google Sheets and listen to music or a podcast.
That’s it.
No texting, no messaging, no email, no social media, no checking stats on the latest video I post…
Instead, between sets (once I’ve inputted the reps) I just sit there. I personally have trouble releasing my tummy and breath during workouts so I use it as an opportunity to do that.
Once I made this choice, I couldn’t believe how much time people spent on their phones. To me, it looks like they’re not even at the gym. If you’re there, be there for goodness sake.
Give it a go for a week or so. Feel the burn of boredom and then feel the promised land of the monk.
Collections grow
Every time an idea comes to me I write it down. I have this note called ‘capture’ on my phone where EVERYTHING goes.
It’s important I think to separate the sorting from the capturing. The final form of the idea could be any number of things. If I waste too much time trying to figure out what kind of idea it is and where I should make note of it- I could forget it.
The amazing thing is how these accumulate over time. It doesn’t feel like I’m writing that many things down, but when you LOOK BACK! Wow, there is SO much.
That’s the power of patiently collecting I guess.
Justin Prescribes
Write everything down that comes to you. This act not only builds your collection, but makes room in your head for NEW ideas (I find unwritten down ideas just hang around but not longer inspire me).
Write it all down. Make space and build your bounty.