Simple Keeps the Wheels Moving
I'm fed up with complex
If you don’t know Cal Newport and you are at all overwhelmed by the daily deluge of information in your life or even just by your own to-do list, check out his stuff.
His first book (How to Win at College) was published in 2005, but I first became aware of his writing in 2016 when his book, Deep Work, was published. He’s written 9 total (including “A World without Email” 😲) and he has a podcast called Deep Questions. He’s a professor at Georgetown University and is a graduate of MIT, so he’s definitely a pro.
All that to say, I listened to one of his recent podcasts while out walking my dog and I’d like to share some of the insights and how I plan to use them.
So, the title of the podcast episode got my attention right away because it hits on all 3 of my words for the year (Simple, Action, Mindset). Here it is:
“A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your Life” (Link at the end.)
And here’s the main a-ha I took away from the episode:
Use a minimally viable productivity system.
Seems simple enough. And at the same time, easy to overlook.
In Cal’s view, to make a system really work for you, you have to find a balance between not enough and too much.
Not enough, and you won’t trust your system.
Too much, and the rigidity will make it hard to maintain.
Okay, so, that ‘too much’ point really stuck. I mean, I want my system(s) to help reduce decision fatigue and to guide me to stay on track from day-to-day but not be so rigid that the minute ‘life happens’, it’s hard to get back on track.
As he says, it IS possible to go overboard with any system. There’s a point at which it’s not only difficult to find your way back into your own system, but also to incorporate new stuff.
And where’s the joy in that?
How do you learn or find new things?
How do you keep the creative juices flowing?
I want to trust my system, but I don’t want to live under a rock, you know?
So now what?
I took a step back, checked-in and asked myself some questions.
· Do my current systems make life easier? Or are they distracting?
· Does a mix of digital and analog tools seem simpler?
· Are there small tweaks I can make so I feel back on track?
My own step back/check-in:
I have decided that, personally, I like a mix of analog and digital tools. Sometimes, for me, digital tools get in the way of just thinking. Especially when I’m thinking through new ideas and just want to capture the idea. Sometimes that’s simply 3x5 cards (ya, really) or a printed worksheet.
Then, the digital tools can help me keep track of my ideas and help me organize them.
And, here’s the kicker revelation for me. When my systems are simple, my excuses for not taking that next step forward go out the window. (I wasn’t expecting that revelation, but there it is.)
Simplify & Create
If you’re out here working as a creator, then you know that things can quickly get confusing. Mainly because there’s so much information noise. Too many options.
However, the more I read and learn, the more I realize that as (mostly solo) creators, our best bet is to solve just 1 problem for our customers and do it well…just 1. The byproduct of this is that it’s a great way to keep systems simple and manageable.
That SOUNDS easy, but we humans are also really good at making things really difficult. And sometimes chaotic. And then we’re overwhelmed and questioning everything.
So, my hope is that resources like this help you find ways to clear some of that noise so you can figure out the 1 problem you can help your customers solve. And then have simplified your systems enough to become really good at it. 🥳
Today’s Resources:
Cal’s podcast episode: Ep 343: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your Life
Define Your Wedge Worksheets (the analog version!)