“Why I can't do that here” - Considering the Analogue approach in a Digital World
NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) has a fundamental model developed by Robert Dilts, the “Dilts Pyramid” (https://youtu.be/hrK9_ZPo790?si=cnpZqvU_lwSYYxOy) Which discusses “Logical Levels”. I first discovered it twenty odd years ago and it has served me well on a daily basis.
The model provides a great way to understand a problem and help you understand what is “blocking” you progress (Blocking also features in agile, when we talk about “Blockers”. If you feel unable to get on with something, your not in “flow” or simply feel anxious about an issue or project, a quick dive into the model can help you understand where in the stack the issue is. It might just be the place (environment), so go somewhere else and do it! You might not know “how” to do it (Capability), so try fail fast, learn and repeat (Another agile trait!). You get the idea. The point is there are layers to what might be holding you back, Flow is an alignment of the entire hierarchy, “When the planet align”.
Why - Purpose
I - Identity
Can’t - Belieifs
Do - Capabilities
That - Behaviour
Here - Environment
Making schedules about what you want to do where you want to do it when you want to do it how you want to do it and most importantly, why? Setting Goals, critically with a due date or at least a review date is paramount. The Franklin Covey “Urgent v Important” matrix can help here. The old Time Manager International “Key Results Areas” structure, staying focused dealing with procrastination and ensuring progress. Key Results is about having a maximum of ten areas of focus, major parts of your life, interest and work. These Key Results Areas are then broken down into task and activities. The Whole is the tree trunk, the Key Area is a branch and the task are the twigs with activities being the leaves. The roots, being the beliefs and other aspects of the Dilts Pyramid, to help ground you and keep you focused. That’s me conjoining the two approaches.
Using and adapting a time manager system
Everything has a date on it, if relevant the time as well, books, papers, reports, diagrams, notes
doodles, random things. No date, no context later. You’ll thank me, that random note you rediscover “O my, I thought about that twelve years ago!”.
You will forget when over time. It matters, with it down!! It validates the future you, to your past thinking. Moving things forward is the key constant progress. Most people find true happiness in progress. Happiness is never a destination, it’s about being grateful today for what we have achieved to date. It is about making progress, solving problems, over coming obstacles. It’s never easy, it’s not meant to be. Be brave, move forward, make progress. Everyone is different. There is no right or wrong way to get things done or organise yourself.
You’ll work it out eventually! I still love the words to Sunscreen by Bazz Lahrmann. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_Sunscreen Those words and that song, are so true. I also ascribe to The lyrics of Affirmation by Savage Garden https://genius.com/Savage-garden-affirmation-lyrics
And love the wisdom still of “IF” by Rudyard Kipling: https://poetryace.com/if There’s enough philosophy in those three things for most people to live by, just add the Scout Law & Promise and your done!
Being able to stay hyper focused, is very difficult today. Over the past twenty years, I’ve felt the change, from being able to be focussed, to the distraction driven social media world we all now live in. I guess it’s one of the reasons I’m bothering to write this on New Years day 2024. It’s important to get it out of my head, acknowledge it and share my thoughts, with others who may find some value in my ramblings.
There’s a great book, call Deep Work by Cal Newport: https://www.shortform.com/summary/deep-work-summary-cal-newport
The book really validates the concept of having to get into “Flow” which is a mental state and another great book by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/66354 Once your in a flow state, the Dilts Pyramid aligns and you can perform creative miracles!
A great way to stay focused for small set amounts of time, is the Pomodoro technique: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryancollinseurope/2020/03/03/the-pomodoro-technique/
Quite simply, you use a timer, digital, or analogue, even a kitchen timer. You then work in solid blocks of 25 minutes follower by a guilt free enforced break, then move on or repeat. This approach of time boxing the project can help enforce discipline. Another great book is Write it down make it happen:
Also another classic, Bird by Bird Anne Lamont : https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/97/08/17/reviews/lamott-bird.html
It’s all about setting the goal, having the destination on the horizon and getting there step by step. Coming from someone who is still working on a PhD after twenty five years, I too need to finish (PhD = Project Half Done!!!). I seriously need to get it finished and after publishing eight articles, I’m now doing it by prior output. Not the traditional route, but the destination on the horizon remains the same.
Myers Briggs Personality Types
I also suggest having an idea about your personality type, The Myers Bridges Type Indicator, can really help you know yourself, there are 16 types and each will have a different world view and approach to getting things done see: https://www.16personalities.com or https://eu.themyersbriggs.com/en/tools/MBTI for me in 1993, it was life changing. As an INFJ, it made me realise a lot about myself. Thirty years later MBTI/NLP and these other things I’m writing about, have been great friends on the journey.
Micro Learnings
Use the TMI Location approach "I can do that there”. When you have a day in the Office, plan for maximum productivity. (Office only stuff). Hard rule that any distractions are written down, noted and ignored.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a fear of failure. Everything starts with the first step of action. Break the problem down until that is possible. I honestly believe procrastination is an imposter. If your trying to do a creative thing and your not in the mood, either get yourself into the zone somehow, music, environment, whatever works, or leave it for now. Do something meaningful, walk, talk, house work or another distraction. You’ll feel guilty, but likely come back and smash it when your in the mood, it maybe your subconscious is still percolating the idea. It’s not ready to hatch at that moment!
Never leave a thing without writing the next step down, then you don't need to think when you return to it, just crack on.
Minimum Viable Products, (MVP), if it's a one-off deposable, just do it on paper. Apply the 20-80-20 rule, good enough and move on. Perfection is often an excuse to linger. Think about outcomes and effects, it's the result that matters, getting there can be chaotic if need be. Know the intended outcome, how long has it got to last for? What the budget and expectation.
Pilots are good, Agile approach, Alpha, Beta and Production.
Quality is relative. Good enough is often all that’s needed
https://www.agileneuro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/problem_solving_model_Agile_neuro.png
Micro moments -
At points during your day, you’ll have micro moments, - use these to reflect, plan be grateful. Carry some blank index cards to write on. If you only have a few minutes, you can still “capture the moment”, write down the passing thought and then move on.
Often our sub conscious mind will keep chewing a problem in the background, in fact our subconscious mind is always going just that. The problem happens when it spits a great idea out at us, we need to just scribble it down and then process it later. Index cards, scraps of paper, voice memos on your phone. A quick note app like Drafts on iPhone is brilliant. Index cards work great for this or just write it in your day book. Your journal is your day book, these are what use to be called common place books.
If it doesn’t exist, build it or make it yourself
See: Van Neistat: https://www.youtube.com/@vanneistat/videos
During lockdown, I went on a journey building thinks from scrap wood, pallets and other junk I had knocking around. Forget what other think of you, this is about your journey and your creativity. Cardboard boxes and duck tape can make desk accessories, card storage boxes or any other folder or holder you might want to try. If you like what you’ve made, iterate and improve, use your “MVP” as the template and make a nicer version.
For the record, I spent most of the day writing this and have decided to just publish it so it’s out there. Look down my other posts, there’s more detail on a fair bit of this ….
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