Tag: productivity

Some Thoughts While Re-Organizing My Life

Carl Setzer

I finished my final final and turned in my final project for fall quarter yesterday. Now, I’m in the process of getting my feet back under me. I have a few hundred emails to go through, so will be spending some dedicated time go through them all.

As I work to process all the stuff, I read this gem: “Malcolm Gladwell’s 3-Word Reminder to Stop You from Overthinking“. Overthinking and analysis-paralysis are perpetual problems for me, but I continue to work on them. Articles like this help remind me of the importance of keeping my brain under control.

A few excerpts that I’m clipping/posting on my wall.

Nothing kills progress faster than indecision!

Uncertainty of the future shouldn’t freeze us but rather free us.

“This belief we have that the future is knowable is crazy. People need to have the freedom to take more chances.” — Malcolm Gladwell

I need to remind myself that the world rewards those who have the stones to keep moving forward regardless if they don’t know their destination

So, I, too, resolve to live by his last line: “Screw it, let’s go!”

#Insecurities: A #Haiku

Carl Setzer2 Comments

Meditating on things that hamper growth. Insecurities fill that for me. Especially as they’re often unfounded and irrational, to the point of annoyance. Well, that’s how I feel when I can step back and look set them rationally. 

Writing is one way I cope. Putting them down on paper helps me deeply. 

Also, this shows me the power of daily affirmations. Taking the time to deliberately challenge these destructive mental models…actually, proactively challenging them, is important. Stay ahead of the corrosion. 

A Few Thoughts On Challenges

Carl Setzer
Challenges Ahead

I’ve been asked, many, many times if “x” will present a challenge. And, far too often, the context of that is “kill the project”.And that’s the wrong thinking. EVERY project will have challenges. Internal, external, whether inertia or outright attack, things will rise.

Before running away from challenge, we need to remember value. What are we trying to bring to life with the project? And then dive deeper into the cause of the challenge. Can it be overcome? At what cost? Does this negate the value of the project?

I’ve bought into the notion that “everything in life is easy if you’re aligned with the universe”, and that “challenges are signs of divine disfavor”. Perhaps not quite as dramatic as this, but the point’s still there. Challenges shouldn’t be existential. Anticipate they’ll come and remember your why, and you won’t descend into fear driven chaos.  

A Meditation On Motivation 

Carl Setzer

​The question you should be asking isn’t “what do I want?” or “what are my goals?” but “what would excite me?”

~Tim Ferris

I’m still not sure what it is “I want”, in terms of a long-range vision. Or, more specifically, what it’s is I don’t want. Rejecting ideas, goals, opportunities is what’s hard for me. It’s hard to say “no” to opportunities, even ones that haven’t materialized, or even transitioned slightly from concept to reality.

Having too many things on your to-do list is a sure way to fail at everything.

Saying “No” is the kernel of planning, of living a life of vision, mission and purpose.

When we think in terms of excitement and energy, the challenge of choice changes. I find it much easier to deselect things that don’t energize me. That are boring, draining. Cool sounding things often change when we consider the actual work.

Spend as much time as possible doing activities which give you strength, energy and life.

It’s Never Too Late To Start, It’s Never Too Early, Either

Carl Setzer

Grabbed the above image from Pinterest. 

Some great wisdom on this image. I often get stuck in “I should’ve done that years ago”, yet can also be paralyzed by “maybe I should wait…”, whether it’s more detail, risk aversion, or just fear of the unknown. It’s hard to avoid self doubt and recrimination.

With all this, I’m re-evaluating quite a bit of my life right now. Questions like “what do I want to do with my life”, “what skills do I want to build”. With that, all of my social media is being evaluated, too.

I need to focus. One of my challenges: all the things I’m trying to do. All the sites that I’m trying to manage, all the communities that I’m trying to be part of.

I expect I’ll drop some of my sites, and move others around. I might even launch a new one. We’ll see.

I want my efforts and resources to be building something. And something cool.

Have you done this sort of evaluation before? How’d it go? What advice do you have? I’d love to hear it.