Reading Time: 3 minutesMy Gut Reaction to the ‘Flywheel’ Buzzword I’ve noticed that every time I run across the term ‘flywheel’ in productivity or creativity circles, I have an immediate negative gut reaction. When I hear this term, I can’t help but picture a housefly sitting on a mechanical wheel in a machine. I keep encountering terms like …
Reading Time: 5 minutesDoes Your Productivity System Control You? Productivity systems can help us be more organized and complete the work we need to do. However, for many people, a too-rigid productivity system can lead to a sense of productivity enslavement. Instead of directing your own work, you feel like a slave working for a demanding master. Using …
Reading Time: 6 minutesAs indicated in the title, this is Part 2 of a two-part series. If you haven’t already read Part 1, I encourage you to take a few minutes and do so now. Part 2 won’t be as meaningful if you haven’t read Part 1. The Freedom of Imperfection When you realize there is no perfect …
Reading Time: 3 minutesThis two-part series was originally intended to be one blog post, but as I continued to thank about it and add to it I realized it would be too large as one post. Part 2 should be published Thursday, so look for it! Introduction: Enslaved to Productivity Have you ever felt like your productivity system …
Reading Time: 3 minutesChecklists: A Buffer Against Human Error As a part-time National Park Service ranger at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, I lead public tours of a decommissioned Launch Control Facility. Two missile officers sat in a hardened capsule 31 feet under the ground and controlled 10 Minuteman missiles. As you can imagine, these were highly …
Reading Time: 3 minutesDon’t Get Stuck in Over-Preparation, and Never Taking Action For creatives, there’s always the danger of getting stuck in over-preparation and never taking action. In a recent newsletter article titled “Beyond Over-Preparation: How to Start Before You Feel Ready,” Anne-Laure Le Cuff writes about researching rare Asian teas to prepare for launching a new business. …
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs part of David Spark’s Productivity System, as described in his Productivity Field Guide, I do quarterly reviews. In these reviews, I examine my life roles, look at what I did the past quarter, and plan my work for the next quarter. Using a template, I ask a series of questions about each of my …
Reading Time: 4 minutesWhy Proactivity Matters: Shaping Your Day Instead of Reacting to It I’ve had a morning routine for several years. I read from several sources, think about what I’ve read, and journal. A recent quote completely reframed how I think about my morning routine. Tsh Oxenreider, in her book One Bite at a Time, wrote: “Instead …
Reading Time: 5 minutesIntroduction: Exploring Two Proven Planning Techniques Have you ever felt your rigid planning system traps you, but total flexibility leaves you unfocused? I’ve been there too. After much experimentation, I’ve found a way to get the best of both worlds. On some days, rigid time blocking my day worked, while on others, the flexibility of …
Reading Time: 6 minutesAfter years of managing my daily tasks, notes, and time blocking across multiple apps, I tested NotePlan, a tool that promised to be an all-in-one solution. Over the last two weeks, I’ve immersed myself in its features, testing them in my daily routines. My journey with NotePlan began unexpectedly while listening to episode 756 of …