Tim Ferris Podcast #343 – Seth Godin
Your best work will come only after putting out a lot of content and constantly refining it. Create something everyday and watch the progress you make. The thought of people not liking your work can be intimidating as well, but you’re not going to please everyone with your work. You may not think much of your work now, but every day is a chance for you to master your craft. Creativity comes from mastery.
Progress 4/4
Do you ever get the motivation to build a habit, whether it’s exercising, reading more, writing etc, go at the full speed for a couple of weeks, only to drop off not too long after? Often times when we try to introduce a new habit, it’s to change a behavior that we’ve been doing for years and years. Our brains do not like sudden and drastic change. It’s no wonder that we have such a tough time doing something that we know is good for us. Our body is clinging to the comfortable and often times we lack the motivation and willpower to push through. So what can we do? Take a baby step. A baby step so small that it might be considered stupid. Why? If our body likes being comfortable, it will often resist something that seems challenging, even if it’s just the thought of it. So to “trick it”, take a small step, and you’ll see that doing a little bit more isn’t so hard.
On one hand I’d like to use this blog as a way to keep myself accountable and to get my thoughts down. On the other hand I’d like to use this blog as a way to share some of the knowledge I’ve gotten from others to others. Would this affect the way I write on this? Should it?
Progress 3/3
Mini Habits – Stephen Guise
One of the powers of building a mini habit is that it doesn’t compete for brain power from your other habits. Trying to beat an established habit by sheer willpower is like trying to enter a weight lifting competition without working out. It’s much easier take the smallest possible step to build/replace a habit so that you’re brain doesn’t have to think about the insurmountable challenge. How easy would it be to read two pages versus twenty pages? Once of you do start those two pages, chances are you’ll read more.
Not only will taking that first small step make taking bigger steps easier by showing your brain the task at hand is not as challenging as you thought, but it can help build confidence that you can change your life. By being able to consistently take this small step, you can show yourself that you can be consistent. You can take charge of your life, one step at a time, one day at a time.
If my mini habit is to write one line a day, the aim should then be to distill what I learned into one sentence. Everything after will just be to elaborate. Hopefully this practice will help me in becoming more concise with my ideas.
Progress 2/2
We’ve always been taught to save save save. A penny saved is a penny earned. I think the idea is to not be frivolous with your spending is a great one, examine all the things we want to buy but this misses the mark by just a little bit. What we should be focused on is how we can grow grow grow. Where we should be spending our money is on ways to grow that top line. Regardless of whether it’s for a business or for yourself. Focus on getting more income first so that you can have the ability to save later. Now that doesn’t mean go out and blow your money on useless crap, but spend your hard earned money on things that will help you get more hard earned money.
Let’s say you want to save first and you’re able to save 10%, or even 20%, of your income, which is considered great by today’s metric. 20% of $59,000, which is the median household income in America, is only $11,800. Sure, $11,000 isn’t a small chunk of change for most people but if you’re goal is to become a millionaire, because why not, it would take you 90 years to reach that goal! And that’s only if you’re consistent, and even able to save 20%. Now let’s say you’re able to grow your income to $150,000 a year, and you’re able to save 10%, which is much more modest. You’re now saving $15,000 a year. It would take you 66 years to get to one million dollars, and if you can save 20% cut that time in half. Sure, you might be think “I don’t need a million dollars” or “money can’t buy happiness” and you’re right, but it can definitely give you and your family more opportunities to do the things that will make you happy. And the point of this message isn’t for you to make a million dollars your goal. If you’re happy where you are and just want a little bit more, a little bit more flexibility, a little bit more security, a little bit more nice things, then focus on growing that top line.
Currently reading Mini Habits by Stephen Guise
What I learned today:
Building habits by nature will lose excitement as time goes on. In the beginning we get enthusiastic about the progress that we make, but as the habit becomes stronger we don’t need need to think about htem as much. Naturally they become more “boring” as there emotions attached to the progress we make. Stick to the smallest step, and it’ll make it easier to keep carrying on, even when it no longer feel novel.
Progress 1/1
Becoming A Better Me 