Me

    ∞

    Reduce Friction

    I need to simplify the creative workflow. My solution is to attempt to reduce all the friction I have.

    What are the reasons I don’t do something? Eliminating these “reasons” reduces the friction to accomplish something worthwhile.

    I want to get more exercise. The solution is to use my treadmill to its maximum use.

    I want to write more. The solution is to use the simplest writing application.

    Make things less complicated. Make things more easier.

    The simpler my creative workflow, the more creativity can expand, the more energy can be expended, and the happier I’ll be.

    ∞

    Giving Thanks

    On Thanksgiving this year, we pulled out videos taken more than twenty years ago of Thanksgiving’s of old. I knew I’d see a few people who have left us too soon — an uncle, a cousin. I knew I’d see my ex-wife.

    I didn’t know I’d see my grandma. She rarely showed up for Thanksgiving at our house because we still had a Thanksgiving at her house to go to like a day or two later. I became slightly emotional.

    As I’ve gotten older, Thanksgiving is a small, immediate family affair. It’s good to reminisce and smile at the larger, more involved holidays of the past, but I think I prefer the more intimate gathering

    Still, seeing grandma made me reflect on what the day is really for, giving thanks for the good things in my life now and in the past. I was so thankful I had my grandma in my life growing up. She was there nearly every day of my young life and a good many years after.

    I hope I’m a person that people are thankful for that I’m in their lives. I want to give as much as I can for my friends and family. I hope I am.

    I also hope this Thanksgiving finds you, dear reader, thinking of your blessings, of the ones no longer celebrating, and of the ones around you who are important and loved.

    Give thanks.

    ∞

    Sated

    Just in time for Thanksgiving!

    Sated is a keto-based, ready-to-drink meal replacement shake that’s high in fiber, high in protein and low in carbohydrates, a formula believed to help the body reach ketosis, a metabolic state induced through carbohydrate restriction. In other words, Sated is a keto-friendly version of Soylent.

    I took note of it a few months ago when it was on Kickstarter.

    I had tried Soylent, but I didn’t love it. I can buy Sated on Amazon now, but it’s far too expensive to test.

    If the price goes down, I might try it.

    ∞

    The Power-Idea Gap

    Michael Wade often drops smart thoughts. This one is freaking brilliant.

    Significant power brings greater responsibilities and greater responsibilities consume vast amounts of time and limited time pushes out opportunities for new ideas. Less power has fewer responsibilities and more time for ideas but getting the ideas into action can be difficult because there is a shortage of power.

    Wherever we may be on that scale, it is wise to keep the power-idea gap in mind.

    ∞

    Daily Shutdown Routines

    Curtis McHale uses Things 3 as his productivity system. He has created checklists to help him be mindful of what needs to be done so he doesn’t skip an important step.

    One of the best things I’ve added to my productivity system lately is the idea of a daily shutdown routine. Currently I have one for the end of the workday shutdown. I have one for the end of the day house shutdown and a set for Friday shutdown and Monday startup.
    These are interesting ideas and I might have to incorporate something like this in my life more.
    ∞

    The Curse of the Honeycrisp Apple

    After my dental surgery (I had loose congenital teeth replaced), I can now truly eat an apple the way it was meant to be, biting right into it instead of cutting it up into slices. My favorite is everyone’s favorite apple — the Honeycrisp.

    Deena Shanker of Bloomberg explains why the Honeycrisp is killing Northeastern growers.

    Unlike the vast majority of modern commercial produce, the Honeycrisp apple wasn’t bred to grow, store or ship well. It was bred for taste: crisp, with balanced sweetness and acidity. Though it succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, along the way it became a nightmare for some producers.
    I had no idea about the history of the Honeycrisp.
    ∞

    Do the Verb

    Austin Kleon talks about titles versus doing the work.

    So many people think you have to first call yourself an artist, know who you are and what you’re about, and then you can start making art. No, no, no. You do the stuff first, then you can worry about what it is, who you are. The important thing is the practice. The doing. The verb.

    We aren’t nouns, we are verbs. Forget the nouns, do the verbs.

    His whole point is to forget trying to be a thing and just do the work that needs to be done. Doing the work gets you further than just wanting to be the thing.

    For me it’s saying I’m a writer, but haven’t really written. I mean, I have written and self-published some cool stuff, but I get that imposter syndrome sneaking in sometimes too.

    Ultimately, I should just write and forget about being a writer.

    You should do the verb too.

    ∞

    A Note from 2030

    Seth Godin drops some good advice.

    Twelve years from now, your future self is going to thank you for something you did today, for an asset you began to build, a habit you formed, a seed you planted.

    Even if you’re not sure of where it will lead, today’s the day to begin.

    ∞

    Productivity Hack

    I have an unhealthy addiction to finding the perfect productivity system and failing miserably at it. I used productivity apps, tried bullet journaling, tried hacks and tips, and other assorted ideas. Thousands of words are written daily on the subject.

    Steve Melvin at Daddilife has more productivity tips, but his main one is probably the most important.

    The most useful method? The real “secret” to productivity? Its really quite simple…Learn when you are productive.
    Do you know when your productive hours are? I don’t. Soooo, I’m going to start a log and try to be mindful about my productivity. There are other good ideas too, but I’m finding out when you are productive is smart.

    I have no idea why I’ve never done it before.

    ∞

    Daily Intentions

    I’m being bombarded with news, notifications, and other assorted miscellany, and it’s hurting my head. I can’t wait for this election to end.

    I’m reminded of a post on Copyblogger about dealing with distraction and productivity.

    Take some time away from the usual flood of news and notifications to think about your daily intentions. Document them somehow — any way that works for you — and make sure you see them through.

    — Loryn Cole

    It’s good to step away from the cacophony of noise and just figure out what you want to do.

    ∞

    Time Traveler

    Ever wonder which words first appeared in print the year you were born? Merriam-Webster’s Time Traveler page lets you find out. It’s a good way to kill a couple of minutes and you might have some fun too.

    For example, Poison Dart Frog is the name of my next band.

    ∞

    "Fall"

    On Monday and Tuesday, it was in the mid-80s. I attended an outdoor cookout. Wednesday it was 73. Thursday, it was 53. Today it’s 41, and it’s snowing. Welcome to “Fall” in Central Illinois.

    ∞

    A Hidden Source of Power

    Leo Babauta, at his Zen Habits blog, writes about one’s state of mind and how controlling it is a hidden source of power.

    Let me give you an example. Let’s say you’re pining over a lover who has rejected you, and wishing you had those incredible moments back, where they made you feel happy, loved. But actually, the source of that love was inside of you, not outside of you. When you were with your ex-lover, they were there in the room with you, but the source of feeling loved was in your own mind, in your own heart. You made yourself feel that way, by how you perceived the situation.

    That means that you have the power to make yourself feel loved. At any time. It’s always available to you. It depends on no one else.

    You have the power to make yourself feel angry, or at peace. To feel hurt, or joyful. To feel connected, or disconnected. To feel accepted, or rejected.

    That’s not to say that other people don’t do crappy things. But those crappy things don’t have to make us feel horrible — we can let them slide off of us, and decide how we want to feel. Sure, that’s easier said than done, but it’s still a power that resides within us.

    It reads like common sense, but the application of it is so difficult.

    ∞

    The Value of Minimalism

    Dan Pederson on Minimalism -

    The less you own, the less you have to take care of.

    The less you own, the less you have to replace.

    The less you own, the less money you need to earn.

    The less you own, the more time you have for other things (and people).

    The less you own, the less things you need to protect.

    I get what he’s saying here which is basically be content with what you have because wanting less is a mental increase. He goes on to say the value of minimalism is removing the distractions from your life.

    Minimalism can simplify your life. There’s value in that.

    ∞

    The Very Definition of Overwhelm

    Shawn Blanc writes about feeling overwhelmed.

    If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then perhaps you feel as though you have been given too much. In fact, you’ve been given so much that you’re to the point of feeling buried and drown beneath a huge mass of stuff — from urgent issues, undone tasks, incoming requests of your time and energy, and more. And as a result you feel overpowered and defeated.
    His idea to combat this feeling is to create a to-do matrix.

    I’m not a fan of this, but I get it. He says it allows you to know exactly what you’re in charge of and so you can then prioritize accordingly. In my experience, even if you aren’t in charge of something or the “owner” you still have to do it. You still have to get it all done.

    It doesn’t make the overwhelmed feeling disappear. It only organizes it into a game of responsibility four square. I don’t find this concept liberating at all.

    ∞

    Why This Athletic Director Runs with Fans Before Every Home Football Game

    Danielle Zickl, writing for Runner’s World, tells the tale of University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman’s home football tradition―the Game Day Run Club.

    I used to be a runner, but I’m old and decrepit now, and even running a 9-minute mile seems entirely out of the question. Still, I’d like to join.

    Maybe. Someday.

    ∞

    Paste and Match Style

    My workflow includes a lot of copy and pasting of texts into documents. Alas, the formatting often comes with and I have to adjust and rearrange. You can paste without formatting, but that’s not necessarily what I want. More often, I want paste and match style.

    Ally MacDonald points out a simple way Mac users can make pasting without formatting the default:

    Want to improve your quality of life in 5 seconds?

    1. Go to System Preferences

    2. Keyboard

    3. App Shortcuts

    4. All Applications –> add “Paste and Match Style” ⌘V

    Done.

    This change re-maps the default “Paste” keyboard shortcut to paste and match style.

    What a timesaver.

    ∞

    Mom and Dad in Fish Creek

    ∞

    Stop Trying to Change Yourself

    Mark Manson on change:

    You can’t change yourself, so don’t even try. I know that’s not what the infomercials and self-help seminars tell you. But fuck it. They’re wrong. You can’t change. Like a thirsty man in a desert chasing a mirage, or a fat man peering into an empty fridge—there’s nothing there. So stop chasing it. Go do something else instead.
    The rest is really good too.
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