Organization as a Super Power

by Posted in Perspective, Self-Improvement Tagged , , , , , , ,


Recently I had a dream. In this dream I met a man…

Not just any man, this guy was liquid cool. His look was crisp and his demeanor was like James Bond + the Bronze Fonze + Clark Kent + the Silver Surfer. Calm, confident, effective and all-knowing.

I was blown away. This person was on an entirely different level than I thought possible. I couldn’t figure out how someone could be like that. Of course, it was a dream but dreams being what they are, I didn’t realize that at the time.

SawyerBronzeFonz2008
 The bronze Fonz by Gerald P.       Sawyer. via Wikipedia

As the dream moved along and I hung out with the Dude I started to put it together. The thing that set him apart, the thing that made him the marvel of success and superhuman efficiency was simply that this person was organized. And I don’t mean peg-board for tools organized…No, more like I think his hair was alphabetized. It was obviously something otherworldly – not achievable by the likes of mere mortals. When he took me to his palace (I know) it actually shined like polished chrome – not because it was polished chrome, but because it was sooooooo damned organized!

OK, it was just a stupid dream. But, it made a big impression on me. It also reminded me of something that I recently heard Jocko Willinck say on an episode of Tim Ferriss’ (awesome) podcast:

“Discipline sets you free.”

He elaborated with examples but the gist of it is that if you have discipline to take care of the stuff you need to take care of (exercise and health, finances, relationships) consistently, even when it’s hard, then you’ll be set free to do what you want because you’ll have health and good finances and good relationships. All of those can easily become a prison if neglected. That really resonated with me.

Being a programmer, organization is paramount. And I’m never good enough at it – whether in my code or in my personal life. Organization requires discipline! The discipline to write tests and not cut corners. The discipline to be actively engaged in self-improvement. The discipline to override my lazy brain and get my ass to the gym or put shit away when I’m done with it. I’ve neglected these things in the past, or been lazy – not even lazy – just passive and it ALWAYS results in less freedom in and being less effective and being more frustrated and ultimately, to being less happy.

As of this minute, I declare “No MORE!”. I will strive to be like the bronze-fonze of my dream, both in code and in life. It won’t happen overnight but it WILL happen. Here’s a cool video about the ridiculously productive YouTuber Casey Neistat’s workspace for additional inspiration.

Life Coding – Organize and Optimize Your Life by Programming It

by Posted in Self-Improvement, Software and Code, Writing Tagged , , , ,

 

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Here we are in day two of the 20-minute challenge. I can’t believe I’m back so soon!

Now, a topic I’ve been thinking about lately. I’m a programmer. That basically means my brain has been altered by years of abuse, trying to get it to do things that a human brain should never be subjected to. Programmers have to think in multiply nested layers of abstraction. Constantly! It burns! Its sick! It takes a toll and frankly it makes us a little (a lot) weird!

Well, OK, maybe its not that bad (it actually is) but still, programmers really do see the world differently. We’ll plan things like a trip from the couch to the bathroom in the most efficient route, optimizing for time and movement…We have to so that we can get there and back and grab a snack before the next round of COD starts. Wait, what? That’s just me? OK, whatever.

The idea I’m trying (and failing) to get to is one I’ve been toying around with for a while…If you PRE-PROGRAM your life, can you get better outcomes? For me at least, it turns out that I can. I also call this concept front-loading. Here’s how it works.

Let’s face it, the person who makes plans is not exactly the same person who has to actually follow-through on those plans (even if they are technically the same person). “Plan-maker-guy” (that’s you making plans for your future self to act on) is an optimist! He thinks he can do whatever he sets his mind to. He envisions a future with a bulging savings account and rock-hard abs.

But “here-in-the-present-you-want-me-to-do-what?” guy thinks Plan-maker guy is a jerk! The person who lives here in the present tense doesn’t actually love the idea of going to the gym or skipping dessert or pinching pennies. The person you are in the present wants to PARTY! Present-guy is basically 80% ID.

So, say I want to get up and go to the gym in the morning. But I know (from experience) that morning-guy is gonna have some lame excuse. Most-likely that he’s running late and can’t possibly make it to the gym. Here’s how I can VASTLY increase that odds that morning-guy will do what optimistic night-before-guy wants him to do. First, I’ll make breakfast and stick it in the fridge. I’ll wash the espresso machine and load it up so all morning-guy has to do is plug it in. I’ve front-loaded my morning to make it more likely that I’ll be able to execute and deliver on my plan.

By spending a few minutes the night before (when I’m already awake) I can give myself an extra twenty minutes in the morning. That improves the odds that morning guy will make it to the gym.

I’ve wondered about developing this concept and seeing how much mileage I can actually get out of it. I’ll probably explore and experiment with this in idea in future posts…but right now, my twenty minutes are up!

The 10 of 12, 20 Minute Writing Extravaganza Challenge!

by Posted in Self-Improvement, Writing Tagged , ,

OK, I admit it. So far I’m not so good at posting regularly. In the spirit of constant improvement and relentlessly clawing my way toward the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (self-actualization, actually), I’m posing myself a challenge:

The 10 out of 12 day, 20 minute writing extravaganza challenge (or the 10of12D20MWEC for short)!

OK, that name sucks but here’s what it is:

  • Write for 20 minutes, no more, no less 10 out of the next 12 days.
  • Post it on blog.
  • That’s it.

By limiting my time I give myself an out on perfectionism and limit my ability to weasel out because “<whine> I don’t have time <snivel>”. I’ve got 20 minutes. Seriously.

It also means that I’m going to be all over the place…because that’s how my brain is. But that’s OK.

Ever since I created this page and put up the first post, I’ve been hanging out in a local pit of existential agitation (I’m a regular there…they know me by name). I’ve been trying to figure out who I’m writing this for and why. If this is just going to be my self-serving brain-dump then why not just stick with Google Docs? The answer I’ve decided is that I do hope that someone, somewhere, someday may find some value in what I write. So, after having reached that magnificent breakthrough <rolls eyes> I have some ideas about what and how to write for this.

As for the how, I’m just going to pretend that you exist, ACTUAL-REAL-LIFE-TOTALLY-NOT-IMAGINARY, reader! And I’m going to assume that you’re reading because you’re getting some value. There. Done. Next question.

“What will I be writing about?” you ask, vast online multitudes of adoring totally-non-imaginary readers?
Well, I think it will be a mash-up of the most effective things to know about what I know. OK, that sentence should be condemned. What I mean (crap, just under five minutes left!) is that for something like playing guitar, I might choose the top four or five things that made the most difference to my students (back when I taught guitar), or the things that have helped me the most in my personal life (like how I mostly fixed my back problems).

My hope is that I’ll be able to get some good stuff put down without embarrassing myself too much in the process.

OK, 1-minute mark. Time to wrap it up. First entry in the 10of12D20MWEC down. Nine to go. Wish me luck! Hello? Hello? Is this thing on? <crickets>

 

Hello World. Well, actually…

by Posted in Self-Improvement, Writing Leave a comment

Hello, whoever you are. I’m not sure how or why you found this. Maybe you know me or we share some common interests. Whatever. Hello and welcome.

So, maybe you’re wondering what the point and purpose of this is? Yeah, me too. Well, sort of. I do have a some idea what it will be – but since this is the first post and the future is (currently) mysterious and unknown and all that…well, who knows?

What I think it will be about is me following my curiosity while stumbling along the meandering, elusive path toward self-understanding, solving the world’s problems and finding ultimate nirvana. Then in my second post…[snare hit]

Seriously though, I’m a curious guy. I have a lot of interests so this is likely to be all over the place but there should be lots of stuff about software engineering (my real job), technology, books, sci-fi, film, living in Utah, the nature of existence, tacos, quantum entanglement, whiskey, graphic design, fatherhood, bad gardening, DIY and hacking stuff, the future and whatever else holds my decidedly deficient and disordered attention long enough for me to write something about it.

So, enough about what this might be – time to find out what it actually is.