Using "Follow the energy" to refine your personal development experiments

As I continue exploring the field of personal productivity (and a possible new career in it), I'm pursing a number of possibilities (i.e., experiments), each of which requires time and energy to move ahead. However, they all have varying probabilities of success, none of which I know. So the question is: How much effort should I put into each one? [1]

One popular answer I've come across is to Follow the energy, the concept of letting nature itself tell us which experiments are promising. Here are two great descriptions I've found:

In Follow The Energy to Mine the Gold in Life, Dale Dauten says

As I talked to Orloff, I realized that the old advice to "follow the money" had led most of us astray, and the newer advice, "follow your passion," is distracting, for most people confuse amusements with passions. The better formula is "follow the energy." Follow it far enough, and you may even find your way to the lap of the gods.

Fred Gratzon gives us a different perspective; in Which Passion Should I Pursue?, he says

My advice would be to pursue them ALL until one starts to show a little promise. At that time, feed that new sprout with more attention. In other words, where there’s smoke, pour gasoline. [...] If it has potential, then that potentiality will show itself soon. If it doesn't, then you know you need to make a course correction.

So how do we know which efforts are expanding, and which are contracting? Or, as Gratzon might put it, "Where do I pour the gas?"

My initial thought is we know when either a) the energy received exceeds the energy given (resonance), or b) when the effort comes back in novel and surprising ways (transformation). Here are a few examples:

• Your network and reputation grow - people voluntarily and happily tell others about you and your work.
  
• Responses to your inquiries are excited and helpful - people listen to you, offer suggestions, and help set your direction.
  
• Your ideas connect into (and stimulate) others - people relate your ideas into the culture, and other projects.

Issues

I can see a few areas to be concerned about when following the energy. First, there's a risk of ignoring an area that isn't initially promising, but that has hidden potential. In this case I'd suggest keeping an eye on it, and being ready to put more into it if it re-awakens.

Second, I would be concerned about blindly following something without giving some thought to why things are going this way. For example, I would hate for a lack of communication or other skills to artificially contract opportunities. In other words, I would want to learn from the "failures" - maybe there's something deeper going on that needs my attention.

However, in spite of the issues I think following the energy is a nice idea. I'd love to hear your ideas and stories about this.


References

[1] Note that this is different from the question of which direction(s) to pursue. I've heard the latter called "Following your bliss/passion." Gratzon has a nice article on it in Finding Your Calling. The bliss idea comes from Joseph Campbell.

A geek "gets" networking: The strange magic of connecting with others

I've previously mentioned that I'm training myself to be a personal productivity consultant, having become seriously inspired after applying David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology to my life [2]. As an autodidact [3] (because there's no M.S. in Personal Productivity), I'm having to define the field of study for myself. Surprisingly, in addition to the expected subjects (time management, motivation, creativity, etc), my inquiry has expanded quickly to include broader topics like work/career, wealth/money, and personal growth and development. (Thanks again to Steve Pavlina for the great starter list.) And the queen of them all? Networking.

I've written about networking before [4], but after having started Keith Ferrazzi's excellent book Never eat alone: and other secrets to success, one relationship at a time (with Tahl Raz, and found via Ian Ybarra's blog), I've realized that it may be the most important thing I take away from my exploration of GTD, possibly eclipsing the study itself.

Why? Because I'm walking into an unknown area [5], and I know I absolutely must stay open to unexpected opportunities, especially ones that I literally can't imagine. My hope is that, by meeting others, being generous to them, and listening, I'll gain insight into (and help with) defining my path, rather than simply following possibly limited ones I dream up myself. (I'd say more, but Ferrazzi and Raz do it so wonderfully [6].)

Big change! I've discovered a world that, as a programmer, I had no clue existed. I've been living in a 20 year technical cocoon, starting with my first job with NASA, in which I've focused solely on my immediate social environment - my fellow workers, my boss, etc. This has been possible due to the focused nature of the work, and my willingness to be happy with that (frankly) impoverished level of connection with people. However, it is definitely time to change.

How to go about this? A combination of learning and goal setting. First, I'll apply concepts from Never eat alone and How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less by Nicholas Boothman (it's a great little book [7]).

Second, I've decided to take a page from Danny Wallace's book Yes Man and try an experiment - for the next year my goal is to meet three new people every week, and connect with them as significantly as possible. It will take work, and will be a challenge (I've already had to call someone back because I was "all business" the first time around), but it should be a wild ride.

Has anyone else had a networking "aha?" Regardless of whether you have or haven't, and in the spirit of the experiment, I'd love to talk with you - just send me an email. Cheers!


References

• [2]: After starting GTD I've cured my insomnia, lost 15 pounds, started a blog, and fixed a severe back problem. And much more.
  
• [3]: Thanks to Ami Wright, who introduced me to the word at the Boston GTD | The RoadMap seminar last year.
  
• [4]: Networking surprises - Some recent unexpected (but successful) outcomes and The most important networking question
  
• [5]: For a great (and short) book on change, I highly recommend Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard.
  
• [6]: The book is full of great insights, like:

  • The more people you help, the more help you'll have and the more help you'll have helping others.
    
  • Autonomy is a life vest made out of sand.
    
  • [The] currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.
    
  • Each of us is now a brand.
    
  • Contribute. It's like Miracle-Gro for networks. Give your time, money, and expertise to your growing community of friends.

  
  
• [7]: A review of "How to make people like you in 90 seconds or less"
  

On the power of saying "Thank you"

I find the holidays, if not managed carefully, can lead me to feeling farther away from people, rather than closer. This is ironic, because my culture sets up often unrealistic expectations for this time of year - 'tis the season to be jolly, etc. To counter this I'm trying to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness, and let it show through my actions.

Here's an example that left me feeling great: While waiting on the phone with Canon support regarding a printer [1] that's malfunctioning, I found my initial attitude was not a Really Useful one [2] - I was expecting long delays, accusations of misusing the printer, etc. Having recognized this I tried to keep it in check when I was connected (quickly!) to a very helpful man who reassured me that they would take care of me. The interesting point came when he put me on hold to get his supervisor's permission to send me a replacement print head - a costly item.

I felt tremendously grateful, and spontaneously offered to write the supervisor a thank you letter for my guy's work. He was extremely grateful, gave me an email address to use instead (even easier!), and told me almost no one he helps does this [3]. He then went back to the supervisor to arrange for me to get a new printer instead of just the part. I hung up very satisfied. Because the email took less than two minutes to write [4], I sent it off immediately after hanging up, giving me a nice sense of closure.


Too often I get bogged down with the details of life, and forget to appreciate the important things - food, clothing, and shelter; the wonderful and loving people I know; the deep respect of someone truly listening; the profound gift of a caring teacher [5]; and the natural beauty around me. So a hearty end-of-year thank you! to my readers, and to the myriad people involved in making this interdependent world function. I am deeply grateful.


References

• [1] The printer is a PIXMA iP3000, which is great for general printing, pictures, and Hipster PDAs. See diyplanner.com for printable GTD-compatible templates.
  
• [2] The concept of a Really Useful Attitude comes from the book How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less by Nicholas Boothman, which I reviewed here.
  
• [3]In his free e-book 100 ways to help you succeed/make money, Tom Peters offers:

  The rarest of gifts: THANK YOU!
  
  Alas, it (a nod of appreciation, a hastily penned, 2-line T-note) is so rare. (And thence ... ever so powerful!)
  
  Hints:
  
  

  1. Make it "permanent" - send a note.
     
  2. HANDWRITTEN notes beat emails!!!!!!!
     
  3. This applies equally at age 18 in a "powerless" job, as well as at age 48 as Honcho.
     
  4. Do this especially when you "don't have time" - at the end of a stressful day.
     
  5. Make it a "formal" habit- do it at the end of the day, say, every 2 or 3 days.
     
  6. If you can't think of anything or anyone to say "Thank you" to - I suggest you go see a shrink.

  
  
• [4] For a summary of GTD, including the 2-minute Rule, see the Wikipedia entry on GTD.
  
• [5]In How Do You Say "Thank You"?, Bert Webb talks about the challenge of rewarding teachers, who are very underpaid, but hold (in my opinion) very important jobs. His suggestions to show appreciation include thank you cards, recognition programs (e.g., Teacher of the week), letters of commendation, and others.
  

Knowing when you're on to something special

While talking about GTD with my illustrator friend Rebecca Guay (check out her books on Amazon), we realized that two of our passions (writing children's books, and productivity coaching) have something deep in common. I love the way she put it: "You know you've hit a nerve when your idea expands into infinite possibilities."

In her case, she's come up with a great idea for a new children's book, and it continues to support deep exploration (e.g., she can easily imagine an entire series). For me, diving into the personal productivity realm just keeps getting more interesting, broader, and richer. In addition to absorbing ideas from great thinkers like David Allen, Stephen Covey, Dale Carnegie, and Peter Drucker, my study is exposing me to areas including time management, creativity, etc. I would list them all, but, not surprisingly, Steve Pavlina's already done so - here's his terrific list from Personal Development for Smart People:

• Time Management
  
• Motivation
  
• Overcoming Procrastination
  
• Goals
  
• Courage
  
• Work/Career
  
• Wealth/Money
  
• Momentum
  
• Problem Solving
  
• Balance
  
• Fulfillment
  
• Consciousness

Whew! In other words, I've found that GTD expands into infinite possibilities. Maybe this helps explain its near-cult status [1] - like any activity with such breadth, one can easily plunge as deeply as desired. This also gives me something to offer when asked to justify a blog on the topic - I'm not just imagining secret codes in some strange-but-popular book. (However, if you read the third line on page 73 backwards, you'll see that Allen is in reality...)

Here's how Po Bronson puts it in What Should I Do With My Life?:

"What am I good at?" is the wrong starting point. [...] A simple test: Is your choice something that will stimulate you for a year or something that you can be passionate about for 10 years?

I'm betting this is a 10 year one.


References and related posts

• [1] For more on the cult aspect, see Meme Exploding: Getting Things Done, GTD: A New Cult for the Info Age, The Cult of Getting Things Done, or Meet the man who can bring order to your universe.
  
• Another fabulous quote from What Should I Do With My Life?:The relevant question in looking at a job is not What will I do? but Who will I become?
  
• In "Interesting, but not useful," or Does it pass the scribble test?, I describe another "is it interesting" test - does it make you scribble furiously when reading it or talking with someone?
  

An end-of-the-year idea grab bag: Smelly videos, photo stickers, dissolving staples, and darkening ink for NAs

Here's a collection of various ideas I've come up with over the last few months that didn't warrant their own posts. However, I wanted to share them before the year's out - just for fun. Other silly/crazy ideas welcome - please comment or email. Cheers!

Contents

• Removable image labels for kids
  
• Dissolving staples
  
• Fading paper, darkening ink
  
• Progressively smelly books/videos
  

Removable image labels for kids

Here's an idea I had a long time ago. I would love to print photo contact sheets on removable labels, for kids. A few application ideas:

• At a kids party: Take digital pics, run through program, print on labels, give out during or at end as take-away gifts.
  
• At preschool: Use pictures instead of words. For example: To show where things go at clean-up time
  

Dissolving staples

The problem: After having adopted David Allen's GTD, I've found I print more often - Read/Review articles, emails for projects, and web pages for my Someday/Maybe list. When I'm done with them I like save those that are blank on the back for reusing (one of the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle). However, the staples are a bit of a pain to remove. So the idea: Why not make staples out of a substance similar to dissolving sutures. The thought would be they'd be strong for a few weeks or so, then dissolve rapidly so that they're gone when it's time to reuse the paper.


Fading paper, darkening ink

This set of ideas all come from the problem of physical objects that need increased or decreased attention over time. For the case of decreased attention, here's an example: At my research lab I initialized a Wall of Fame which is a portion of a wall that showcases our work - publications, software releases, jobs, etc. However, we're running out of space, and it's hard to decide what to get rid of to make room for new items. The solution: Paper that's chemically treated to fade with time. Thus, the oldest will be most faded. This happens naturally with most paper, but I'd like something that's "time released" so as to fade at a predictable rate.

The opposite of this is the problem of something needing more attention over time. In my case, how about those old GTD Next Actions (NAs) that are getting stale? The solution: The inverse of that disappearing ink you played with as a kid: darkening ink. Better yet, I'd like ink that changes color over time, say from black to red. This would make those old NAs really stand out.

(Of course, this is an overly elaborate and exotic solution to something that GTD has already solved via the weekly review. By checking each Next Action list at least once a week, I should be noticing cringe tasks, and dealing with them accordingly.)


Progressively smelly books/videos

The final idea addresses overdue books or videos. (Yes, simply writing the due date down in the calendar GTD-style is the way to go, but sometimes one forgets. Also, this might help our non-GTD friends.) The problem: Items become due without giving any sense of it - due dates are intangible. The solution: Use a scratch-and-sniff approach in which the item gets progressively smellier as the due date approaches. For example:

Friend: Matt, what's that smell? Reminds me of Stinking Bishop!

Me: Oh - that's my copy of The 7 Habits. Damn, I really need to finish it; it's really smelling up the place!

This could also apply to books that I want to make progress on reading but haven't. I.e., as an olfactory trigger.

Variations: A progression of different (more noticeable) smells: blue cheese, compost, then finally rotten eggs. Of course they wouldn't have to be "bad" smells, e.g., lemon.