Useful mindsets to consider when figuring out what to work on in life. If it’s a “hell yeah”, then dive right in. No need to have remorse about the alternatives – your life is long enough to have more of these rarer “hell yeah”’s.
New mindsets
Actions
One thing for years. Are you frustrated that the world wants you to pick one thing , because you want to do them all ? The problem is thinking short term — assuming that if you don’t do all the things now , they won’t happen . The solution is to think long term . Do just one thing for a few years , then another for a few years , then another . You can fully focus on one direction at a time , without feeling conflicted or distracted , because you know you’ll get to the others .
Imitation is ok, maybe even better. Like a funhouse mirror that distorts what it reflects , your imitation will turn out much different from the original . Maybe even better. So look around at those existing ideas in the world . You can imitate them and still be offering something valuable and unique .
Standard pace is for chumps. He taught me that “ the standard pace is for chumps “ — that the system is designed so anyone can keep up . If you’re more driven than most people , you can do way more than anyone expects .
All in when stoked. Then when something is extra - rewarding , it’s time to switch strategies . Focus all of your energy on this one thing . Don’t be leisurely . Strike while it’s hot . Be a freak . Give it everything you’ve got . If by chance it was a dead - end road , then switch your strategy back to trying everything .
Unnecessary stress. When I notice that I’m all stressed out about something or driving myself to exhaustion, realize that half of my effort wasn’t effort at all , but just unnecessary stress that made me feel like I was doing my best .
Happy, smart, and useful. There are three things to consider when making life - size decisions : What makes you happy, What’s smart — meaning long - term good for you, What’s useful to others. … Happy and smart isn’t bad . The self - focus feels great at first . But you can’t actually pull yourself up by your bootstraps . Ultimately you must be lifted by those around you .
Aim for unique and useful. I’m glad my old confidence is gone because it thought I was right , and maybe even great , but not anymore . Now I aim to make my work — my little contribution to the world — just unique and useful .
A “Possible Futures” folder. Then I made a little change that made a big difference : on my computer , I made a folder called “ Possible Futures . “ For each big plan , I make a new file in that folder and put all of my ideas and research into it .
Pick one when ready. When I finish a big project and I’m feeling ready for a new future , I open this folder and pick one to make real .
Don’t have to be local. I’m not being as useful to the rest of the world . So I’m finally admitting : I’m not local . I feel equally connected to many places . Just because I live in one place now , that doesn’t mean I should ignore the others . To me , the emphasis on local stuff never felt right .
Think how it ends. Before you start something , think of the ways it could end . Sometimes the smart choice is to say no to the whole game .
Bad judges of own work. Hit songwriters often admit that their most successful hit song was one they thought was just stupid , even not worth recording . We’re clearly bad judges of our own creations . We should just put them out there and let the world decide .
Great goals make you act now. Judge a goal by how well it changes your actions in the present moment . A bad goal makes you say , “ I want to do that someday . “ A great goal makes you take action immediately. But unless it changes your actions , right now , it’s not a great goal . Find another variation that excites you .
Change needs empty space. Personal change needs some space to happen . To bring something new into your life , you need somewhere to put it . If your current habits are filling your day , where are these new habits supposed to go ?
Learning without doing is wasted. Learning without doing is wasted . If I don’t use what I learn , then it was pointless ! How horrible to waste those hundreds of hours I spent learning , and not turn it into action .
Inspiration through your work. Because nothing is truly inspiring unless you apply it to your work . ( “ work “ meaning your life’s output , whether creative , business , or personal ) . In other words , your work , itself , is the inspiration .
Decide as late as possible. So when should you make decisions ? When you have the most information , when you’re at your smartest : as late as possible . … Resist the urge to figure it all out in advance . Realize that now , in the beginning , is when you know the least . When people expect you to make these decisions in advance , get used to saying , “ We don’t know yet .”
Love and money each half. Do something for love and something for money . Don’t try to make one thing satisfy your entire life . Each half of your life becomes a remedy for the other . You get paid stability for part of your day , but then need creative time for expression . So you push yourself creatively , expose your vulnerable art to the public , feel the frustration of rejection and apathy , and then long for some stability again . Each half is a remedy for the other .
Don’t taint love with money. Don’t taint something you love with the need to make money from it .