Imagine walking up a muddy hill wearing flip flops. Sure, you should focus on where you’re putting your feet, making a conscious effort to maintain balance and not slip. Certainly, you should not let your eyes or mind wander away from this difficult task. But really, you should swap your flip flops for hiking boots and use trekking poles. That will make far more of a difference. Tools and tactics… Read More »The Secret to Overcoming Distractions
There’s a common saying, often attributed to Winston Churchill,* that goes like this: “If you’re going through Hell, keep going.” Let’s unpack that piece of wisdom because there’s more to it than you might think. Imagine a person walking through a desert, trying to get from one side to the other. It’s painfully hot. They’re thirsty and exhausted. Stopping won’t do them any good. The only way to get out… Read More »If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going
A common question I get asked by coaching clients is, “What’s the best system for _______?” The blank is things like keeping track of your tasks, eating well, studying, and exercising. The answer is that there is no best system for anything. There are many good systems, but none are perfect. Which systems will work best for you depends on many factors, and you’ll sometimes need to adjust or replace… Read More »A System vs. The System
You want to get a lot done. You should get a lot done. You should exercise for 40 minutes. You should write for two hours. You should clean the whole house. But you don’t feel like you can do a lot, so you do nothing. Doing a little wouldn’t be worth it, you think. But doing a little is actually a prerequisite for doing a lot. It’s literally impossible to… Read More »You Can’t Do a Lot Without Doing a Little