Hold That Thought
3 useful things every other Thursday to help word nerds and other busy-brained people say and do less.
A perfectly dull blade
Hold That Thought Pencil shavings by Peggychoucair from pixabay. These past two weeks I've been thinking about "feeling ready". Here are three things to simplify that concept: “I see people wasting their time and potential every day, thinking they are not ready to start. I spent years of my life in that state. And, at times, I still need this same advice I’m giving you. But at least I have enough experience cutting with a just-enough-sharp blade to tell you it’s possible.” — Recovering...
Simplifying means slowing down
Same idea, slower pace… This week I've been thinking about what it means to simplify. This, paired with your votes, has prompted me to make some welcome changes. The first one is that Hold That Thought is stretching out to a more leisurely every other Thursday rhythm. While I absolutely love pouring my heart into this newsletter each week, a slower pace will mean that both of us can get more value out of the ideas within. That's also 26 fewer emails for your inbox. The next change is that I'm...
Eat your own dog food
Hold That Thought Bowl of dog food by jirkaejc from Getty Images This week I've been thinking about food. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: If you wouldn't buy what you're selling, why should anyone else? Eat Your Own Dog Food Your business is a menu, and yours might be overstuffed. Simplify your offers…with cake! by Ricardo Brito “Dinner resists optimization. It can be creative, and it can be pleasurable. None of this negates the fact that it is a...
Less smart, inside and out
Hold That Thought …with the help of this unsmart household device. This week I've been thinking about the difference between smarts and wisdom (and how to err toward the latter). While I didn't solve it, I now know this: it starts in our heads and in our homes. Here are three five things on that theme to turn mental energy into meaningful action: 3 fresh takes on what wisdom is, from Clearer Thinking The smart one is dumb, from Salmon Labs Function-stacking: a wiser way to use your stuff,...
Ditch your pro-con list; try this instead
Hold That Thought Time to stop going around and start exploring? Photo by Mark Angell from Getty Images. This week I've been thinking about decision-making. Here are three things on that theme to turn mental energy into meaningful action: Ditch your pro-con list; try this method instead. I've turned my Best of Both Worlds article into a free template in the Miroverse! Give it a try and then let's hop on a free call to chat about it. “Procrastination is often seen as a vice, but...
Change it up.
Hold That Thought What we do while we wait. Platform 6, Liverpool Lime Street. This week I've been working in a new environment…the Great Malvern hills! Getting there has involved intermittent periods of waiting. Here are three things on that theme to help you turn mental energy into meaningful action: Things to do while waiting, by Zachary Kai. What are some things you do while waiting? Finding yourself enduring something? Here's a reminder from my archives that nobody can waste your time...
Asbestos is a sleeping dog
Hold That Thought Sometimes the simplest solution is to let the sleeping dog lie. Photo of Terry the rescue pug by me. This week I've been thinking about keeping it simple. Here are three things on that theme to turn mental energy into meaningful action: Keeping it simple is often about knowing what kind of problem you're solving; a great list from Clearer Thinking: asbestos is a sleeping dog An older one from me, but perhaps worth revisiting as we continue through this season: different ways...
Tip of the iceberg
Hold That Thought Iceberg with underwater view by the-lightwriter from Getty Images. This week I've been thinking about what it means to have a something (and someone!) supporting our vision — even if we don't know what that is yet. Here are three things on that theme to turn mental energy into meaningful action: In this 5-minute video, Simon Sinek neatly sidesteps a language trap around Vision Statements to zero in on 3 things you must consider to make it meaningful. Bonus: take another...
Deeper than the dazzle
Hold That Thought Anatomy of a magic trick, from The Prestige This week I've been thinking about the uncomfortable process of growth. Here are three things on that theme to turn mental energy into meaningful action: In his post on the hidden cost of comfort, Sahil Bloom asks: What growth are you starving with the struggle you’re avoiding? Everyone seems to be turning to AI coaches to help them think through challenges. In some ways, it works. But AI falls short in a few others, one of which...
Progress on a goal-less year
Hold That Thought Shrödinger's Goal. Photo by choness from Getty Images Pro. This week I've been thinking about what it means to not have goals. Here are three things on that theme to turn mental energy into meaningful action: Progress on my goal-less year, six months in What are goals, really? Here's Tiago Forte's take on it…what's more important than the goal? Without goals, what's left? Tim Urban gives us a sobering but poignant reminder of what all of this is all really about. After all,...
3 useful things every other Thursday to help word nerds and other busy-brained people say and do less.