toolbox – From the desk of Adam Thomas

Making something is hard.

When you do it enough, you face failure, and usually, a lot of it.

We think if we just get one thing to work, then it’s all downhill from there.

Eventually, if you keep showing up, something works.

Now you have a reputation.

With a reputation, you realize that it isn’t downhill, it’s uphill. It’s not easier; it’s harder to work.

Before, people didn’t know who you were, and now, there is an expectation. You have to fight the initial barrier to creating while making sure you don’t succumb to the weight of “expectation.”

You have to deliver! You made it happen before, do it again.

Hiding is easier because of the shadow of expectations.

However, there is an opportunity for growth with expectation. We gain muscles by working against resistance, not with it.

When there is the expectation, you can grow.

I think of expectation like a screwdriver. Like the screwdriver, the expectation is never far from any do-it-yourself (DIY) job because it gets things done. However, screwdrivers pike up. They are useful and small, so if we misplace one, we grab another to take its place. Many toolboxes have too many screwdrivers taking up space because they haven’t cleared them out.

We overload ourselves with expectations that we haven’t cleared out. It is worth the time so you can lighten your load.

After that, use the right screwdriver (expectation) to knock out the job (creative project).

Then get a bigger project.

Forcing Functions Push You Further

I’m not a betting man, but I bet parachutes aren’t on your mind.

In fact, I’m sure that you haven’t thought about parachutes in a long time. I am betting that you are like me in a sense that you don’t ever think about parachutes.

Well, rarely.

The only time I think about parachutes is when I am on a plane.

You know what would make me obsess about parachutes?

If I jumped out a place.

That is a forcing function.

A forcing function is a tool that forces a decision some kind. And they are powerful.

They don’t have to get to life or death though for effectiveness.

Let’s bring the camera in a little more to something that isn’t so extreme; your alarm clock.

Alarm clocks force you to decide as they go off. It isn’t a life or death decision (most days), but it is useful in making you decide.

You might select snooze, but you do decide.

There are frameworks like the LEAN Framework that build on this concept to help people do amazing things.

I want to make things even simpler.

There are two tools that you can build into your starting small toolkit that will push you further. They both work with reminders and deal with uncomfortability.

Exercise:

Forcing Deadlines:

For your idea, select a date for you to do something public with what you learn. (Reminder)

When you decide the time, tell your friend that remembers EVERYTHING (we all have one, it was the person you didn’t want to tell when you read “tell”). (Forcing Function)

ex. I want to learn how to write HTML, I promise to make a website for my photos by November, I am going to tell Bobby along with the date.

Forcing showing your work:

When you work on something, use a Porodomo timer. (Reminder)

During the “long break,” snap a picture of what you are doing and put it on Social Media. Start an anonymous Twitter handle if you worry about identity. (Forcing Function)