How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time.
~ Annie Dillard
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How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time.
~ Annie Dillard
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Annie Dillard is right. Also useful for defending against chaos: Principles. Morals. Visualization. To be clear: My first word, “also,” is critical. I’m completely onboard with a schedule. But for me, since I’ve got schedule (and process and optimization and organization) dialed in, I’ve moved inward to more difficult topics of consideration. I find I’m asking myself—continuing Dillard’s metaphor—did I put the scaffolding in the right place?
And even more chin-scratchingly interesting: Am I done with this labor? And should I take the scaffolding down, so that I can set it up somewhere else?
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Somewhere behind the athlete you’ve become, and the hours of practice, and the coaches who have pushed you, is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back… play for her.
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How can individuals overcome barriers to starting and continuing creative projects?
A 12-minute train ride sparks the idea for a method that helps people overcome procrastination.
The creative hell of having something that you know you want to do and haven’t done, is much worse than having done it and it gone wrong.
~ Robbie Swale (2:26)
The conversation explores the challenges and processes involved in creative work, starting with the guest’s ambitious goal to appear on 100 podcasts within a year. This goal is tied to promoting a book and sharing a method designed to help people overcome procrastination. The “12-minute method,” inspired by quick train commutes, emphasizes short, focused creative sessions followed by immediate sharing, reducing the barriers to starting and completing creative projects. The discussion includes reflections on the emotional struggles associated with creative paralysis and the relief of simply beginning, regardless of the outcome.
Another topic discussed is personal branding, as Robbie shares how his identity has evolved across multiple roles—author, coach, and podcaster. He discusses the difficulty of balancing different audiences and platforms while maintaining a cohesive brand. This is paired with insights into the art of having meaningful conversations, whether in podcasts or personal interactions, and the transformative power of stripping away non-essential elements in both creative and conversational practices.
Takeaways
Overcoming procrastination — A structured, time-bound approach like the 12-minute method can break the inertia of creative blocks.
Sharing ideas without perfection — The act of publishing or sharing unfinished work can be more valuable than over-refining it.
Personal branding evolution — Presenting multiple facets of oneself requires careful thought to maintain coherence and accessibility.
The power of focused work — Even a short, focused effort repeated consistently can result in substantial achievements.
The value of conversations — Generative discussions can lead to new insights and deeper understanding, often surpassing solo reflection.
Balancing roles — Managing separate but overlapping audiences demands strategic decisions about branding and communication.
The impact of challenges — Setting ambitious goals can drive growth and learning, even if the goal itself is not fully achieved.
Resources
Robbie Swale’s website — Includes information on coaching and personal projects.
The 12-Minute Method — A series of books focused on creativity and overcoming procrastination, based on the guest’s personal writing journey.
The Coach’s Journey Podcast — A podcast created by the guest to support and inspire coaches in their professional journeys.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.
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We all have so much power that we don’t use. And I think it’s because of cynicism, which is a toxic spiritual state. Cynicism is a refuge for cowards.
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We all have so much power that we don’t use. And I think it’s because of cynicism, which is a toxic spiritual state. Cynicism is a refuge for cowards.
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I’m not sure what to think about the “spiritual” bit. I’d need to hear Booker explain what he means by that. This week, it seems, I’m on a language bender. And here’s something that really freakin’ matters…
Does Booker mean “Cynicism”, as in the proper noun, the state of being a Cynic…
For the [ancient] Cynics, the purpose of life is to live in virtue, in agreement with nature. As reasoning creatures, people can gain happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which is natural for themselves, rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, and fame, and even flouting conventions openly and derisively in public. Instead, they were to lead a simple life free from all possessions.
~ Wikipedia from, Cynicism (philosophy)
…which isn’t my cup of tea, but doesn’t sound that bad. Or does Booker mean the contemporary adjective “cynicism”, simply capitalized because it’s starting a sentence…
Cynicism is an attitude characterized by a general distrust of others’ motives. A cynic may have a general lack of faith or hope in people motivated by ambition, desire, greed, gratification, materialism, goals, and opinions that a cynic perceives as vain, unobtainable, or ultimately meaningless and therefore deserving of ridicule or admonishment.
~ Wikipedia from, Cynicism (contemporary)
…also not my preferred cup of tea, although I do sometimes partake.
When I first read that quote I wondered if he was referring to Cynicism, before deciding he clearly meant cynicism. I’d wager you read that quote and didn’t wonder at any time which he meant. (I’m not criticizing, only pointing at the marvelous process of understanding language.) My question for myself today is:
While I see the nuance around that word in this quote, where am I not seeing nuance that I should be?
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Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
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… there are two ways to go through life, as a thermometer or a thermostat. Don’t be a thermometer, just reflecting what’s aound you, going up or down with your surroundings. Be a thermostat and set the temperature.
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Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.
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