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First: Don't be a donkey. http://sivers.org/donkey http://sivers.org/donkey Also, ask yourself of those 50 different goals, which is something you HATE NOT d

by sivers 15y ago

First: Don't be a donkey. http://sivers.org/donkey http://sivers.org/donkey Also, ask yourself of those 50 different goals, which is something you HATE NOT doing? http://sivers.org/hatenot http://sivers.org/hatenot Focus on that goal, and let go of the rest. See my other reply here about the conditions of "flow". One is that you need to be getting immediate positive feedback on your actions. Maybe your 50 different goals aren't giving you any progress feedback, because they never get enough of your time to make progress? Imagine kind of like some people take a 10-day meditation retreat, or a 7-day fast, maybe what you need is like a 10-day "ONLY ONE GOAL" retreat. Pick the one thing that matters most, and only work towards that one thing. It's almost physically painful to ignore the other 49 at first, but soon the rewards from that one will be worth it. Then it feeds on itself, and perhaps could be your turning point.

reason 15y ago
Awesome. The One Goal Retreat sounds like a great idea. I'll give it a shot - thanks!
Aushin 15y ago
Is it possible to be a semi-donkey? I have, if I were to try to count, 4 major 'things' going on in my life right now. One is keeping fit, one is keeping up with free online learning resources like Udacity, one is my job, and one is learning to play guitar. Are you suggesting that if I don't drop three of those, I won't succeed in any of them? That worries me a bit, because the job part takes up LOTS and LOTS of time, far more than the other three combined.
- zumda 15y ago
  I think this comes down to timeboxing everything. 1. Goal: Keeping fit. Invest 30 minutes each morning to that goal, which leaves 3. 2. Goal: Your job. Again, this is timeboxed until 5 pm, so do whatever it takes. Which leaves 2. 3. Goal: Play guitar. Not it gets tricky, because you could do both. But I think, again, timebox them. Monday through Friday you concentrate on your guitar, which leaves only 1. 4. Goal: Udacity. Now that you can do on the weekend. You will probably still play some guitar (I know I do), but thats not "learning", but playing (which is also important). I think if everything is timeboxed and planned, I at least don't have problems keeping up, because I don't feel overwhelmed.
  - dropshopsa 15y ago
    Here is a good site for guitar try do a lesson a day.. justinguitar.com
- sivers 15y ago
  We all have multiple goals. (Be healthy. Be a great programmer. Be a great dad. Etc.) You'll know if you have so many that it's holding you back, and paralyzing you. If it's not a problem, if you're able to progress on all of them, then congrats! No need to change anything because of a silly blog post. ☺
  - Aushin 15y ago
    Thanks for the quick response. I'm a bit more at ease now. And the post was anything but silly. It makes a really powerful point!
  - wmat 15y ago
    That describes me perfectly. I'm paralysed, but working hard not to be.

by sivers 15y ago

reason 15y ago

Awesome. The One Goal Retreat sounds like a great idea. I'll give it a shot - thanks!

Aushin 15y ago

Is it possible to be a semi-donkey? I have, if I were to try to count, 4 major 'things' going on in my life right now. One is keeping fit, one is keeping up with free online learning resources like Udacity, one is my job, and one is learning to play guitar. Are you suggesting that if I don't drop three of those, I won't succeed in any of them? That worries me a bit, because the job part takes up LOTS and LOTS of time, far more than the other three combined.

zumda 15y ago
I think this comes down to timeboxing everything. 1. Goal: Keeping fit. Invest 30 minutes each morning to that goal, which leaves 3. 2. Goal: Your job. Again, this is timeboxed until 5 pm, so do whatever it takes. Which leaves 2. 3. Goal: Play guitar. Not it gets tricky, because you could do both. But I think, again, timebox them. Monday through Friday you concentrate on your guitar, which leaves only 1. 4. Goal: Udacity. Now that you can do on the weekend. You will probably still play some guitar (I know I do), but thats not "learning", but playing (which is also important). I think if everything is timeboxed and planned, I at least don't have problems keeping up, because I don't feel overwhelmed.
- dropshopsa 15y ago
  Here is a good site for guitar try do a lesson a day.. justinguitar.com
sivers 15y ago
We all have multiple goals. (Be healthy. Be a great programmer. Be a great dad. Etc.) You'll know if you have so many that it's holding you back, and paralyzing you. If it's not a problem, if you're able to progress on all of them, then congrats! No need to change anything because of a silly blog post. ☺
- Aushin 15y ago
  Thanks for the quick response. I'm a bit more at ease now. And the post was anything but silly. It makes a really powerful point!
- wmat 15y ago
  That describes me perfectly. I'm paralysed, but working hard not to be.