Tim, I love your writing routine. I've tried to write first thing in the morning too but it doesn't always work for me. It feels like sometimes I need to gain a few impressions from the day before an idea comes to my mind. Who knows, this might change if I write for a decade like you.
Around lunch is when my best ideas come. Thing is, I'd love to have a new story ready in the morning. I love the sense of accomplishment once the day begins. It works with my early morning runs. But my brain complicates this writing thing haha :)
Hey Denis, food for thought here. I use an app called readwise to store and tag all of my book notes or thoughts. One of my tags is "newsletters" where I can quickly find pieces of articles, books, quotes or thoughts that caught my attention and made me think. Just reading a few of those in the morning usually sparks something I can at least start writing about. Hope this helps 😊
I just checked out the app - you synchronize your e-books with Readwise, correct? This is an ingenious way of keeping notes. Thanks for letting me know.
100% yes to overwhelmed! I’ve been there myself. I still don’t know if I’m on the right track but I’m not on the 9-5 hamster wheel for sure. Good stuff, Tim!
I took a chance on myself. After seeing my son's success, someone who at 15 years old didn't want to work for someone else and started his own biz, I decided to bet on myself. I cut out all unnecessary expenses, paid off two credit cards and cut them up, sold a few things, and started taking assignments I could pump out quickly which made by hourly rate go up. I haven't worked for someone else since 2000.
This is my husband in the 9-5 or 8-8 like you said miserable and me with the book that didn’t make me rich and writing on medium till I’m blue in the face, while also obtaining my masters in education (my passion is writing) but isn’t paying the bills.
This really hits home. As a multi-passionate person, staying obsessively focused on one goal can be hard. I have to constantly remind myself that I can accomplish many goals consecutively, but not simultaneously.
I just quit another job. My only goal right now is to continue writing and get better at it. I have no idea where that’ll take me in the future, but hopefully I’ll figure it out in time
Spot on @Tim Denning - plus, too much online information (little knowledge or wisdom) destroys attention and focus and =>>> overwhelm. Having one goal means you're forced to claw back your attention and do that one thing! You do offer wisdom!
I also wake up early - but definitely need to see the Sunrise before I do anything else. Then I get to tackling my goal. I also find that thoughts flow more easily when writing at night.
Really made me think with this one. I went straight into my Notion and made a week schedule to really plan in my writing time. You're right if this is a goal I'm serious about then it's time to be serious with how I approach it too!
I unfortunately can't agree on all points with you Tim. Only on the part getting slowly more and more workabused without even understanding it's consequences fully.
Too much cover up lies, not allowing to make an true assumption on the life loss we suffer silently.
As longer you are running the hamstermarathon, as more brain fog and disconnection the body has to cop with.
The loss, can felt in full spectrum only after you are out of the hamsterwheel. I stepped out of a 9to5 techniquian job, after it reversed to a 5to9.
I was also fired as you. That was my luckiest day in life! It saved my soul.
The only goal I had,(and still have) to stay outside that labor hell, as long as my money last's.
That was almost 23 years ago!
On 3rd of August I celebrate my 2nd birthday again.
“Any job at any time can double, triple, or quadruple your work load and there’s nothing you can do.”
The key is you wanna be operating in the sweet spot of the ‘so competent you’re clearly using work to validate your existence’ to the ‘so incompetent you’re as useless as an ashtray on a motorcycle’ spectrum. Too much competence and they’ll load you up. Not enough and you’re done for. It’s a very delicate balance, Tim.
And look, if it still happens you’re getting loaded up with work after delicately balancing yourself on the scale, you just tell your boss it appears your internet connection is experiencing some difficulty and you hang up as they’re giving you more work. They’ll get the picture eventually.
I love the specificity of your goal. It sent me off into quite a few mental meanderings about my own goals. Which ones to cull, what I really want, and how to make it hyper specific. Good thoughts. Thank you, Tim.
I totally agree with you! I've been saying that I hate mediocrity for so long, without the fear of being considered an asshole, but it still amazes me to see how people ENJOY being mediocre. I never wanted to be one of those and will never be. I want more!
I struggle to focus, and that's why I created a routine for myself. I even created a method that works for me and would definitely work for anyone interested: I glued a huge calendar on the wall I look at the most, and I have ONE goal written on the top of it. If I worked on my goal, I painted the day; if not, it stays blank. It reminds me that I failed myself that day for some reason and can't fail twice.
It has done miracles for me. I switched to a new career, and now I'm using it to get closer to my biggest dream. I've been telling people about that for ages, but they prefer to complain on Twitter about not having time instead of doing what they have to do.
Tim, I love your writing routine. I've tried to write first thing in the morning too but it doesn't always work for me. It feels like sometimes I need to gain a few impressions from the day before an idea comes to my mind. Who knows, this might change if I write for a decade like you.
I feel like time of day doesn't matter too much. There are night owls. But you prefer afternoon?
Around lunch is when my best ideas come. Thing is, I'd love to have a new story ready in the morning. I love the sense of accomplishment once the day begins. It works with my early morning runs. But my brain complicates this writing thing haha :)
Love this. Strange time of day.
Hey Denis, food for thought here. I use an app called readwise to store and tag all of my book notes or thoughts. One of my tags is "newsletters" where I can quickly find pieces of articles, books, quotes or thoughts that caught my attention and made me think. Just reading a few of those in the morning usually sparks something I can at least start writing about. Hope this helps 😊
I just checked out the app - you synchronize your e-books with Readwise, correct? This is an ingenious way of keeping notes. Thanks for letting me know.
100% yes to overwhelmed! I’ve been there myself. I still don’t know if I’m on the right track but I’m not on the 9-5 hamster wheel for sure. Good stuff, Tim!
How did you get off it Christina?
I took a chance on myself. After seeing my son's success, someone who at 15 years old didn't want to work for someone else and started his own biz, I decided to bet on myself. I cut out all unnecessary expenses, paid off two credit cards and cut them up, sold a few things, and started taking assignments I could pump out quickly which made by hourly rate go up. I haven't worked for someone else since 2000.
I’d be interested to know why you were fired from your job .They did you change your attitude .Or just your job.
No real reason. Middle management got removed to save money. My boss was odd too. You never really know.
This is my husband in the 9-5 or 8-8 like you said miserable and me with the book that didn’t make me rich and writing on medium till I’m blue in the face, while also obtaining my masters in education (my passion is writing) but isn’t paying the bills.
Needed this and need direction for my writing!
Writing works Melissa but most people choose thr wrong vehicle. Books and Medium are two examples.
Another impactful piece, Tim. I needed this reminder, thank you!
What helped the most?
Focusing on 1 goal. I tend to over estimate my bandwidth and take on too much. End up scattered and nowhere.
This 👇
“The more I’ve deleted all my other goals in life and gone all in on one goal, the more success I’ve had.”
This really hits home. As a multi-passionate person, staying obsessively focused on one goal can be hard. I have to constantly remind myself that I can accomplish many goals consecutively, but not simultaneously.
One well placed “poo my pants” or “piss all over themselves” holds so much power. I show up for the lols but I keep coming back for the good advice. 👌
I just quit another job. My only goal right now is to continue writing and get better at it. I have no idea where that’ll take me in the future, but hopefully I’ll figure it out in time
Spot on @Tim Denning - plus, too much online information (little knowledge or wisdom) destroys attention and focus and =>>> overwhelm. Having one goal means you're forced to claw back your attention and do that one thing! You do offer wisdom!
Love your focus Tim!
I also wake up early - but definitely need to see the Sunrise before I do anything else. Then I get to tackling my goal. I also find that thoughts flow more easily when writing at night.
Really made me think with this one. I went straight into my Notion and made a week schedule to really plan in my writing time. You're right if this is a goal I'm serious about then it's time to be serious with how I approach it too!
I unfortunately can't agree on all points with you Tim. Only on the part getting slowly more and more workabused without even understanding it's consequences fully.
Too much cover up lies, not allowing to make an true assumption on the life loss we suffer silently.
As longer you are running the hamstermarathon, as more brain fog and disconnection the body has to cop with.
The loss, can felt in full spectrum only after you are out of the hamsterwheel. I stepped out of a 9to5 techniquian job, after it reversed to a 5to9.
I was also fired as you. That was my luckiest day in life! It saved my soul.
The only goal I had,(and still have) to stay outside that labor hell, as long as my money last's.
That was almost 23 years ago!
On 3rd of August I celebrate my 2nd birthday again.
Let's see what's next
“Any job at any time can double, triple, or quadruple your work load and there’s nothing you can do.”
The key is you wanna be operating in the sweet spot of the ‘so competent you’re clearly using work to validate your existence’ to the ‘so incompetent you’re as useless as an ashtray on a motorcycle’ spectrum. Too much competence and they’ll load you up. Not enough and you’re done for. It’s a very delicate balance, Tim.
And look, if it still happens you’re getting loaded up with work after delicately balancing yourself on the scale, you just tell your boss it appears your internet connection is experiencing some difficulty and you hang up as they’re giving you more work. They’ll get the picture eventually.
(Obviously joking, but also maybe not 😳🤣)
I love the specificity of your goal. It sent me off into quite a few mental meanderings about my own goals. Which ones to cull, what I really want, and how to make it hyper specific. Good thoughts. Thank you, Tim.
I totally agree with you! I've been saying that I hate mediocrity for so long, without the fear of being considered an asshole, but it still amazes me to see how people ENJOY being mediocre. I never wanted to be one of those and will never be. I want more!
I struggle to focus, and that's why I created a routine for myself. I even created a method that works for me and would definitely work for anyone interested: I glued a huge calendar on the wall I look at the most, and I have ONE goal written on the top of it. If I worked on my goal, I painted the day; if not, it stays blank. It reminds me that I failed myself that day for some reason and can't fail twice.
It has done miracles for me. I switched to a new career, and now I'm using it to get closer to my biggest dream. I've been telling people about that for ages, but they prefer to complain on Twitter about not having time instead of doing what they have to do.
This is profound. I've listened to enough gurus to know that most of their advice is simply not worth following.
One goal + Immense focus = Success.