Trust the System
All night, I kept waking up and checking my watch.
Was it time to get up, YET?
I don’t trust my phone alarm to wake me for an early morning appointment. And, I suffer for it.
As I've been reading Getting Things Done (GTD), it highlights that a system’s effectiveness is limited by our level of commitment and trust.
Just like my alarm clock.
While that’s a simple system, it’s a perfect example. The more complex (and the more users), the more likely it is to fail.
It’s like a business’s filing system that is disregarded by 75% of the office. The result? Inefficiencies throughout, sometimes worse than if there was no system at all.
We need to commit 110% to realize a system’s full benefit.
If we're going to build personal processes and systems that are effective, we need to lean into them. That means lots of iterations of practice, reflection, and improvement.
The challenge is to focus on a process that is easily repeatable. Follow the KISS method (keep it simple, stupid) and make it into a habit.
The best processes are the ones most likely to get completed. Not the most complex.
An example is just “just going for a run” instead of coming up with an elaborate workout for the day. The latter might provide optimal benefits, but it's more involved than just lacing up my shoes and getting out the door.
My process of just “lacing up” for at least a mile every day is now four months old. In that time, I've done a more complex routine four times — and never on my own.
Don't worry about finding the perfect system. Find the one that fits just right for you.
Or, at least, invest in a good alarm clock.
Related Thoughts:
Learn Like an Athlete - David Perell
Knowledge workers should train like LeBron, and implement strict “learning plans.”
Practice, reflect, and improve. It worked for Lebron.
“Your current habits are perfectly designed to deliver your current results.”
Are your systems delivering the desired results? If not, where can you reflect and improve?
Picture of the Week
In St. Thomas, I tried and trusted a rash guard to keep the sunburn away. It worked great. My arms and upper body showed no signs of sun damage.
Unfortunately, this was the last few hours before my hands and feet were entirely sunburned. There's always room for improvement.
Stay Curious,
Scott