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”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Personal Mantras: Got one?

Personal Mantras - 43FoldersWiki

I’ve been digging the personal mantras that people have been adding to the wiki.

It’s interesting to see the different approaches and interests people have been taking; for some it’s an affirmation, for others it’s a motto or creed, and for many it appears to be a persistent reminder about the right thing to do.

My mantra—if you can call it that—is “Smaller, smaller.” It’s a principle more practical than spiritual, I suppose. I say it to myself several times a day to try and always remember that small things are easier to do than big things, and that most big things are really just a pile of small things if you break them up right. In real-world terms, “Smaller, smaller” means:

  • sub-projects
  • small-sized teams
  • modest, achievable goals
  • granular tasks, TODOs, and, yes, “next actions”
  • fast deadlines
  • frequent, but very short, check-in meetings
  • understanding how one piece leads to the next
  • making it hard to fail

There’s been very few times that “Smaller, smaller” has done me wrong. No matter how ambitious a project, idea, or problem is, there’s usually a way to break into very small pieces. Anyhow, that’s mine.

Got a personal mantra or motto of your own? Why’d you choose the one you did?

(And, no, “I believe I’ll have another beer” probably doesn’t count.)

TOPICS: Inspirado, Tips
Ian Cheung's picture

Big picture: Live life with...

Big picture: Live life with passion, do what you love, love what you do. I believe if I can stick to this, I will make a positive difference before I leave the face of the planet. It doesn't mean that you select a easy, fun, effortless job but it does mean that you believe in what you are doing.

Small picture: Even a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Which is also the same as "get started" or "make a start however small" but it reminds me the reason to get started is to complete the whole thing.

I also like Kevin Kennedy-Spaien's "Constant incremental improvement". I've believed this ever since I saw the effect in Intel's CPUs. From the 8088 to the latest Pentium D chips, they've been improving bit by bit. Heck even Apple has realised that :D

(In case you're wondering, No, my web site isn't one of those pyramid schemes)

 
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