This started off life as a link post to an interesting video on Matt Birchlers writing set up. However, it quickly spiralled out of control into me writing regular expressions, editing javascript and spending two days making this set up my own. If you're into doing anything like this, then
BBEdit: A powerful, highly linkable, text editor for creative work and note-taking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czz53RpImRM
Create more productively
Whether you're simply filling out a web form, drafting a topic for a forum entry, replying to an intricate email, or creating something quite substantial like an article or even a book … you'll be more productive if you Hook yo
Scott Adams, the Dilbert creator, says he doesn’t have any extraordinary skills. He’s a pretty good artist. He’s kind of funny, an OK writer, and decent at business. But multiply those mediocre skills together and you get one of the most successful cartoonists of all time. A lot of things work like that. A couple ordinary things you don’t notice on their own create something spectacular when they mix together at the right time. One of the big leaps forward for humanity is when we mixed copper, which is soft, with tin, which is like paper, and created bronze, which is hard and made great tools and weapons. It was like two plus one equals ten. Same with the weather. A little cool air from the north is no big deal. A little warm breeze from the south is pleasant. But when they mix together over Missouri you get a tornado. Same with people. It’s tempting to want to find the one big skill that will set you apart. But most incredible things come from compounding, and compounding isn’t intuitive because the incremental inputs are never exciting on their own. A few little things that are easy to ignore yet work wonders when combined together: Curiosity across disciplines, most of which are outside your profession. A well-calibrated sense of your future regret. The ability to endure risk vs. assuming you can avoid it. Respecting luck as much as you respect risk. The willingness to adapt views you wish were permanent. Low susceptibility to FOMO. A sensitive bullshit detector. Valuing your independence over someone else’s priorities. Respecting history more than forecasts. Respecting the difference between rosy optimism and periods of chaos that trend upward. Quitting while you’re ahead before you’ve exhausted or outgrown what made you successful. Outperforming by merely “doing the average thing when everyone else around you is losing their mind.” Thinking in probabilities vs. certainties, including the idea that a good decision can result in a bad outcome and vice versa. Acknowledging that some things are unknowable and not fooling yourself into thinking you can figure them out. Identifying what game you’re playing and not being persuaded by people playing different games. Expecting the ridiculous and absurd vs. assuming the world is always governed by rational decisions. Accepting some inefficiency and hassle without losing your cool. Knowing the long-term consequences of your actions. Deserving the good reputation you have. Getting along with people you disagree with. None of these are too exciting, but maybe that’s the point: Most things that look like superpowers are just a bunch of ordinary skills mixed together at the right time.
1) Tell your story TO someone. Pick one person you love or admire or want to connect with, and write the whole thing directly to them —like you’re writing a letter. This will bring forth your…
Listen now (12 min) | This week’s podcast (12 minutes) is on a crucial difference, between planning to start, and planning to finish. We talk a lot about the difference between more and less planning, on the spectrum between full waterfall and full agile, and like most of you, I share a bias towards less planning.
Practical Ways to Post Something Every Day — CJ Chilvers
I create the equivalent of at least 1 book worth of writing per week. Most of my work ends up in newsletters, websites, and marketing campaigns for companies you know very well. You won’t see my name, but you’re probably reading my stuff all the time. On good days, I get to write for you directly.
Dieter Rams’ profound influences on modern design blossomed throughout his 30+ years working for Braun and in his text, “10 Principles for Good Design.”
Follow a system. There are plenty out there. Find one, and give it a chance. Never, ever forget there are three parts to the system: nutrition, resistance (weights) and CV. All need to be addressed. But within that there are...
Scaling with Process vs. People - Silicon Valley Product Group
In my last article I provided an overview of the six major models of Product Ops that I have encountered (thus far), and I shared my views on each. But while I highlighted the models that I consider dangerous or harmful, I didn’t elaborate on the root cause of the harmful models. In this article […]
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