Excellent post here on exploring the solution space before iterating on a solution.
Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiney,”.
The story of the “keep calm and carry on” poster.
The book store where the first one was found is even more intriguing than the story of the poster, and the story is pretty good. Check it out.
David Kelly, founder of IDEO (the product design firm Apple used to create the first mouse) talks about their innovation strategy.
“ stop talking and start making”
Incredible motion graphics by Yaniv Fridman illustrating his to do (and not to do) list for “the things we cherish and aspire to in life”. Not sure I agree with all of them but the video is incredibly motivating and inspiring. The sound effects really make the video.
via: jonathanmoore
Jim Collins, author of “Good to Great” and “Great By Choice” (one of my favourite books) on lessons he has learnt from his mentors.
My favourite: “Don’t try to be interesting - be interested.”
BUILDING ENERGY, FOCUS AND EXCELLENCE
Incredibly important and practically helpful video from the 2011 99% conference byTony Schwartz of The Energy Project. If you feel the way you are working isn’t working and you are lacking energy and focus, this is one to watch.
We can actively cultivate and build more energy. The more energy you have, the more capacity you have to get stuff done and do everything with excellence.
The missing ingredient in developing discipline
I am realizing more and more that discipline is one of the keys to growth and success. Without it dreams stay in our heads, ideas stay on the page and nothing substantial ever gets done. I find this is as true for growing in design as it is for putting a gym routine together. But growing in discipline is in itself a discipline. Being able to put off that which you want now, or doing something you don’t want to do now, to achieve a greater prize in the future.
Micheal Hyatt has a great post on growing in discipline. He mentions 5 steps to greater self control.
1) Determine your goal.
If you are going to succeed, you must be specific. You must be able to see it. Write it down and—while you are at it—add a “by when” date.
2) List your reasons.
This is often the missing piece in both goal-setting and discipline. You have to ask, Why is this goal important? What is at stake in my achieving it? I list both the positive reasons and the negative.
3) Identify likely obstacles.
As soon as you start swimming against the current, you will start feeling resistance. It’s as if the universe conspires to keep you from succeeding. That’s why you have to anticipate these obstacles and build strategies to overcome them.
4) Develop new behaviors.
This is where you should focus. What are the positive, new behaviors you want to develop to replace the old, negative behaviors.
5) Stay focused.
Read your goals daily, review your reasons why, anticipate obstacles, and work on your new behaviors. If you get off-track, don’t beat yourself up. Sometimes it is three steps forward and two steps back. Just shake it off and re-lock on your goal.
Point 4 “developing new behaviors” has become my new weapon and has been the missing ingredient in my “discipline strategy”. Setting a specific task to replace an old bad behavior and not just saying “no” to a bad behavior is vital in becoming more disciplined.
May we all strive to overcome our negative behaviors in order to grow in those areas that matter most to us.
Really intrigued by “Simple”. Any financial service company that “loves design” and “loves technology” is worth a second look. They clearly have put a lot of time and thought into their presentation.
Their focus on customer service design is something that is greatly needed in most service industries today. Looking forward to seeing how this develops.
via: jonathanmoore
If you’re going to work… work hard. That way, you’ll have something to show for it. The biggest waste is to do that thing you call work, but to interrupt it, compromise it, cheat it and still call it work.
