Better.
Merlin Mann is behind the site 43 Folders – the only “productivity” site I subscribe to in my Google Reader. While there are hundreds of productivity sites on the web, I subscribed to his many moons ago because I felt he gave me good ideas direct from his own life. Not merely commentary on someone else’s good ideas that showed up in his inbox.
He is shifting gears with 43 Folders, explaining the first part of “how/why” in this entry. An entry which makes things a lot more clear as I’ve followed his site through a lot of the changes he describes. Although I feel bad for saying this since I’ve been reading him so long, but I’ve thought about unsubscribing recently. Mainly because of some of the things he mentions towards the end of that entry, the site just wasn’t the same as it used to be.
He also started to explain some of the “gear shifting” on his personal site, in a less business oriented manner. And that personal entry spoke to me.
If I’m not laughing at your joke, complimenting your insight, or leading the Standing O for something you spent 10 seconds pecking up on your phone, it may not be because I don’t get it; it may be because I think we’re both capable of better and just need to find the courage to say so. In as many characters as it takes.
I’m not as good a writer as Merlin Mann, so the entry has him targeting a plane of creative existence much higher than I feel I could achieve. HOWEVER, I totally get his direction. I know where he’s coming from and I understand where he’s trying to go. Better. I’ve been thinking a lot about that concept in all of my life: as a mother, a writer, a wife, a citizen and most of all: a person. I just want to take more time in my life. Focus more. Think more. Consider more. And hope that the result would be that I could create better product. That by refocusing my life, my creative energies would become refocused.
He really captured in that entry what has been going on in my own head the last few months. As I read his words I found myself saying, “Amen” to almost everything. I, too, have found myself a little disgruntled with my own output lately, not just on this blog, but in my own life. I feel like I’m half-assing a lot of things. Doing a lot, but only giving everything 30% of what I’m capable of. This is not going to take me to Better. It’s going to take me to Burnt Out.
So, I’m using his entry (I hope he doesn’t mind) as a point of motivation for myself. An inspiration to guide me to re-focus myself and my creative existence. Be Better.
Maybe I should quote him directly:
To underscore, I have no plan to stop making dick jokes or to swear off ragging people who clearly have it coming to them. It’s just that it’s important to me to make world-class dick jokes and to rag the worthy in a way that no one is expecting.
Not the language I would normally use, of course. (I feel so dirty just having a dirty word on my blog! I’m such a prude.) And – I won’t be making d**k jokes – now or ever. (I might make boob jokes, however. I’m all about some good boob humor.) But – the thought is still the same. I don’t want to be different. I just want to do THE BEST I CAN. Realize my potential as a blogger, as a wife, as a mother…as ME.
I read you site all the time and have commented a couple of times. It was funny reading your blog this morning because that is exactly how I have been feeling lately. Glad I’m not alone. Now I just need to get my butt in gear and start putting more effort into things. Obama 08!!
I love reading your blog! about 95% of the time you find a way to make me smile. That has to count for something right? and totally doesn’t sound stalkerish does it?
Almost missed this entry somehow. I, too, LOVE Merlin! And this is definitely food for thought. Less but better output — hard to cope with for a facebook junkie like me!
I totally hear you, and am in complete support of anything that one finds personally inspiring. However, I also think you’ve got to give yourself some credit for having added a newborn to your family. That alone should cause some transition period, during which a bit of relaxing of standards is a-OK in my book. I’m sure you’ll get back into the flow soon…and you’ll be bringing your brood with you.
This idea makes me nervous. It sounds to me like now not only do I have to do everything, I have to do it full-assed. Nevertheless, I subscribed to his feed and will try it.
I just found out this guy is coming to speak to our company! I am super-excited!!