12 Things I Do That Are Not Doing the Thing
Recently I watched this video which talked about an essay from Strangest Loop called “Things that aren’t doing the thing”
Here’s my own amended list.
Preparing to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Scheduling time to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Making a to-do list for the thing isn't doing the thing.
Telling people you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Hating on yourself for not doing the thing isn't doing the thing.
Hating on other people who have done the thing isn't doing the thing.
Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing isn't doing the thing.
Fantasizing about all of the adoration you'll receive once you do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Reading about how to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Reading about how other people did the thing isn't doing the thing.
Watching people on Youtube who have done the thing isn’t doing the thing.
Dreaming about how you’ll spend all the money and free time you have once you’ve done the thing isn’t doing the thing.
The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing.
I’ve spent the last month doing so many things that aren’t doing the thing (for me that’s writing) that I’m at home by 2:45PM, drained and having a shower for the first time in … I can’t remember when.
Yes, I am single.
It’s not been that long.
Maybe like, a few days.
Ok, that is pretty gross.
Anyway…
What’s the thing that you do, to avoid doing the thing?
Mine in order of preference to completely bullshit myself are:
Watching people more successful than me on Youtube talk about how to be successful
Checking email
Looking at my phone
In July I wrote this post about “Being Less Stupid” , and I made some fairly grand plans and promises.
I wanted to earn more (£20K a month by July 2024), get my own and increase my net worth (thank fully I was really vague about the last two so I don’t look like a complete dumb ass.
And I was going to do that by:
No social media
No WhatsApp between 6AM and 6PM (Mon - Sat)
No TV (Disney+, Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime)
No new things (technology, courses, books, events and friends)
One of man’s greatest Achilles Heels is “wishful thinking”
Someone on the internet.
The beauty of writing this all down to you, is I can actually sit and think… hmmmm… did I just totally lie to myself and then do whatever I liked anyway?
Kind of.
No social media
Ditched Facebook and Reddit so I get a ⭐
No WhatsApp
It was going well. I downloaded some blocking App. Then it went to shit, because I wanted to reply to a message and couldn’t due to the time block, and I deleted the app.
Now WhatsApp owns my ass.
Which is sad because most of the messages I get are pretty boring.
Looking into getting a second personal phone, but am also being allergic to spending money stupidly, so waiting on a good deal.
No TV (Disney+, Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime)
Worked for about a week.
Then I got twitchy.
Avoided the big boys (Netfix and Disney+) but defaulted to Youtube+
BUT.
I did end up discovering Ashville Weekly which has been an amazing insight into an 8 figure business and given me some good ideas for content and business.
So kinda get a ⭐ ?!?
No new things (technology, courses, books, events and friends)
YES.
Pretty much doubled down on what I had.
More Krav Maga.
More work.
Less life.
Less friends.
I win.
Wait.
Fuck it I’m taking my ⭐
2.5/4 ain’t bad right?
But is this actually moving the needle of my business?
I.e. Am I moving towards the big goal of £20K/month…
The answer is…
Kinda ;-)
This actually involved me going back to go forwards.
Actually knowing my numbers by doing my monthly P+L line by line for the whole year (and realising I actually lost money 4 months in a row due to spending sooooooooo much money on stupid s.h.i.t)
Increasing business opportunities with existing clients (getting more stable with our Youtube publishing schedule leading to +37% more views and also delivering better and more consistent service to existing clients - this mainly came in the form of 3 new contractors who serve very particular specialist support functions which we tend to forget. Namely admin, social media and web)
Improving planning and systems (we’ve made a huge drive to make sure the team is on the same page and using the same software to track everything, we’ve been through them all but come back to Notion) this last point is HUGE and still a work in progress for me. I’m also getting used to the fact I can’t wake up on Monday and decided what we’re all going to do. It’s wayyyyy too chaotic.
So why kinda?
Because our revenue is growing slowly, not hitting record numbers.
BUT,
Our profit is going up, even with extra contractors.
Because I know our numbers much better than 3-6 months ago.
And I actually plan.
Less impulsive.
>>>>>>>>>
Until the end of the year I’m trying to refine by own “Deep Life Stack” system from Cal Newport, he discussed it brilliantly in this video here.
As 2023 draws to a close I am appreciating more and more my favourite saying also learn from Newport.
Festina Lente.
Literally, make haste slowly.
Instead of rushing like I used to, to do many things.
I’m slowing down, doing less, and doing it better.
I also want to do 2 things more:
Be bored
Write
Great honest, insightful and compelling.