Philosophies
I'm slowly refining my philosophies (I'm not really sure if they're principles or philosophies). This is what I have so far.
Start Stupidly Small
Whatever it is you want to do, find the smallest action you can take (so small you think you'll say "this is stupid") and do it over and over again.
Added 2023-03-22
Alliterations Are Awesome
An alliteration is when the same letter or sound occurs at the beginning of adjacent words. For example, alliterations are awesome.
Do they sound cool? yeah.
Beyond the coolness, I've found alliterations and other techniques (I am always looking for ways to use ABC, such as "ambitious, but cautious") like it exercise my improvisational skills and help me remember things that matter.
Added 2023-03-22
Make More Messes
The more messes you make, particularly if you reflect regularly reflect regularly, the less messy those messes will be.
My heuristic for if I'm in the right moment to make a mess is:
- Is what I'm about to do a two way door?
- Is what I'm about to do going to affect others?
- is there a possibility I'll break a super-system of what I'm doing?
- As an example, if I'm working on a potentially messy feature on a software project, what are the risks? What things can I do to make it less risky?
The best example of where I make more messes is writing things down.
There is very little risk of me affecting others, adding "debt" to a system or breaking a super system.
It's important to note that I'm not encouraging you to create intentional chaos for the sake of chaos.
Added 2023-03-22
Reflect Regularly
Reflection is the first step to growth and growth is how we amplify the best parts of ourselves or the systems we're a part of.
The willingness to ask questions with curiosity and ask "What if..." questions allows reflection to move us towards the person we want to be or system we want to create.
Added 2023-03-22
Vibrant Velocity Vectors Vivify
Okay, this alliteration is a deep one. Thanks for sticking with me.
- Vibrant - full of energy and enthusiasm.
- Velocity Vector - the rate of change of the position of an object.
- Vivify - enliven.
Put those all together and what I'm saying: If you have energy towards a direction and you can determine the speed that you're willing to go, you will be enlivened.
Direction is critical here. It's easy to be excited about things, topics and outcomes that aren't your direction.
When you can find the direction that gives you energy and put some velocity into it, it's going to be life giving.
Added 2023-03-22
It’s a good day for a good day.
It’s easy to allow negative outcomes or undesired circumstances to passively guide me into feeling that it was a bad day. Choosing that today is a good day for a good day and focusing on the wins of the day and the positive outcomes allows me to own the day, to be an active accelerant in my own success.
See the best in people, even when they can't.
On hard days, it can be difficult to see the best in people. On their easy days it can be hard for them to see the best in themselves. Choosing to see the best in people gives me an opportunity to expand my perspective and help others realize their potential, even when they can't realize it themselves.
Daily a Learner, Daily a Teacher.
Every day learn something new. Every day share something new with someone else. Knowledge and understanding spread like wildfire when there is a constant desire to create a cycle of learning and sharing.
Other Philosophies
I have had different philosophies, I've abandoned some, composed a few into "super philosophies" and instead of just deleting them, I've moved them to Other Philosophies.