Play

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Create an adventureChoose your characterEmbrace your curiosity
Find the fun”What would this look like if it were fun?”Enjoy the process
Lower the stakesReframe your failureDon’t be serious, be sincere
Choose your character:
  • “identifying the type of play that most resonates with who you are, so you can choose a type of player to embody”
  • Dr. Stuart Brown’s research came up with the following play personalities
    • The Collector
    • The Competitor
    • The Explorer
    • The Creator
    • The Storyteller
    • The Joker
    • The Director
    • The Kinesthete

Power

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Boost your confidenceThe confidence switch (positive self talk)Social Model Method (see others do it)
Level up your skillsShoshin Approach(beginner’s mind)Protege Effect (teach others)
Take ownershipOwn the processOwn your mindset

Social Model Method:

  • Albert Bandura: “Seeing people similar to oneself succeed by sustained effort raises observers’ beliefs that they too possess the capabilities to master comparable activities to succeed”
    • This is why everyone should be sharing their story online, their process, the whole anti-creator thing The Protege Effect:
  • “Seneca said, Qui docet discit - ‘He who teaches learns’
  • “the people we learn from best are often the ones who are just a step ahead of us in the journey”
  • “You don’t need to be a guru. You can just be a guide.”

Take ownership:

  • Look into psychologist Edward Deci & Richard Ryan
    • he talks about what motivates people to do hard things
  • “But what makes the concept of ownership so powerful is that you can integrate it into almost any situation.” Own the process:
  • “When we can’t take ownership of the situation, we can still take ownership of the process.” Own your mindset:
  • “Simply switching their mindset from ‘have to’ to ‘choose to’ they boosted their sense of control, power and, in turn, what they were capable of. “

People

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Find your sceneThe comrade mindset (teamwork)Find synchronicity (body double)
Feel the helpers highRandom acts of kindnessAsk for help
OvercommunicateOver-communicate the goodOver-communicate the not-so-good

Unblock

Clarity

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Ask ‘why’Using commander’s intentThe five whys
Ask ‘what’NICE goalsCrystal ball method
Ask ‘when’Implementation intentionsTime blocking
  • “procrastination is caused by negative feelings”
  • “uncertainty paralysis”
    • “when we become overwhelmed by the unknowns or the complexity of a situation”

Using commander’s intent:

  • “The military generals’ detailed orders hadn’t worked. The specific plans they’d laid out went awry. But because they’d communicated their commander’s intent, everyone involved in the operation knew the purpose. The ‘why’ was clear, and that made it possible to work out an alternative ‘how’.”

NICE goals:

  • Near-term
  • Input-based
  • Controllable
  • Energizing

Crystal-ball method:

  • prospective hindsight
    • “the process of imagining that an even has already occurred - increases our ability to identify why things will go right (or wrong) by 30 per cent”

Courage

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Know your fearThe emotional labelThe identity label
Reduce your fearThe 10/10/10 ruleThe confidence equation
Overcome your fearStop spotlightingThe batman effect
The emotional label:
  • “When you’re procrastinating, say to yourself, ‘What am I afraid of?‘”
  • “Next… ask yourself, ‘Where does this feat come from?”

Get Started

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Reduce frictionReduce environmental frictionReduce emotional friction
Take actionDefine the next action stepTrack your progress
Support yourselfFind an accountability buddyForgive yourself
Define the next action step:
  • Tim Pychyl - Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University

Sustain

Conserve

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Do lessThe energy investment portfolioThe power of no
Resist distractionAdd frictionCorrect course
Break moreSchedule your breaksEmbrace energizing distractions
The energy investment portfolio:
  • “The idea of the ‘energy investment portfolio’ is simple. You simply come up with two lists. List A is a list of all your dreams, hopes, and ambitions. These are things you would like to do at some point, just probably not right now. List B is a list of your active investments. These are the projects you’re actively investing energy into right now (or want to be). And by right now, I mean this week.”
  • “If you want to move a dream into your active investments list, you need to make sure you’ve got the time and energy to invest in it.”
    • Where is it on your calendar?

Recharge

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Recharge creativelyCALM hobbiesCALM projects
Recharge naturallyBring in natureTake a walk
Recharge mindlesslyLet your mind wanderThe Reitoff principle
CALM
  • Competence
  • Autonomy
  • Liberty
  • Mellow

Align

Experiment #1Experiment #2
Long termThe eulogy methodThe odyssey plan
Medium termThe wheel of lifeThe 12 month celebration
Short termThree alignment questsAlignment experiments
  • ‘relative autonomy continuum’ - developed by Kennon Sheldon
    • External Motivation - showing off
    • Introjected Motivation - I’d feel guilty if i didn’t
      • (maybe conflict with identity?)
    • Identified Motivation - this’ll help me w/ goals
    • Intrinsic Motivation - love the work
  • “those who had higher levels of both introjected and identified motivation were far more likely to complete the trail” (when intrinsic motivation waned)
  • “the only type of extrinsic motivation that corresponded with greater happiness was identified motivation”

Medium-term:

  • ‘values affirmation interventions’
    • “a scientific term for identifying your core personal values right now, and continually reflecting on them”

Alignment experiments:

  • How
      1. “identify an area of your life where your actions feel particularly unfulfilling”
      1. “come up with your hypothesis” (independent variable, and what it’ll effect)
      1. “execute. Make a change. And as you do so, what effect it has on your situation”
  • “keep track of the effects. Try keeping a log or journal”