Last month, Todd and I ran across this article (via Consumerist) about how Charlie Munger, the Vice-Chairman of Warren Buffett’s investment company Berkshire Hathaway, used to set aside one hour each day to work on personal side-projects for himself. I like this idea for a couple of reasons:
- One hour is about all the time I can spend on a project right now.
- It’s such a small amount of time that the pressure of producing something “epic” is kept at bay.
Over time, these little actions will yield big results. It’s not a new idea, I know. But it’s easy for me to get caught up in a mental gumption trap, believing that I shouldn’t or can’t start something right now because I don’t have the time to give it the attention I feel it deserves or needs. Of course, that is complete and utter bullshit.
Over the past week, I’ve been trying to keep this in mind, working on various side projects I’ve intended to get around to someday. Not surprisingly, at the end of each hour, it’s satisfying to have been able to work on something that’s been sitting around in my head for weeks, months, and years.
After doing this for just one week, a couple of things become obvious:
- I still watch too much television.
- I don’t get enough sleep.
And these two things greatly influence how well I do other things throughout the day. I need to fix that.
As the article asks
“…if you aren’t satisfied with your current situation, why not work for yourself an hour each day? Instead of just idle dreaming, set aside specific time for action. Perhaps the key is small chunks of time, but at regular intervals.”
How very Kaizen. How very Bird by Bird.
At the end of the month, I’ll have a better idea of which projects I’m actually enjoying spending time on, and which ones I’m better off ditching.
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oooohhhh….I’m going to try it, too.
That dang computer…that dang tv…that dang living alone and having to talk on the phone all the time so I feel like someone’s listening to me….
I have so much to do…always….and so many distractions.
I might go with, for this week, 1/2 hour of cleaning and 1/2 hour of creative project and 1/2 hour bike ride.
That seems reasonable.
1/2 hour is better than nothing. Pretty soon, you’ll be the Jack Bauer of creative endeavors.
I was wildly unsuccessful on all fronts.
Just try again. Only focus on one thing.
i like this too…a lot. i’m interested to see how your results turn out!
Anne Lamott is my personal hero.
I still read Bird by Bird almost every week.
And Operating Instructions… agh, as a expecting Mother… it was my Bible.
She is everything to me.
One more thing…
Stephen King’s On Writing was delicious. If you haven’t…do.
I listened to the audiobook of On Writing last year (he reads it), and it is one of the best books on the subject, right up there with Bird By Bird.