Life Above

It is fun to try out new stuff.

Only problem is, stuff that promises to make us more effective and efficient and uber-cool does not always deliver as advertised. Now it may for some people. But what works for some, does not necessarily work for all.

Recently, I have gone into a mode of settling on the tools and systems that work for me. The truth is, we all should do that.

Trying out every new tool that comes around is like the guy who will never settle down in a relationship. Sure, he gets to see so many wonderful ladies, but he never gets to understand what it is like to realize the full potential in a relationship. He never gets to understand a deep love that can only be understood by one who is committed to one woman.

True effectiveness cannot be achieved while testing out every new system or tool. It simply can’t be done.

I am not saying to never try anything new.

But when we are thinking of trying something new, are we doing so to try to make a process or situation better? Or are we trying it because we want the rush of a new tool or system?

Ask yourself, “can this tool make life easier?” I would argue that if the answer is “no”…you should not even give it the time of day.

Over the next couple of weeks, I am writing a series on the tools I use…and why it is that I have chosen them.

I will start with my choice of bag, and work through most of the contents. So watch this space and see what I use. Interact in the comments and give your opinion of my selections while sharing some ideas of your own.

jamesshelley:

I’m going to try something next week: I’m only going to spend 2 hours a day doing email, engaging in social media and online reading (blogs, etc). One hour in the morning. One hour in the late afternoon. Monday to Saturday, for a total of twelve hours for the entire week.

This is an amazing feat. I spend much too much time watching feeds (RSS, twitter and Facebook), watching my Tumblr dashboard, and my two email accounts. I think that I will also think of a time limit for my social media interactions.

Link: Aaron Mahnke: A Social Media Cleanse

aaronmahnke:

I have some friends who have done cleanses. A cleanse is a method of removing toxins from your body over a short period of time. There are foods to avoid, foods to stock up on and generally a lot of things to get rid of permanently. Lots of sacrifice, but the payoff is huge. Weight loss, better…

Thanks Aaron, for putting into words a lot of what I have been feeling as well. I have begun to cleanse out some of the Internet distractions that have begun to creep back into my life.

I try to keep my twitter “Following” to 100 or less and I recently ‘un-friended’ over 180 people on Facebook. Next, I will establish what I want each of these services to provide to me. I had a LOT of duplication of friends on twitter and Facebook, so I was seeing the same posts, notifications, etc. and therefore was taking my time to process. That is coming to a stop.

- Michael

paperpeekshow:

from my cold dead hands, or: why i won’t “get over it” and ditch the pen

Excellent writeup on the beauty of sticking with the pen & paper! Even as technology overtakes most aspects of society, we, at LifeAbove, believe in the power of the Pen and Paper as the most efficient and productive input there is.

minimalmac:

This is post #1000. I have been thinking all day of what to do for this occasion. In the end, all I come up with is to say thanks to everyone who has come by and stayed long enough to read any one of them. It means a tremendous amount to me and any further words would be insufficient.

So, thank you.

(Post title appologies to The Onion)

CONGRATS my friend! Jason and I only wish you the best on ALL your endeavours!

Keep up the good work!!

Michael

patrickrhone:

Desk – Music and Sound Design (by Aaron Trinder Film:Motion:Music)

I have to link to this video, which is wonderful, but mainly so that people will stop sending me the link to this. Watching this much desk porn is a dangerous thing for me. Like tossing a loaded crack pipe into a rehab.

This is an amazing piece on the importances of the ‘Desk’ in our lives. Vignelli’s desk is absolutely amazing in it simplicity.

I am in a very funny place with my home office desk. I feel that it is not what I want to sit at, but I don’t really know what I want to replace it with. So now I am on a search for a new ‘desk’ for myself. This video has given me a lot of great ideas.

jasonechols:

One thing I think is a great way to track an open loop, is to carbon copy yourself on an email where you are requesting support on an action item. This puts a copy in your inbox to pull into an @Waiting For folder for tracking, and does not remove it from your sent items.

If you do not have a system for tracking an open loop you are waiting on from someone else, give it a try.

J