Photo courtesy of neon.love 8 Great Anti-Hacks to Fundamentally Change Your Life
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Clay Collins of Project Liberation and The Growing Life.
Albert Einstein stated that “problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” Einstein, of course, was right. Sometimes our problems require more than life hacks, tips, tweaks, etc. Sometimes our lives don’t need optimization, they need to be fundamentally reconfigured.
So What are Anti-Hacks?
“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil for every one striking at the root.” - Henry David Thoreau
Anti-hacks attempt to solve problems by approaching them at a higher level of thinking (the prefix “anti,” by the way, can mean “instead of” as in “anti-drug,” or “anti-folk”). For example, while David Allen says that “mind like water” (piece of mind) comes from creating exhaustive to-do lists and getting everything out of your head, an anti-hack might involve meditation, because all the list-making in the world will not bring you to a meditative, mind-like-water state.
A hack might help you optimize your car’s engine so you get better gas mileage, whereas an anti-hack might involve moving near your place of employment to so you can walk or bike to work.
(By the way, creating a new word for an old idea can be a pretty pretentious thing. But I’m asking you to cut me some slack here. I’m not trying to push my own vocabulary, build a movement, or be clever; I just couldn’t think of a better term. Use whatever terms you want – I have no agenda. Still, I think the term “anti-hack” highlights a significant distinction between optimization — hacks, tweaks, tips, etc. — and reconfiguration).
Here are some of my more offensive thoughts, packaged as …
8 Random Anti-Hacks For Living
Please keep in mind some of these “anti-hacks” may not be practicable for you. These aren’t “one size fits all” solutions.
1. Embrace Your Inner Dilettante, be Flaky, and Denounce the Cult of Permanence. After college graduation, we’re allowed a couple years of experimental wiggle room. And when those years are oven we’re supposed to semi-permanently stay put. We’re supposed to stop vagabonding through life. We’re supposed to sit down and shut up.
In this day and age, staying put in one’s situation (i.e. one’s career, job, company, city, town, etc.) is how you become an expert, advance in your field, and win the respect of your peers and family. We’re fed the myth that staying put affords us dream jobs. And we want this permanence as well: we want tenure, we want seniority, we want bedrocks and sure things.
But radical and rapid-fire growth often happens when you have freedom to try new things. Rapid-fire growth doesn’t require traveling across the country, starting a new business, or flooding your senses on a daily basis, but it often requires a high level of latitude. Radical growth often requires the ability to rapidly change directions, change contexts, and change situations. Rapidfire growth often requires a dilettante-esque mobility. And if you exercise this mobility enough, other may very well perceive you as someone who hasn’t “found himself.”
The problem is that post-higher-education life just isn’t configured to encourage growth; it’s configured to reward stagnation. We’re rewarded for stagnating, for unnecessarily sticking with things.
2. Stop Hiding Behind the Comfort of Stepping Stones. So many of us live “stepping stone lives.” We spend the majority of our waking hours working for goals that are merely stepping stones to other goals. For example:
- We do well in high school so we can get into a good college.
- We do well in college so we can get hired by a good company (or get into a good graduate school).
- We do well at our jobs so we can get even better jobs and make more money.
- We join committees to pad our resumes or impress our bosses.
(Question: what would your life be like if you cut out all the stepping stones?)
We are uncomfortable going after what we want in ways that aren’t culturally or institutionally approved. But we would all do well to live courageously by directly going after what we want.
(I realize that not everyone has the luxury of avoiding stepping stones. If your dream requires a medical degree, for example, you’ll need to suck it up and stay on those stones).
3. Pursue Self-Development over Productivity. Productivity often poses as self-development, but self-development and productivity can be two very different things. What is best for us as individuals can be bad for our on-the-job productivity.
4. Get to “Mind Like Water” the Original Way (i.e. Mindfulness). There is a myth among many productivity evangelists that productivity – or a productivity system – can lead to the meditative state likened to “mind like water.
“In karate there is an image that’s used to define the position of perfect readiness: “mind like water.” Imagine throwing a pebble into a still pond. How does the water respond? The answer is, totally appropriately to the force and mass of the input; then it returns to calm. It doesn’t overreact or underreact.
“[I]f you get seriously far out of that state–and start to feel out of control, stressed out, unfocused, bored, and stuck–do you have the ability to get yourself back into it? That’s where the methodology of [my productivity system] will have the greatest impact on your life, by showing you how to get back to “mind like water,” with all your resources and faculties functioning at a maximum level. ” - David Allen
The mind like water myth is the myth is that any productivity system can be the starting point for having “all your resources and faculties functioning at maximum level.” The myth is that a water-tight task-handling methodology, an elaborate folder system, a clockwork method for handling your inbox, a label-maker, and a set of routines come first.
The “mind like water myth” is that that productivity — or a productivity system — is the path, and that mind like water is the destination. Bruce lee once said that “all fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability” and that “the possession of anything begins in the mind.” I believe Bruce is right: possession of a “mind like water” begins in the mind. It’s not productivity first, mind like water second. It’s the other way around.
So what’s the truest, most direct, and surest path to mind like water? I believe it is mindfulness gained through meditation (or whatever other internal and inward means we take to get there).
Believing that “mind like water” results from a productivity systems that obsessively organizes our external reality only perpetuates the rat race.
5. Say “No” to the Productivity Industrial Complex and Make Your OWN Way. The Productivity Industrial Complex is a marriage between corporations and an entire industry of productivity companies, gurus, consultants, and solution-makers who help corporations squeeze every ounce of productivity from their workers. Organizations like The David Allen Company, for example, make the bulk of their income from corporations looking to “maximize their employee output,” and it’s no surprise that they have a Fortune 500-studded client list which includes Lockheed Martin, Deloitte & Touche, and the U.S. Department of Defense (see here for more of his clients).
“You and your company need to get things done - lots of things[.] You have invested heavily in the human factor … but are you getting all the results from your people that you could? Are they maximizing their output?” - The David Allen Company
“Productivity” is an Industrial Era economics term that applies to factories, machines, and economies. When applied to people it often has a dehumanizing effect and negates both individual differences and unique talents. Most best-selling productivity gurus are working in the interests of large corporations and often advocate values and approaches that are not in the best interests of individuals. Increased productivity should result in greater carefree time, more vacations, and more time away from work. Most of the time, however, it does not.
The workforce is laboring for more hours and for less pay, taking fewer vacations, and generally burning out.
6. Convert Your Money Back Into Time. Since World War II, productivity in the U.S. has doubled. So we should be working 20-hour work weeks, right? Well, we’re not. We’re working more (we’ve exchanged our extra time for more money). In fact, we’re working more than medieval peasants, and the 40-hour work week hasn’t changed since 1940 even though productivity levels have been growing steadily since then.
People convert money back into time when they exchange potential income for freedom to spend their time how they wish. They do it when, for example, they decide to live simpler lives and work halftime, instead of full time. They do it when start freelancing and create more humane work schedule. They do it when they negotiate creative and unique work situations, start their own companies, etc.
7. Aggressively Remove Things From Your Life that You Don’t Want to Do. It’s common knowledge that productivity naturally emerges from passion: when we love what we’re doing, productivity becomes irrelevant. The corollary is that being unproductive often results from doing things you’d rather not do. Elaborate productivity systems have all too often become crutches for passionate living (if you hate your job, you’re probably going to need an elaborate productivity system to keep you focused and on task).
“Efficiency, which is doing things right, is irrelevant until you work on the right things.” -Peter Drucker
The direct route to productivity is being passionate about what you do. This observation, however, is largely an academic point that doesn’t do much to help the problem. Very few people hear that passion will make them productive and then-out of a dedication to productivity-immediately proceed to follow their dreams and become more productive. So, instead of talking about how passion will make you more productive, I’d like to re-frame the conversation by saying this: unwanted tasks are the the #1 cause of your productivity problems.
If you only did things you wanted to do, you’d probably be the most productive person in the world.
Q: What’s the solution?
A: To the extent possible, stop doing things you don’t want to do.
OK, so we have to pay taxes, we have to take care of our children (hopefully this is a joy), etc. The problem is that most people are very bad at differentiating between these very real non-negotiables and fictional non-negotiables.
If you want ultimate productivity you might want to think about aggressively removing everything you don’t want to do from your life. Declutter your headspace. If you really want to live passionately, you’ll need to consider leaving nearly everything you’re not passionate about. I want to emphasize that it’s not quitting things and being flaky that will make you productive, it’s the aggressive elimination of everything that doesn’t make you come alive.
8. Realize that Perspective is often the Best Solution to your Problems. Raoul Vaneigem once wrote that “[e]verything has [already] been said [and] all our knowledge is essentially banal.” And he’s right. If you read the profound thoughts of any great teacher or leader, you’ll likely find no new knowledge. What you will find, however, is heaps of timeless perspective. You’ll find knowledge deeply rooted in perspective and amplified by perspective.
Great thinkers and teachers are great because their perspective forces you to take a second glance at the knowledge you already have. And their perspective is so compelling because it couldn’t have come from anywhere except direct experience.
When workaholics give up their minds each workday in devotion to balancing spreadsheets, selling widgets, arguing cases, etc. it’s not knowledge they’re missing out on. It’s perspective. The kind of perspective that requires variety, and discursive thinking, and morning runs during sunrise. The kind of perspective that requires new experiences, reflection, and carefree conversations with friends.
We desperately lack perspective because we are a society of workaholics, and workaholism is like kryptonite to perspective. (It’s often said that highly intelligent people lack common sense; but I believe they really lack is perspective as a result of handing an unhealthy amount of their brainpower to their bosses).
And the thing about perspective is that you just can’t “hack” it.
There are no perspective hacks. None. You just have to suck it up, live a little, and wallow in the mud of life. You have to get your hands dirty with this beautiful business of living. You have to question, meditate, and fail often. You simply have to make space for perspective and hope that it will come eventually. You have to spend time in a manner that would seem self-indulgent to most.
In my view, perspective is the king of all anti-hacks
“Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman
Clay Collins is the creator of Project Liberation – Lifestyle Design on Steroids and The Growing Life. Go here for a free copy of his upcoming book, “Anti-Hacks for Living.”
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- Posted on 29 July 2008 in Happiness, Productivity & Organization, Simplicity |
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Comments (104)
metroknow - AlmostFit.com Says:
July 29th, 2008, 19:49 pm
Excellent post. It reminded me of two very big influences on my current choices: Chris Guillebeau’s manifesto - A Brief Guide to World Domination, and Leo’s book, Zen To Done (just read it a month ago). In particular, the idea that if you’re doing what your passion is, that you’ll WANT to do it every minute of every day, and thus be more productive.
Thanks for such an inclusive list of steps to think about.
Clay Collins | The Growing Life Says:
July 29th, 2008, 19:49 pm
Um… something tells me I might have my ass handed to me in these comments.
Writer Dad Says:
July 29th, 2008, 19:57 pm
I love number two. I never bought into stepping stones. I skipped college - thought it was a really, really big one. I just wanted to get to the other side. Our lives are short, even the long ones. We need to find the things we love and spend our years loving them with all we have.
Great post.
MikeWhoBikes Says:
July 29th, 2008, 20:03 pm
Thanks for the terrific post, you’ve got a lot of great ideas here. I particularly liked your observation that many of the ‘productivity gurus’ seem to be aimed at large corporations, who want more output from their employees but seem unlikely to reduce the work hours should this happen. Why is there so much resistance to a shorter work week if it could mean increased productivity and happier, healthier employees?
Kim H Says:
July 29th, 2008, 20:13 pm
Uh… I’m a little offended with #2 since my blog has been called Stepping Stones for several years already! Personally I’ve always loved the idea of jumping on stepping stones to cross a river. They can also be life savers and places of joy!
Vered Says:
July 29th, 2008, 20:35 pm
Good to see you here again, Clay. :)
You already know that I believe in you. Good luck with making your own way and with gaining that elusive perspective.
The Success Professor Says:
July 29th, 2008, 21:03 pm
Very interesting post.
I really like point #2. Too many people follow the stepping stones simply because they are there. I’m currently making a decision about a possible step along my stone path. I’m just wanting to make sure the step fits with my passion.
I don’t like point #5. I actually don’t think your implied definition of productivity is accurate. Productivity CAN be a corporate focused “maximize their employee output,” however it can also be the very thing that allows you to spend less time working and more time pursuing other goals. Personal productivity - rather than corporate productivity - can be a great thing, and some productivity “gurus” can be helpful in that.
Evan Meagher Says:
July 29th, 2008, 21:18 pm
Wonderful article. GTD is compelling, but I’ve always thought it was robotic and overly complex. Your writing aligns perfectly with my sentiments.
Subscribed to your blog, so I look forward to reading more of what you have to say. Thanks!
Aleister Says:
July 29th, 2008, 21:20 pm
While it is true that David Allen’s methods may be targeted at more productivity, I also think that his methods give people a sense of control and well being. Stress-free productivity, right? This is the reason for getting stuff out there instead of letting it rattle in your head. It’s about empowerment through operational control of one’s ship. Let’s face it, as much we would all like to sit on that rock and ponder the meaning of things from a higher perspective, sometime’s the reality of day-to-today life requires a more mundane approach.
Corey - Simple Marriage Project Says:
July 29th, 2008, 21:26 pm
Work on self development rather than productivity. This advice also works when it comes to marriage.
Great to see you here again Clay. Keep it up!
Laurie Says:
July 29th, 2008, 21:29 pm
Sometimes using a machete is better than stepping stones. You get to see parts previously unexplored and no telling what you might discover!
How to Cope with Pain Says:
July 29th, 2008, 21:42 pm
Great, detailed article. Thanks. I’ll try an RSS subscription to your blog.
What I find challenging is sticking to what I love, want to do, value… while trying to turn away from traditional society’s siren calls of work more, materialism, etc. An ongoing challenge!
Clay Collins | The Growing Life Says:
July 29th, 2008, 22:34 pm
@Vered and @Corey: great to see you guys here too! Thanks for stopping by.
Adam Says:
July 29th, 2008, 22:45 pm
Great post, man. We can all use these reminders of the life that needs to be lived as opposed to the one we think we have to live. In other words; Genuine Living.
I’ve already passed this on to the friends. Nice work.
Andre Kibbe Says:
July 29th, 2008, 23:01 pm
Good to see you back in action! But . . .
Productivity Industrial Complex is a marriage between corporations and an entire industry of productivity companies, gurus, consultants, and solution-makers who help corporations squeeze every ounce of productivity from their workers.
Let’s be honest, though. Corporations have the deepest pockets, hence their attractiveness to solution providers. Help is never distributed democratically, as can be seen from the majority of psychologists who forgo the mentally ill to go into private practice and counsel the middle class.
If you’re a consultant and you’re face with a choice of providing life coaching to a single mother, or doing scenario building with a bunch of Fortune 500 executives, the financial inducements (not to mention prestige and referrals) of the latter would be hard to resist.
As always, people rob banks because that’s where the money is.
Mary Says:
July 29th, 2008, 23:03 pm
I love the concept of converting money back into time. The internet has helped that become a reality for more people than ever, I think, with telecommute options and self-employment opportunities.
Personally, I have used many of these. I’ve never been very good at sticking to rigid systems, so adaptability and flexibility are cornerstones of my life.
As for stopping doing the things I don’t want to do, I am working on that, too. So far, I’ve managed to eliminate grocery shopping (husband does it - he’s good at it), dishes (teenagers do them, for now) and a few other household chores I dislike. ;-)
corey Says:
July 29th, 2008, 23:06 pm
I’ve been reading this site for about a year now and I really enjoyed this post. It was particularly nice to hear from someone else who shares similar views on the cult of productivity.
Rick - Tripping the Muse Says:
July 29th, 2008, 23:12 pm
#7 is by far the one which speaks to me. There are so many “distractions” in life and it sometimes leads to being reactive instead of proactive.
Thomas Johnson Says:
July 29th, 2008, 23:20 pm
@ Cole - Where do you find such awesome quotes? The Thoreau quote and the one by Howard Thurman are brilliant.
Regarding point 5. I think one of the best things we can do with our increased productivity is to help those in need. Whether that be by donating money or by freeing up some time so you can actually lend a hand.
L Says:
July 29th, 2008, 23:20 pm
Passion is the fruit of life for which should be nourished, cultivated, and share every day. Time goes by much to quickly to let the small things dominate our moments.
Ann at One Bag Nation Says:
July 30th, 2008, 0:47 am
I’ve read some of your stuff before, but this article was really impressive. Good to see this kind of thinking on an A-list blog . . .and great comments! I too thought you might get your head on a platter :-)
Clay Collins | Project Liberation Says:
July 30th, 2008, 1:03 am
Thanks, everyone, for all the kind words. I really appreciate your considering my wacky ideas.
–Clay
Scott McIntyre Says:
July 30th, 2008, 1:23 am
You have a refreshing take on life that I greatly admire, Clay.
I like the anti-hack about being ‘flaky’.
It’s true that we often have to take a risk and move away from safe normality, if we ever want to achieve groundbreaking things in life. To be mundane is a wasted opportunity.
I wish you the best with your future endeavors, Clay.
Leo Says:
July 30th, 2008, 2:27 am
I’d just like to thank Clay for this guest post … it’s excellent and I’m glad to get another fresh perspective here.
Clay and I see eye-to-eye on a lot of points — mindfulness, personal development vs. productivity, doing less, seizing back your time … these are things I strongly believe in … although I don’t know if I’ve put it as well as he has. :)
Thanks so much, Clay!
someonesomeone Says:
July 30th, 2008, 2:42 am
> Albert Einstein started that “problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.”
Did you mean: Albert Einstein stated, or is it my lack of knowledge of the English language?
As for the article: you made a good point.
Clay Collins | The Growing Life Says:
July 30th, 2008, 2:44 am
@Leo: Thanks for the kind words. Your writing has informed a lot of my own thoughts.
I see some of these ideas as a new frame (that we and others have started building) around a discussion that you and others started.
Your articles on breaking free from the tyranny of the clock and doing only 2 things each day (I think) were certainly an inspiration (as were many others).
I like the direction in which we’re moving. It gives me hope.
Quiet Dragon Says:
July 30th, 2008, 2:49 am
Fantastic post, Clay… it’s my first time reading your stuff.
I agree with all the points in your message. It saddens me that so much of our lives are wasted, “deprogramming” ourselves, so we can begin to really live. But what a reward!
Glen Allsopp Says:
July 30th, 2008, 3:22 am
Excellent, I cut out all the stepping stones when i quit college and was able to move on to my dream job in a different country.
Great post
whatever Says:
July 30th, 2008, 4:24 am
*bookmarked*
Jasi Says:
July 30th, 2008, 4:24 am
It’s true. Every step can bring you to that place. I believe it entirely because I’ve felt it in my life for a brief time.
Years ago I put my life in order in this manner and just felt so free, so real. But in the last 3 years my life has changed so dramatically. How do you achieve this goal with a toddler and an infant? How do you find inner calm and clarity when you can barely reach REM sleep?
Adrian Koh Says:
July 30th, 2008, 5:31 am
Lovely post, Clay. I myself am starting something new. Breaking the chains of a previous line of work, to start a couple of new things.
Liberation!
~A.
shubhranshu Says:
July 30th, 2008, 6:15 am
As you progress, expectations from you also increase. Productivity and self -development are linked with each other but up to a certain extent. Perfect analysis, reasoning capability and will power play major role in both the fields. Every one of us has some deficiency and the need is to overcome the affects of this deficiency. I think that the best way to tackle this natural problem is outsourcing. OutSorcerer.com like companies take care of the jobs for which you don’t find yourself fit.
Pete Says:
July 30th, 2008, 7:25 am
@Glenn..
Worked for me too. I cut out the stepping stones, and started my own company instead of finding a job in one I liked.
Things have gone well so far.
Ryan @ Smarter Wealth Says:
July 30th, 2008, 7:44 am
Great post and some really great information. You are a legendary writer
Stephen Smith Says:
July 30th, 2008, 8:30 am
Great post Clay, looking forward to the new project launch!
Rob Davidson Says:
July 30th, 2008, 8:40 am
Seems like a lot of crap to me - where’s the evidence? You’re just making this up, which is silly when there is mountains of research (much of which leads to very different conclusions than yours). Business-minded means shallow I suppose.
Lisa | Holistic Treatment for Depression Says:
July 30th, 2008, 9:08 am
Wow. This is an amazing post. I love what you’re saying about eliminating the things that we don’t like doing because it comes so easily to me, lol.
The information about perspective is pretty powerful and seems to me to be a path to happiness. Changing your perspective can change your life.
Lily Says:
July 30th, 2008, 9:14 am
Great arguments! Changing perspective is a priceless eperience, it’s not easy to achieve it and, true, can’t be hacked or faked. Some people completely endorse the point of view of other people, or society, or business, or even family. It’s done this way=it is right. Comfort zones, narrow zones.
Mark Says:
July 30th, 2008, 9:27 am
Inspirational, certainly, and useful because it challenges the conventional thinking, approaches, and behaviours to which most of us have been socialized.
However - and this is a big however - it reduces to uselessness without an appropriate life context that will provide guidance and meaning. Just as a country has a constitution that provides its fundamental guiding principles, so too must an individual have her/his own fundamental guiding principles. These not only enable making meaning from the events, encounters, and endeavours upon which we embark. They also enable us to take the advice you offer and incorporate it in a way that creates a life of meaning.
To the previous commenter who hypothetically weighs coaching a single mother with coaching a Fortune 500 corporation, such guiding principles would provide a clear, and explicitly chosen path. (And by “explicitly,” I mean making explicit the usually implicit valuation of the economic over other considerations and life values.)
For example, my guiding principle is relatively straight-forward: whatever I undertake, it must be either interesting, important or fun, and preferably all three. By keeping those principles at the front of mind, I have indeed done much of what Clay Collins has suggested, often to the chagrin of others who were moved to pressure me to do what was otherwise expected of me. Now, I tend to do what I expect of myself, and am much happier, and more successful for it.
SpaceAgeSage Says:
July 30th, 2008, 9:38 am
Clay —
Good to see you posting here. I do love the way you think!
I am reminded of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” where Indy has to take a “leap of faith” to save his dad by stepping out into what he sees is thin air, but he fervently hopes will be solid. Indy doesn’t have to step out, but he wants to save his dad (and everyone else). After taking a step, he finds the invisible becoming visible.
I think moving from the productivity mind-sucking world to your vision can sometimes feel like this because the change in perspective is so radical. Glad you and Leo are there to point out the path!
Dot H. | Deeper Issues Says:
July 30th, 2008, 9:53 am
THANK you! I’ve been saying the same thing for many years, and have lived my life by choosing personal time over money repeatedly, to the dismay (sometimes) of my employers. I have little money but a lot of contentment.
Mindfulness is so far from what we think of when we think of the United States. It’s more like mindlessness — numb your mind with computer games when you get done numbing your mind with computer work. Of course, your true audience isn’t even reading blogs — they’re outside, putting productivity behind them.
>>The workforce is laboring for more hours and for less >>pay, taking fewer vacations, and generally burning out.
This is a thorny issue, as we’re seeing right now, because yes, we’re being worked vrey hard, but when corporations start losing money, the workforce loses it just as fast. So for those of us who aren’t self-employed, I think we want to be in favor of productivity for the corporations, but at the same time, not to the extent that it destroys our private lives. I want the place where I work to flourish, not to go under, because then I’d be unemployed.
I also don’t think very many people have pointed out, as you have indirectly, that increasing one’s productivity itself is stresssful. Regimenting oneself can be stressful. Reducing my life to lists and reviewing things every day and week is something I’d rather avoid. There are times when I’d rather just go with the flow and see what happens.
Not, of course, when the alarm goes off on a work day, though.
I think the current blossoming of interest in blogging and trying to earn a living through the computer is feeding the productivity folks, since productivity most benefits the owner of a business — especially the self-employed blogger. However, earning a living by blogging and other computer projects, from what I’ve read, and is conducive to long hours and burnout. The idea of producing one’s work more efficiently, thus cutting down the hours, seems appealing, but in fact is just as tiring in the end, if you ask me. By the time you get the extra hours or minutes you’ve saved, you need them just for resting.
I will definitely be reading your blog going forward. Thanks for the stimulating (not wacky) ideas.
The Financial Philosopher Says:
July 30th, 2008, 11:19 am
Clay:
This is one of your best posts… As I have shared with you before, I believe that most people pursue productivity only for productivity’s sake — They engage in the act of “productivity” but have not defined what it is that they want to produce; and they spend much time seeking others’ ideas of productivity, which is the antithesis of productivity itself…
I also share your disdain for the social convention of “climbing the corporate ladder” and mindlessly participating in “the rat race…”
I will say, however, that the corporate world has a clear definition of productivity… yet most of us who pursue personal productivity do not have our own definition, which in my humble opinion, is quite the paradox…
“But this is that which will indeed dignify and exalt knowledge, if contemplation and action may be more nearly and straitly conjoined and united together than they have been…” Francis Bacon, Advancement of Learning
Kent (The Financial Philosopher)
girlbandgeek Says:
July 30th, 2008, 11:22 am
What you say here is a very cogent response to the hordes of productivity gurus and bloggers. I am definitely on that treadmill, and looking for more passion in life… I tried reading GTD and found it exactly lacking in, um, perspective. Steven Covey is my favorite productivity guru because he encourages you to start by defining what kind of life you want. David Allen has some good ideas, but there is no grounding in passion that I could detect.
United Voices Says:
July 30th, 2008, 12:11 pm
Well, right now, my family is in deep financial problem. We have to collect more than $ 25000 for kidney transplant for my brother. We actually can’t figure out how we are going to manage it. But we have to and are going to manage it.
This period of time has been very difficult for our family. Everyone is quite tensed, thought everyone puts a brave face. We know the road ahead is tough, but we are going to put on that extra effort that extra income to save for our family. Because for us, family comes first.
One thing I’ve re-learnt is to be positive. There’s no use getting gloomy, frustrated or whatever. This is because whatever has to happen has to happen and will happen. But by being positive will help oneself to overcome any obstacles with a little bit of ease and make you feel strong from within.
So everyone who is reading this, I ask them to be positive.
jaxxon Says:
July 30th, 2008, 12:16 pm
Great post! And I agree with almost everything in there. Thanks for the reminders - can always use them!
I don’t agree that there are no perspective hacks, however. ;-) Indeed.. you mentioned one: meditation. Any healthy mind/body practice is an EXCELLENT perspective hack. There’s no better and more objective place to view the world from than from that place within. The problem we face as workaholics is that we view the world from the place of ego. Gotta take a deep breath (or several) and broaden your perspective.
Thanks again and keep up the good stuff!
Lissa Boles Says:
July 30th, 2008, 12:33 pm
Excellent post!
I see the whole productivity thing a symptom of the profound influence of the ‘cult of speed’ (see In Praise of Slow by Carl Honore or visit http://www.slowplanet.com). Interested in listening to an interview with the author? Connect and happy to send a download link.
Productivity is only productive if the system moves you in the direction you’re meant to go. And for the guy with the system, its possible that it was his way to stillness - but cookie cutter convenient to suggest (and sell) it as a way for all.
When I think stepping stones I stop thinking linear and consider that the distance between your stones and mine could be/are different. If I lliberate myself from the urge to mimic, copy or follow, step by step, and just jump where I feel called to jump, stepping (jumping?) stones are cool again.
Call me crazy (be nice now!), but I see a doublebind (attemtp to satisfy/reconcile two opposing requirements/views) at work in the escalation of workworld demands (speed, productivity, etc), one that prompts the leap from ‘following’ to ‘finding your own way’. Its kind of like a transformational failsafe, if you like, since we’re much more likely to move away from what hurts bad than toward what feels good, at least until we get a taste of real freedom and passionate living.
Jeff Says:
July 30th, 2008, 13:01 pm
Great post. I left the US a year ago to pursue what I love-making chocolate, and I have never been more productive. Stepping stones, fuggetaboutit! Leap and the net will appear. Keep up the great posts.
ans Says:
July 30th, 2008, 14:15 pm
Great post - especially for calling out the productivity-industrial complex and the way it’s often used to maximize worker output in the service of profit.
Thanks.
ans Says:
July 30th, 2008, 14:27 pm
One other thing - you said perspective is the “king of all anti-hacks.” I think you’re right, but using gendered language there isn’t helpful.
Bob Ward Says:
July 30th, 2008, 14:34 pm
Actually, we are not making more money since WWII, although we are indeed working almost twice as hard. When you account for inflation, miniumum wage has staid the same since the sixties. Since that time, we have worked 70% harder, but with the same wage. I recommend the book “Nickel and Dimed” for an accurate account of what it is like to be poor in America.
Adam Says:
July 30th, 2008, 15:24 pm
First, I appreciate where you’re attempting to go with this post, but there are a few things I question.
Looking around me I see all of these amazing things - huge, complex structures people live in, bridges connecting land once separated, computers running and understanding multiple languages, cell phones, information literally at our fingertips, beautiful paintings, film, and music. All of these have required productivity, some within a company vision, some on a personal level. As humans, we create, we build, we err…this is what we do. And, in the larger sense, even that which we love to do, to use some casual language, can really suck sometimes. I suppose I worry that the advice given might be confused as a “brush off” of responsibility, something I feel truly builds character.
Responsibility, challenge, courage, consistency, setting and attaining goals…these are the traits of the people I’ve found to be most impressive.
We live in a time that’s in great need of productivity - not productivity of TVs and iPhones, but of ideas to rebuild an unintentionally flawed infrastructure, to break an unquenchable thirst for and reliance upon oil (mostly foreign), to reduce our carbon output from an individual level, to the corporate, city, state, and country, to worldwide, to better educate our children, and to deliver solutions to economic woes to name a few off the top of my head.
I cannot say that I am busy working on these problems myself, but I am taking the steps to educate myself to where, and how I can be more a part of a solution rather than how I can cut out more of the things that I don’t want to do.
It was MLK, Jr. that said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Just some of my thoughts on a topic I’ve thought a lot about.
Stu Says:
July 30th, 2008, 16:03 pm
Wow. Amazing post, Leo, spoke to me about some things in my life I’ve been trying (not?) to deal with for a long time. Fact is, I’m happy where I am. No matter how big anyone else’s dreams are for me, I’m truly happy where I am. Perhaps won’t be in 5 years, 10 years. I’ll deal with it then. Fact is I know no-one who’s done so well spiritually (in terms of love and friendship), or, come to that, materially as I have over the last 7 years. By and large they’ve followed the conventional route, I’ve just kind of stumbled through. Maybe time to embrace my inner compass rather than constantly try and twist it in other directions, you know?
Yeah sorry, odd response. But this post has really moved me, for which I thank you deeply. Really, truly, inspirational stuff.
Dot H. | Deeper Issues Says:
July 30th, 2008, 16:27 pm
A thought I left out — “Anti-hacks” is good, also maybe “meta-hacks,” as in above and beyond hacks (as metaphysics is above and beyond physics).
Stephanie Says:
July 30th, 2008, 16:36 pm
hey Clay,
Interesting thoughts, but you really need to proofread your work!
I lost track of the mistakes after a while, but here are a few –
“And when those years are oven we’re supposed to semi-permanently stay put.”
I think you mean “over,” not “oven.”
“The mind like water myth is the myth is that any productivity system…”
redundancy.
“Bruce lee” — Lee s/b capitalized
etc.
I know it’s the net, and the rules tend to be more casual here, but if you’re to be taken seriously as a writer, you should really do some more fine-tooth-combed proofing before you publish.
Other than the little typos — there’s some nice ideas there. :)
Stu Says:
July 30th, 2008, 16:36 pm
Apologies - that message goes to Clay.
To Leo - great choice of guest contributor, and my apologies for not reading more thoroughly :o
Stu
Jamila Says:
July 30th, 2008, 16:55 pm
I totally get this. The hard part is doing it. I recently quit my full-time job, and have managed to have things set up with the same company to work 20 hours a week, going in to the office only once a week. This arrangement is good through September 2008.
But, my problem is that I’m stuck in the productivity rut and am trying to deprogram myself. I’m trying to see each day as something new, with something new in it to explore, instead of just sticking to my to-do list. Routine.
Nonetheless, I’m bookmarking this post! It’s gonna come in handy a lot over the next few months.
eliska Says:
July 30th, 2008, 16:57 pm
Wow, Adam, your comment really put this post into perspective. Productivity has helped us as a society to achieve great and complex things, but with a serious impact on our lives and our environment. As we worry about personal development and productivity, how are we fitting into the bigger picture? This is something I want to seriously think about.
That said, Clay, this was an excellent post. I don’t agree with all of the details, but I like the overall message. Surrounded by the typical lifehack posts, productivity becomes the goal rather than a means to a goal.
Posts like yours remind me that constantly thinking about what I “should” be doing takes away from those carefree, spontaneous moments that make life fun.
SpaceAgeSage Says:
July 30th, 2008, 17:16 pm
Adam,
“Responsibility, challenge, courage, consistency, setting and attaining goals” — I see your words applying as well to those who seek a life less bound to moldy management styles, archaic business concepts, and oil-based economies. All those “accomplishments” you list — are they really the only valid frame of reference? Yes, I like my computer, my television, my cell phone; but what if everyone lived as Clay suggests? How much more freedom, collaboration, and non-linear thinking would eventually change the world for the better? It doesn’t mean the new way wouldn’t require effort and responsibility, but couldn’t it mean our economy becoming more flexible and organic, capable of far more impressive, self-sufficient, and eco-friendly technologies?
Mark Says:
July 30th, 2008, 17:19 pm
For similar thoughts from another ‘perspective’, try Bertrand Russell’s collection of essays “In Praise of Idleness”.
Clay Collins | The Growing Life Says:
July 30th, 2008, 17:34 pm
@Adam:
wo, wo. Hold on a second. Nowhere do I say that productivity is bad. All I said was that self-development should be pursued over productivity (often, however, they don’t compete at all… productivity can be the product of self-development). I also said that we can do without the productivity industrial complex. But nowhere did I outright reject productivity.
Also, this post in no way knocks “responsibility, challenge, courage, consistency, setting and attaining goals…these are the traits of the people I’ve found to be most impressive.” It’s just a matter of who you’re responsible to (I think you should be responsible to yourself, and sometimes that means quitting things). consistency’s also good. But consistency in what? None of these words mean anything by themselves. Be consistent with your talents and you’ll be more productive than 99% of others.
I like the MLK quote but how is that relevant to the rest of your comment? What are you implying? Give me some context please.
–Clay
Clay Collins | The Growing Life Says:
July 30th, 2008, 18:01 pm
@ans: Sorry about the gendered language. Good point.
Julie H. Says:
July 30th, 2008, 18:02 pm
It’s great to read something that meshes with what I’ve been trying to do for more than a few years.
I do think there are some hacks for perspective. Flexibility and being open are both important to remember. So many people are stuck on having to be right that they can’t get beyond this. Being able to see all sides of a situation, of an idea can help move a person towards gaining more perspective. It can be practiced.
Sometimes just asking “why am I thinking this?” can help move a person away from a stuck view point. There are more, but these were what first came to my mind when I read this article.
chris Says:
July 30th, 2008, 18:09 pm
Clay,
I’m having difficulty comprehending number #2. Honestly, I didn’t take the time to read everyone’s comment so you might have addressed this already.
Here’s my thing…Don’t you need stepping stones to get to your goal? I’ve been trying to come up with an example where someone leaped frog the stepping stones in order to get to their goals but my limited and modest knowledge prevents me from comming up with one.
Say for example, if you want to be the best baseball player then your stepping stones need to be the Minor Leagues. Even Le Brone James had to go through the stepping stone of High School in order to get to the NBA. I’m positive that Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Barack Obama also had stepping stones.
Now that I got that out of the way, I do agree with you on #8. Part of the reason why I follow The Growing Life is it’s unique perspective. I actually like to read things that challenges the way I see things. I sometimes disagree with your perspectives but it’s great because you force me to re-assess my own perspective and situation.
Karthik Hrishikesh Says:
July 30th, 2008, 19:08 pm
Awesome article….& it would take real guts to stick to this
Leo Says:
July 30th, 2008, 19:24 pm
What a great discussion!
@Adam: You make some good points but to what I think Clay is saying is that productivity (while being a useful tool) often benefits the company you work for … while personal development benefits you. So focus on developing yourself and your talents rather than just trying to speed up what you’re already doing.
@Chris: You’re right that stepping stones are useful in getting to goals — I use them all the time. I think Clay is talking about bigger stepping stones — the ones that determine your direction in life. Instead of using the safety of these stones that are already pre-determined, he’s saying that you should have the courage to set your own direction.
Clay Collins | The Growing Life Says:
July 30th, 2008, 19:53 pm
@Leo: seriously, this is a great discussion.
@Chris: Yeah, whenever you go from where you are to where your goal is you’ll need to do certain things. I think that all too often, however, people get sidetracked by activities that aren’t all that essential. Do you need an MFA in writing from Iowa to be a published novelist? No. Most published novelists don’t have creative writing degrees. Most billionaires don’t have business degrees.
People so frequently take the path of least resistance and justify it as a stepping stone.
That’s just my take.
You do have to play the minor leagues before you can play in the major leagues, but I don’t see that as a stepping stone, I see that as a “bee-line” to your goal.
The deferred life plan is what I’m speaking to.
So not all of this advice applies to everyone, but ***my main point is this***:
Go DIRECTLY for what you want. Most of us do a lot of stuff that society tell us to do and then justify it post-hoc as something we should do.
People keep on telling me that I should finish my M.A. because that will help me get a book deal. Really? An entire year’s worth of work just so I can mention in a book proposal somewhere that I have an M.A.
This is what I’m referring to.
Myrko Says:
July 30th, 2008, 19:54 pm
As I understood #2 it is about stepping on stones that are not necessarly important to do, what we want to do. The idea would be to go directly for what you want instead of staying in traditional safety but without any real meaning or passion.
For instance: I quit my studies to start my company as the opportunity presented itself. Also I realized that my studies are not what I ultimately wanted to do. Of course I could have finished studies, select a decent job and climb up the ladder. Now I am the person who hires and I have fun doing what I do. I’m very happy I avoided the obvious stepping stones and went straight for want I want.
Adam Says:
July 30th, 2008, 19:55 pm
@Clay
I agree - I don’t think self-development and productivity compete. I’ve seen a lot of people get a little lost in self-development, which is where most of my thinking regarding your post stems from. In fact, I think that it’s highly likely that with focused, intentional productivity, self-development might even be a desired byproduct, and the other way around, too.
As for consistency, well, with your actions. For one, with how you treat people (unless you treat them poorly).
The reason I chose the MLK quote is because you say “stop doing the things you don’t want to do,” which to me implies “that which makes you uncomfortable.” But what MLK is saying there, and obviously I’m relating a quote intended for the civil rights movement to self development/improvement, but to me, what I get out of that is it’s in times of challenge - NON-comfort - when we can really forge ahead and realize strengths we might not have known we had. It’s like lifting weights, I suppose. I’ve found some of the greatest joys in overcoming struggle, and hardship.
Looking back on your post, I see that the MLK quote doesn’t really relate to productivity so much as it does to comfort zones. My bad. That’s what insta-reaction gets you!
Clay Collins | The Growing Life Says:
July 30th, 2008, 19:56 pm
@Myrko: You said it better than I did. Thank you for that. Great perspective and interesting story.
Clay Collins | The Growing Life Says:
July 30th, 2008, 20:02 pm
@Adam: Thanks for the thoughtful reply.
I probably miscommunicated. I guess there’s a difference between doing what you “want” to do and doing what you want to do.
Please forgive me for the semantic nonsense and let me explain:
It takes real guts to do what makes you “come alive.” About 4 months ago I started eliminating everything I didn’t want to do from my life and it’s been the scariest thing I’ve ever done.
Going after your dreams usually requires risk, guts, and a lot of sacrifice. I’ve been living out of my comfort zone for the last 4 months and it’s simultaneously been the best thing that’s ever happened to me and the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Someone will probably come by in the comments and explain what I mean better than I. Which is why I love blogs.
I hope this makes sense.
Marshall Says:
July 30th, 2008, 20:20 pm
@Chris and Clay,
Great discussion. I was about to reply to it, but you both seem to have done an excellent job explaining yourselves.
@Dot H.,
I like your suggestion. I’ve always thought Clay’s use of “anti-hack” was confusing. “Meta” definitely makes more sense to me. “Regular-hacks” are useful also, just in a different context. “Anti-hack” seems to imply opposition to “regular-hack,” when I think it should only imply a deeper level.
But alas, I doubt Clay will change now—he’s got too much invested in his term.
It’s okay, Clay. I’m just as stubborn. Forget the wording; your meaning is inspiring.
stephen Says:
July 30th, 2008, 20:24 pm
I am not a big fan of things Zen but I read your introduction and subscribed to your blog. This is the first comment I have ever left and I just wanted to let you know that you are a fine writer.
April in Autumn Says:
July 30th, 2008, 21:08 pm
You have no idea how important it was for me to read this today. Thank you!
sciencetech Says:
July 30th, 2008, 21:48 pm
Regarding #2… avoiding stepping stones.
I call this “short circuiting”. Taking up a career without going through all the hoops. It’s not necessarily easy because the system is designed to put those steps in front of you. But if you can do it, it can be very educational.
I’ve done it twice, jumping once into atmospheric science research and then into commercial diving — without having the traditional background for either. The first time saved me from going through 6 arduous years of graduate school to enter a career I found I wouldn’t like. The second showed me that turning your avocation into a vocation may take all the fun out of it. I also tried firefighting, emergency medical techniques, and other career options.
Even if nothing great comes of it, in the end you can save yourself a lot of time and anguish — and perhaps have some interesting experiences!
Carpe diem.
Tom Stine | Spiritual Life Coach Says:
July 30th, 2008, 23:37 pm
Hey Clay….
“There are no perspective hacks. None… You have to question, meditate, and fail often.”
Ah, my friend, here I disagree. There is one perspective hack, and you mentioned it right here: question and meditate! We so often think we KNOW how things are, how they should be, how they will be, when really we don’t know jack sh*t. We just plain don’t know.
Then we sit. We ask simple questions. We let the questions reveal the answers to us. We meditate upon what we get. We discover the stillness within us that gives us ALL perspective about our life and situations. We find the very thing that Zen masters have talked about for centuries: the Stillness.
So, is this a hack? Could be. But since I don’t hack anything, it probably isn’t.
Excellent post in perfect Clay Collins’ form! :-)