Reality

Expectation

Reality

Expectation

Creative Tension

From Peter Senge,The Fifth Discipline

TasksWeekly goals

Monthly goals

ProjectsQuarterly goals

5 year plans

Life missionAreas of focus

LegacyCreative Tensionhappens at all scales

TasksWeekly goals

Monthly goals

ProjectsQuarterly goals

5 year plans

Life missionAreas of focus

LegacyWe are usually here

+=

3 Tools toBridge the GapReality

Expectation

1. Define the expectation

Define the expectation two ways1. Purpose2. Outcome

Define the expectation

Define the expectation two ways1. Purpose: Why am I doing this?

Or, what is the problem to be solved?2. Outcome: What does ‘done’ look like?

Or, what does ‘wild success’ look like?

Define the expectation

Purpose: Why am I doing this?

“We’re All Gonna Die”

To present a talk that clarifies the nature of creative tensions, and shares practical tools to resolve those tensions.

Define the expectation

Outcome: What does ‘done’ look like?

A 25-minute presentation that defines creative tension, describes 3 interrelated tools to resolve creative tensions, and inspires listeners with practical next steps to live more purposefully and effectively.

Define the expectation

TasksWeekly goals

Monthly goals

ProjectsQuarterly goals

5 year plans

Life missionAreas of focus

LegacyYou can define

expectations for creative tensions

at every scale.

Define the expectation

2. Define yourself in time

Minutes

Hours

Days

Weeks

Months

Years

Life

Decades

Define yourself in timeFrom Tim Urban,waitbutwhy.com

16-17 waking hours per day≈ 1000 minutes= 100 10-minute blocks

Ideally, how would you fill these blocks tomorrow?• Morning reflection:

1 block?• Important work project:

12 blocks?• Dinner prep: 3 blocks?• Reading: 2 blocks?• Relationships: 4 blocks?• Etc.?

Define yourself in time

Our stats, today at 2pm

How will you spend the remaining 50 blocks (half your waking hours)?

Define yourself in time

How did you fill your blocks yesterday?

Define yourself in time

Me

Me

Me

Spent16,2212,31753244.44.4

Remaining16,6522,37854745.64.6

My stats, as of April 3, 2019

DaysWeeksMonthsYearsDecades

Define yourself in time

Focusing on a particular time scale causes focus on the creative tensions at that scale.

Minutes

Hours

Days

Weeks

Months

Years

Life

Decades

Define yourself in time

Plan periodic reflection at each scale

• Make appointments with yourself to examine your defined expectations and where you are in time.

• What tensions do you want to focus on at each scale? Define purpose and outcome for those tensions.

Define yourself in time

Reality

Expectation3. Build good habits

From James Clear,Atomic Habits

Build good habits

Small compound changes over time look small at first, but beat drastic measures.

Habits have four parts• Make it obvious• Make it attractive• Make it easy• Make it satisfying

Build good habits

Make it obvious• I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION].• After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].

Build good habits

Make it attractive• Bundle a new habit

with something you like to do.• Spend time with people

who have the habit you want.

Build good habits

Make it easy• Create an environment where

doing the right thing is as easy as possible.• Start as small as possible.

Build good habits

Make it satisfying• What is immediately rewarded is repeated.• What is immediately punished is avoided.• End a habit with something enjoyable.

Build good habits

Full example• Obvious: Every workday at 4:50 at my desk, I’ll

assess my day and write my plan for tomorrow.• Attractive: I’ll partner with someone in my

office to do this at the same time.• Easy: This is a 10-minute task (1% of my day).• Satisfying: After I do this, I’ll listen to my

favorite podcast on the way home.

Build good habits

Minutes

Hours

Days

Weeks

Months

Years

Life

Decades

Build good habits

Summary• Be aware of creative tensions• Define the expectation• Define yourself in time• Build habits that move you from where/who

you are to where/who you want to be

We’re All Gonna Die