flip side

Often you can discover what you want by reasoning from a list of things you don’t want.

ready for something new

Some of your stuff is so old that it doesn’t make business sense to take good care of it, but take good care of it anyway. Think of it as practicing the habit that you will use with the new thing that eventually replaces the old thing.

in costume

You can interact with a person in costume according to their costume or according to who they really are. If the costume is only temporary, there is surely more to be learned taking the former approach.

time machine

To connect to the meaning of a historical document, imagine getting in a time machine and going to the period when the information was put together.

before the new moon

Use arbitrary and invented deadlines if they add immediacy and clarity to your work. Don’t use them if they add confusion and put goals in conflict with each other.

with clean hands

There is a simple way to mark the moment when your part in a process is done. This ritual, practiced by everyone in the ancient world, is to wash your hands completely. Do this ritual one time with full mindfulness, and you will likely start to wash your hands more effectively every day.

the contingent worker

If you are not fit to do “real” work today, you still benefit from any little thing you can do that will make your future work easier.

global predicament

Imagine what the world would look like if 1 billion people faced the same problem that bothers you.

history part one

If you watch the news on television, take notes.

anchor hat

“Hats” can be a metaphor for the various roles you fill and their associated points of view, but you can also put on a literal hat as a way to take on a different perspective.