This post inspired me to write a fake-mail to a couple of friends. Given that I copy-pasted everything from you I thought I’d share.
Couple of things:
The following is off-topic.
OP wrote a great post. This is not an attempt at satire against the OP.
I’m a long-time lurker, first-time poster (starting off-topic, uphill from here?)
The following includes typos, and used to contain bold emphasis on cliche phrases.
It’s not that funny.
SUBJECT: REAL LIFE DEMONSTRATION: Lifestyle Management—Vague goal turned into super easy actionables
Greetings Mr ,
One of my MITs today was to have a happy tummy. This vague goal came from my core value which is that happiness is a) achievable b) desirable. Being a proponent of SMART goals, I started mapping out the specifics of this project. To begin with, it was way too abstract. So I used to How-method to reformulate my goal into something more concrete. How will I get a happy tummy? By eating something. How will I eat? With a spoon… just kidding—one has to keep things into perspective and considering the relevancy of the answer In my case the relevant answer was to eat . Being aware of one’s resources is essential for realistic planning. Sometimes it’s better to go with one’s gut, rather than planning everything out in detail, so I decided to just eat some scrambled eggs. I could now begin to make a project plan:
PROJECT: SCRAMBLED EGGS [MIT #1, 09′50, Area: /happy/happy_tummy/eat, 09′50 21th of May 2011, Location: , Weather: Sunny]
Step 1: Clear junk from stove.
Step 2: Get non-stick frying pan from cabinet.
Step 3: Put pan on stove.
Step 4: Get plate from cabinet.
Step 5: Put plate on stove near pan.
Step 6: Get butter knife from drawer.
Step 7: Get stick of butter from refrigerator.
Step 8: Cut off a small piece of butter from the stick into the pan.
Step 9: Put butter knife into sink.
Step 10: Return stick of butter to the refrigerator.
Step 11: Remove egg carton from refrigerator.
Step 12: Place egg carton on counter next to stove.
Step 13: Remove two eggs from egg carton.
Step 14: Place eggs on stove next to pan.
Step 15: Return egg carton to refrigerator.
Step 16: Pick up plastic spatula.
Step 17: Turn on burner under pan.
Step 18: Use plastic spatula to spread butter on pan as it melts.
Step 19: Put down plastic spatula.
Step 20: Pick up egg from stove.
Step 21. Crack egg on the side of stove.
Step 22: Open egg above pan, so that its contents fall into the pan.
Step 23: Throw eggshell into trash can.
Step 24: Repeat steps 17-20, using the second egg.
Step 25: Wash hands to remove traces of raw egg that may contain salmonella bacteria.
Step 26: Dry hands.
Step 27: Pick up plastic spatula.
Step 28: Using plastic spatula, stir eggs in frying pan as they cook.
Step 29: When eggs are cooked, turn off fire under pan.
Step 30: Pick up pan.
Step 31: Transfer eggs from frying pan to plate. Use plastic spatula if necessary.
Step 32: Put pan down on stove.
Step 33: Put down plastic spatula.
Step 34: Move plate to table.
Step 35: Get ketchup bottle from refrigerator.
Step 36: Squirt ketchup on plate.
Step 37: Put ketchup bottle on table.
Step 38: Get fork from drawer.
Step 39: Eat scrambled eggs.
There’s a couple of things to note here:
1) Further context in title allows for easier cross-referencing and sorting in the future
2) Very specific steps makes it easy to just follow along rather than losing focus of the important task at hand. In retrospect the Step XX: prefix probably wasn’t necessary, considering that the instructions were written down a) in one place b) for one person. I have this habit of doing things in case I need to delegate, but since I’m currently working from home there wasn’t much I could delegate.
3) Bolded task, helps autofocus eyes on the next actionable.
4) Obviously these sort of specific instructions aren’t always possible to write, but it’s a good idea to at least attempt to write something—it helps one to think the whole thing through properly. Remember that lazy thinking is standard for our caveman brains.
5) Efficient re-use of previous-locally-defined-behaviourals with “repeat steps 17-20” (another reason for using number prefixes, contra point 2).
This is it! I’m off to yet another productive, proactive and problem-free day!
UPDATE 15′30: I can happily report that I’ve succesfully completed MIT #1 of the day! Due to time constraints and stress-reducing work-life balance commitments I’ve decided to postpone my other MITs and LITs to tomorrow. Actually, I think I’ve found a perfect spot in my fixed-time-slots, dynamic-management, multi-user, culturally-neutral, religious-holiday-dates-and-environmentally-aware, offline-syncable-mobile-calendar-platform-system for MIT #2 already!
UPDATE 16′30: Back from some hair-pruning-water-cooler social maintenance and my post-portem analysis. I just wanted to chime in and say that despite just finishing MIT #1 I’m happy about the day. Why you might ask? Here’s a word of wisdom if there ever has been: There’s always more work to do. The important thing is that each day is a day closer to one’s goal. Here goal is referring to one’s overall sense of purpose rather than a goal like “Pick up pan.”. By the way: I didn’t write that, my mentor did. He’s amazing! I advice you all to find such a inspiring person in your life.
This post inspired me to write a fake-mail to a couple of friends. Given that I copy-pasted everything from you I thought I’d share.
Couple of things:
The following is off-topic.
OP wrote a great post. This is not an attempt at satire against the OP.
I’m a long-time lurker, first-time poster (starting off-topic, uphill from here?)
The following includes typos, and used to contain bold emphasis on cliche phrases.
It’s not that funny.