Circle Three: the twenty-third
Plans. Self-esteem. Teamwork. Bands.
Welcome back to Circle Three!
As I think about my story and help others tell theirs, I’m reminded how important a compelling story is. Stories bring people together. Storytelling is a superpower.
Last week's most-clicked link was a way to visualize your Spotify music taste.
Cheers,
Dan
So what’s Circle Three? For new readers, the name comes from Seth Godin’s Linchpin, where he posits that the internet has created a circle beyond family and business: a tribe. Where knowledge is exchanged and our gifts are shared.
Thanks for being a part of this third circle. Let’s create something.
One Big Idea
“Don’t do things that you know are morally wrong. Not because someone is watching, but because you are. Self-esteem is just the reputation that you have with yourself. You’ll always know.” — Naval Ravikant
How you think of yourself is reflected in all your actions. Be honest with yourself, and honesty with others will follow. How can you raise your self-esteem by guiding your actions?
Circles of Thought
McKinsey’s next global managing partner happened to play water polo (at Standford no less, one of the country’s top programs), saying that “one of the great lessons I’ve learned is that irrespective of talent mix on a team you have to figure out how to work as a unit.” I certainly agree with that sentiment, having played the sport for over a decade.
A recent article from the Guardian quoted Adam Levine of Maroon 5 saying, “there aren’t any bands anymore.” And he’s right. One conclusion — that culture is shaped by technology — is another reason to bring back concerts and vinyls.
Holy macaroni! Thought rugby was tough? Check out this Japanese sport called Bo-Taoshi!
Jazz Keys, perfect for when you want to play jazz and type at the same time. Your keyboard strokes become the jazz notes. Let the calm vibes commence.
Data science is huge right now. Here’s what a two-year veteran data scientist wrote about how he’d learn the trade more efficiently if he could do it over.
Inner Circle: Plans, not Motivations or Habits
How can we motivate ourselves to action?
Motivation Science
Everywhere I look I see habit. (There it is again.)
The power of compounding habits or starting habits young. There are money habits. Sleep habits. Workout habits. Morning routines.
The book Atomic Habits wasn't a best-seller for no reason.
But habits need backup. And while I'm forced to reset a lot of my habits and life, I've been thinking about motivation.
A study by the British Journal of Health set out to determine the source of motivation by answering the question: what motivates someone to real action?
The researchers worked with 248 people to build better exercise habits. The subjects were divided into three groups.
The first group was the control group. They were asked to track how often they exercised.
The second group was the “motivation” group. They were asked not only to track their workouts but also to read some material on the benefits of exercise. The researchers also explained to the group how exercise could reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and improve heart health.
Finally, there was the third group. These subjects received the same presentation as the second group, to ensure equivalent external motivation. However, they were also asked to formulate a plan for when and where they would exercise over the following week.
Specifically, each member of the third group completed the following sentence: “During the next week, I will partake in at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise on [DAY] at [TIME] in [PLACE].”
Groups 1 and 2 had near-equal levels of exercise. (Clearly, wanting to do something just isn’t enough.) Group 3 had nearly triple the participation.
The study found that motivation had almost no significant effect.
Motivation is nothing without a plan. It is just step number one in formulating the goal, the plan will help you get there and carry you through the hard times.
A Plan
A 10-year-old wanders the neighborhood for Halloween candy. Wandering aimlessly house to house. That's the easy part. By the end of the night there will be some candy in the bag.
The process behind achieving a goal or developing a habit is the difference. If you want the most candy, plan a route. Run through some backyards; jump some fences. Strategize and lay the framework for how to get there.
To start this newsletter, I made a plan for how often and when to dedicate time for creation. When it’s finished, I check the box. (How to create a plan you can enjoy over and over again is a topic for another time.)
As I formulate a plan for the upcoming weeks, I'm working to bring the habits and motivations with me to reach the goals I've set. I'm using tools like writing out the plan in Notion to bring the plan to life.
If you want to have a conversation about planning or motivation, set it up here.
State of the Circle
Dan is a mechanical design engineer interested in human-centered design. I love coming up with intuitive solutions. Reply to this email with what you’re working on.
🔊 Listening: Ben Folds
📖 Reading: Greenlights
➕ Win: Made progress on lots of projects this week.
🍺 Untappd: Ran 6 miles to Locust Lane Brewery.
👁️🗨️ Looking Ahead: Looking to prioritize big decisions.
This week was: zoom-heavy
If you like what you’re reading and feel inspired to share it, click below!