I completely fell off the rails with the Event.
What I realized later (much later) is that even in the chaos I could get clarity and value from the discipline.
So. This specific work marathon? Failed. I did not hit any of my objectives, whether baseline or stretch. Those objectives depended on the world remaining stable, which it didn’t.
Meta? A win. Work cycles and a disciplined approach to the day can work even in an unstable world, with ill-defined objectives, confusion, and turmoil.
Meta? A reminder to not expect the world to remain stable. And . . . plan for instability.
I am reminded of Rudyard Kipling and “If”.
This means doubling down on using the Work Cycles, no matter what the circumstances.
I found that in the turmoil I am spinning a lot. What is happening? What to do? Keep the reins on my emotions and especially the doomsday mentality—that’s essential. Accept possible black pill outcomes but think and act with white pill optimism.
Work cycles help. Chunked down attention. Well-defined objectives. Small bursts of energy realistically scaled to what is possible.
I have to ask them about the app and how to reset start times midstream. Maybe make a Loom video to show them what I mean. I would rather use the app than the Google Sheet.
Maybe the answer is just suck it up and run a parallel computer or second monitor with the Google Sheet always up.
The Work Gym itself? I’m of two minds. I like the fact that I put my head down and work until the two minute warning. The timer on my computer beeps but I’m constantly checking to see how much time is left. (It’s just a pomodoro timer). “Work and don’t think until you hear a voice” is better for me.
But the social aspect of it? I can’t say whether being in a giant Zoom room with others is helping or not. These people are fellow travelers in some way but there is no real way to connect.