Nicholas Bate

Cheerful Friday 22

1. The simpler the food, the more simply cooked, the more delicious the result. 
2. Age is a mindset. 
3. Without winter you might ignore the staggering spring.
4. There are Beatles songs you have not listened to for a while.
5. Despite the hyperbole, coffee supplies are secure.
6. There are 37 plays by Shakespeare to read. And you only studied two at school.
7. You have a route out of any bad mood by dance, music and/or a long, deep sleep.
8. You can write more, you can read more, you can grab your walking allowance. You can think to infinity.
9. A delay is just a delay. 
10. You have only released a small % of your true potential.
11. What about if you could? Or if you did?
12. Love isn't about finding. It's about noticing.
13. Lists have no limits.
14. Old jeans, an old sweat and a comfortable beanie. Now, get it done. Work-out. Novel. E-mail to zero. 
15. A new 1 Rep Max is poised. Hang on in there.
16. A frest play-list.
17. Not needing to understand everything.
18. There is always a Plan B.
19. Medjool dates, chilled. With strong turkish coffee. Your pen and notebook. Synapses firing.
20. Your imagination is only limited by your willingness to grapple with ideas you don't like.
21. Facebook needs you more than you need Facebook.
22. Beliefs drive behaviours. Behaviours drive results. Beliefs are code. Code is editable.

Read More; Scroll Less

Bram, A Spy Story: a story of coming of age, of Queen and country and the origins of Covid-19. “Once you start reading this book, it’s difficult to put down. Initially, you are immersed in the delights of Oxford academia, only to then be exposed to the starkness and brutality of Moscow during the Cold War. Bram, a brilliant Oxford chemist, turns spy whose mission is to save the world from a highly dangerous and ubiquitous threat. This book is characterised by most of the attributes of a good spy story with action, heroic exploits by a larger-than-life protagonist and a strong plot. Well worth a read.

The Greatest Productivity Tips, 127

Avoid the trap of getting stuff done.

Get the right stuff done.

But what is the right stuff? Check your compass: career/health/money/relationships/fun and contribution. 

Tuesday Zero to Possible Seven

1. Zero soda; maximum water.
2. Zero in-box; maximum filed to category OR action list.
3. Zero lifts/escalator; maximum stairs.
4. Zero processed food; maximum fresh, local and cooked by self.
5. Zero technology-at-table; maximum great uninterrupted conversation.
6. Zero mall; maximum small, local & inspiring shop-keepers.
7. Zero can't; maximum all things are possible.

 

1. Zero soda; maximum water.
2. Zero in-box; maximum filed to category OR action list.
3. Zero lifts/escalator; maximum stairs.
4. Zero processed food; maximum fresh, local and cooked by self.
5. Zero technology-at-table; maximum great uninterrupted conversation.
6. Zero mall; maximum small, local & inspiring shop-keepers.
7. Zero can't; maximum all things are possible.

On Writing, 122

Momentum is certainly your assistant. Write daily to train the mind and body, write daily for quantity, write daily for pleasure.

But do not be guilty about a break. A break can provide the creative breakthrough, the fresh angle, the rejuvenated spirit.

Like much in life, it’s a balance. 

Sunday True Productivity, 14

1. It all starts with wellness: clear-headed judgement, plentiful energy and easy acceptance of constant demands and uncertainty.
2. Wellness=M-E-D-S. That's meditation, exercise, diet and sleep.
3. True productivity needs what and when.
4. What is your flight-deck, your overview, your big picture of what you want to do and have to do. It's one list in one place and always accessible. 
5. When is your schedule or diary or wall-planner.
6. Break down into brain and time friendly chunks what is on your list and place it in your schedule when you will do it.  Do that each day.
7. When considering what you need and want to do, ensure all areas of your Personal Compass are addressed: 
8. Career
9. Wellness
10. Personal Finance
11. Relationships
12. Fun
13. Contribution
14. When choices have to be made (which they invariably will have to be: you can do anything but you can't do everything) consider short-term and long-term payoff and balance across the compass. Easy? No.That's why wellness (back to 1) is critical.

No Waiting Saturday

1. For permission to be your best.
2. To develop mastery at your calling.
3. For a reply from a potential publisher of your manuscript; try another and another and another.
4. To express your gratitude and/or love.
5. For the course when you have no money; buy the book.
6. To appreciate Planet Earth be it sun or rain, mountain or coast.
7. For perfection.

FREE Love, Life and Legacy

Three short stories. 

Free for the weekend. 

Instantly available. All you need is the kindle app. 

On Writing, 121

Always write more than you need.

Editing is a wonderful improver of quality.

Go write.

Totally Free and Totally Handy 7

1. JFDI/ How to Sell Brilliantly/ Unplugged. Free full books. LHS of blog to download
2. Secrets of Success, handy PDF
3. How to Write & Publish your Business Book, handy PDF
4. How to be More Intelligent, handy PDF
5. Zen & The Art of Cubicle Freedom, handy PDF
6. The Rules of Life, handy PDF
7. How to Lessen E-Mail Pain, 12