Nicholas Bate

How To Be Brilliant (v2) 1-50: 20, Laugh

Laugh. It puts it all in proportion. It releases feel-good chemicals. It bonds people. It flattens big egos. Laugh.

The book.

Basics 7: Daily Productivity

1. Address true priorities for the day (set by Personal Compass, not urgency nor ease. More here.)
2. Vertical timeline: 30 minutes slots. Priorities matched to timeline.
3. Batch work on digital interrupts.
4. Minimise meetings by reducing numbers attending, clear goals and shorter length.
5. Regular breaks to stand, stretch, sip water and ask: what's really, really important here?
6. Chaos in the day? 97% of the time it's the result of poor planning in the past. Fix it for the future.
7. Go home on time. All work and no play etc.

How To Be Brilliant (v2) 1-50: 19, Stay Lean

Stay Lean. Less baggage, both physical and mental. Think cowboy: horse, saddle-bags and blanket roll. Think Roger Bannister and less than 4. Don't get slowed down. Don't make it complicated. Stay lean. 

The book. 

Jagged Thoughts for Jagged Times, 427

You'd not do a deadlift at the gym cold.

Don't approach a Monday without warming up. Listen to something great on the way to work; walk the last bit; and when you arrive hide and clear some actions. Emerge at 1030 knowing you're winning.

How To Be Brilliant (v2) 1-50: 18, Stay Hungry

The first album, the first consultancy job, the first novel, the first sale and installation: a bit rough and ready at the edges but equally often some of your greatest work. You really, really wanted that work. Don't let success and/or busyness dilute you from your efforts and distract you from your vision. Wake up every morning hungry to do it well. 

The book. 

Blast from The Past

Zen and The Art of Cubicle Freedom.

With Books of Unknown Quantity

More is Less.

Is there a difference

when eating highly processed foods?

100 Words

The gentlest of rain on the oldest of pebbles on that most misty of mornings. A Saturday, a thermos of coffee and damp. Damp, damp, damp. But secure in a ‘proof’ and secure in a thought or two. A dog observed as a stick is thrown and a walker steps out along that shore. Both free for the time-being. Elsewhere, anxiety for the fete: stalls ready, cakes unwrapped and children restless in a world dominated by the addictive electron. Moods change, thoughts come and go but rain is always right. Decide your destiny, select your freedom and abandon your fate.

Basics 7: The Dimensions of Nutrition

1. Food, of course. Buy local, buy fresh, buy knowing the source. Cook it yourself.
2. Literature. One classic novel per week. 
3. Movement. Walk everywhere you possibly can. Love a staircase.
4. Companionship. To talk, to hug, to share.
5. A challenge. To grow, to wrestle, to accomplish.
6. Labour. To hike long and hard, to build a wall, to clear a small-holding.
7. Planet Earth. Spun out of star-dust: allow it to daily feed your soul by slowing down, noticing the weather and getting as close as possible to the real planet.