A Lull
I know that a lot of people’s favorite posts are the self improvement ones. They’re the most gratifying to write, and also to read the comments on.
I’d write more of them, but I hate writing them unless I feel like I’m really exemplifying the topic. Otherwise it’s disingenuous. My worst nightmare would be for this site to turn into one of those other “personal development” blogs, 99% of which are written by people whose lives are not particularly outstanding, that churn out productivity porn every day.
“Ten new ways to organize your todo list!”
But right now I’m not really productive. I put in my hours with poker, write posts, and take stabs at other projects, but I wouldn’t feel great about trying to inspire anyone to achieve this level of output. You’re probably already exceeding it.
For about half a year I stuck to monitoring my productivity every day. I went from being wholly unable to produce to being a total productivity monster.
Great achievement and all that, a definite piece of the puzzle but not everything. When I finished Conversion Doubler, which came out exactly as I hoped, I realized that I just don’t want to BE an internet marketer. It’s not fun and exciting (for me) .
Right now I’m doing poker, which takes up an average of six hours a day seven days a week. It’s a grind. I’m not innovating, I’m just learning by experience and information overload. It’s just the particular phase I have to go through now. I could write a post about that, but it would just be one line:
“Keep doing it no matter what. When you feel like quitting, don’t.”
Not exactly a Pulitzer Prize contender.
I have half a billion other projects I could do, but I’m trying to be more selective now. I think of it like dating. If you settle and you date a girl who is “okay”, then you are spending a lot of time NOT meeting a girl who is “amazing”. If I bury myself in a new site I start on a whim, that’s a month or so that I’m not brainstorming and thinking about what I want to do with my life.
So that’s what I’m trying. I have mixed feelings on it. On one hand I feel like “just doing something” is a good way to get exposed to new possibilities. On the other, I don’t spend as much time thinking and pondering as I used to, so I’m trying to do more of that.
There is one small project I’ll be doing this month that has my wheels turning a bit in terms of direction for my life. You’ll all know about it in a week or so.
This lull is the reason some of my posts have been less substantial recently. The upside is that I DO have a bunch of cool things planned in the near future and I’ll be writing about them all.
Maybe you can help. Some of you know me very well, and many more have at least been reading for a long time. Based on what you know about me, what do you think my ideal enterprise would be? Feel free to answer in the comments or by e-mail.
When I asked my friends what my greatest strength was, the response was unanimous and surprising. Maybe this will be the same. Last time I asked for your input, with the survey, you blew me away.
(4 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)
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October 2nd, 2008 at 7:34 am
First, I think you should keep posting on all of your sites. Beyond that, perhaps create a self-sufficiency blog about how to consume less and make a living online. But you’ve already written about those topics before. I really think you have a better idea of what to do next than any of us! Just do what makes you happy and post about it!
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 am
Travel Guide.
People sign up with no idea what they’re in for, just book a time period. You take them somewhere.
That way you get to continue to travel and are encouraged to go to new places and try new things.
Most people aren’t going to go to an isolated island in Panama when they go on vacation. Most people aren’t going to go to Panama. You’ll offer something the typical traveler won’t be able to experience.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 am
I prefer that you give your quality posts then giving not very useful or exciting 43-folders posts anyday.
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Personal life coach? Actor?
Honestly, however, I can’t see you as anything other than an entrepreneur or lecturer. Keep traveling the world; eventually, you’ll stumble across something that gets you extra-excited.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:27 am
Hi Tynan,
I just stumbled onto this blog by chance about a week or two ago. I have been in a lull myself and typed something along the lines of “living life awesome” or “being awesome” into google and yours was one of the top three hits. I have never EVER read someone elses blog before but I am very impressed by the quality and interesting things you have done. I have been hooked ever since.
From what I have read so far the first thought that came into my head is that you should write another book. Something motivational, like what Neil Strauss did writing about himself learning pick-up, but not about pick-up persay just about how you became the person who can say:
“I am an egomaniac vegan pickup artist who sold everything and is traveling around the world. I generally do whatever I want whenever I want, even when I’m pretty sure it’s a bad idea. I like singing gangsta rap, writing, working out, working on my business, traveling, and finding adventure. I always wear a sequinned hat with stars on it.”
Then again that wouldnt leave you with much to post here (for a while) so that might be a very bad idea. I would deffinitly recommend considering something motivational however.
Also since I mentioned the game earlier… it took me a day and a half of reading to realize you were Herbal. Hah.
Anyway, sorry about the long post from a complete stranger.
Be Awesome!
October 5th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Steve is definitely right that you are disinclined to do any one thing for more than a while. I am the same way. “Productivity” merited extra attention, as working consisted of focusing half of the time, at best.
Then about a week ago, Neville Medhora recommended a candidly written book called “How to get Rich” (a cliche title); written by a British entrepreneur named Felix Dennis. It was good, I read it in less than a day.
I won’t undermine the content by trying to summarize the whole book here, suffice it to say that I don’t have a problem with productivity any longer. Nor do I look for shortcuts to wealth. If you read this book, you will instantly know what your ideal enterprise is, I guarantee it.
P.S. I’ve been trying to go a day without saying I. It’s extremely hard
October 5th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Dude,
that Danny dude up there-i liked his input. And coming from a person who knows you pretty CLOSE- Man you really need a CHALLENGE!!! HERBAL I KNOW YOU AND I KNOW HOW HAPPY YOU GET WHEN YOU HAVE THE SWEET TASTE OF SATISFACTION!(I THINK YOU SHOULD TRY DANCING- dude I dare you BECAUSE THROUGH ALL THIS TIME KNOWING YOU THAT IS THE ONLY THING I THINK YOU WILL TRULY ENJOY IF YOU JUST PUT BACK THE FEAR OF LOOKING GOOFY AND GO FOR IT YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH IT. Plus latin dancing is one of the sexiest and passionate things to do. GO FOR IT!!! I am ready to read a post with exciting events!
P.S. we both know why you would be great on a dance floor, you know how to move RIGHT!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
October 8th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
you should update best in the land.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:51 am
Reading your request for suggestions for your ideal enterprise, the first thing that popped into my head was EXACTLY what Dova wrote.
Thinking further along those lines, perhaps you could use map dowsing and remote viewing to select your destinations.