2012: Of Snippets and Action Items
I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, but I’m making one anyway. No, it’s not to lose weight, nor to work out more, nor to eat less, eat right, drink less, be nicer, be more thoughtful, or even to be more considerate. Although I could probably stand to resolve all these things, it’s too much to think and worry about right now. No wonder I’m not a fan.
Nope… I’m resolving to write more often and to be more actionable when I write. When I reflect upon bits and pieces of the past couple of years, I can see that I’m too obsessive about how I put together my posts. I agonize over a lengthy story and what feels like a great idea, until it isn’t either one of these things any more. I think it to death… or something like that.
I’ll write something, or a part of something and then have to set it aside while I tend to the real business of taking care of clients. And then, I don’t get right back to it or I’ve derailed my train of thought for the time being and “can’t” get back to it. This might go on for a few days and then one of three things usually happens…
1.) I lose interest in the article entirely. Maybe the good idea doesn’t seem so “great” or interesting any more.
2.) It’s no longer timely. It’s possible I’ve thought about exactly the right way to write or phrase something way past the time when the article is relevant and whatever I’m thinking about has already happened or resolved itself… so there’s no longer a story.
3.) I completely lose the point. I had a great point, but I don’t usually outline articles because when I start to write, I believe that I’m actually going to finish it in one sitting… and then I don’t. And then when I get back to it, there’s no obvious point that I’m trying to make anymore. Or, I’m getting old and forgetful? I can’t remember.
The point is (and I must hurry and finish here!), that I’m resolving to evolve my writing style to adapt to the little snippets of time that I usually have here and there during the day. So, posts will be more often and more in little snippets than the lengthy tomes with lots of time in between like before.
Oh yeah, and more actionable. I want to include an action item with each post. In a great start to my new resolution, I don’t have an action item for my first post about action items. Sorry, I guess it gives me something more to strive for!
