Four Hard-Hitting Listicles
For surprising levels of permission and guidance for bold, clear thinking
Things You’re Allowed to Do
I love the idea behind this list a little more than some of the actual items on this list. It’s kind of like a secret “adulting” toolkit: showing a long list of things you’re allowed to do that you might not know you could. It’s a surprisingly wide-ranging offering. It begins with the powerful delegation invitation: that you’re allowed to hire and barter your way into better learning and decision-making.
How I’ll use this: keep it in my back pocket for when I have a project, or a logjam of projects, and I need to find ways to outsource my way to success.
Things You Don’t Have to Do, Ever
This list is from Rob Brezsny, a favorite author/astrologer I’ve been following since my New York City days. These are outstanding guiding principles.
You don’t have to be anything you don’t want to be.
You don’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations.
There’s no need to strive for a kind of perfection that’s not very interesting to you.
You don’t have to believe in ideas that limit your ability to give yourself completely to life.
You don’t have to feel emotions that others try to manipulate you into feeling.
You are free to live your life in accordance with your highest ideals.
How I’ll use this: These resonate with some other deep spiritual and coaching learnings from year’s past, so mostly, these are ingrained, but whenever I start to feel I’m walking someone else’s path, I’ll tape these to my desk for daily reminders.
100 Ways to Slightly Improve Your Life
This is some light fare that was surprisingly filling. Some of my favorites, for their literal and metaphoric guidance.
Always bring ice to house parties (there’s never enough).
Don’t be weird about how to stack the dishwasher.
Always be willing to miss the next train.
Go for a walk without your phone.
Learn the names of 10 trees.
Thank a teacher who changed your life.
How I’ll use this: In my coaching practice, receptive clients sometimes find compound value in receiving seemingly subtle chiropractic adjustments such as these.
Extreme questions to trigger new, better ideas
These are like my 17 deep, simple questions prompts but purely for the business domain. These are outstanding scenarios to play out when you’ve got space to think big and create some dramatic upgrades in your business endeavors. Scenarios like:
If you were never allowed to provide tech support, in any form, what would have to change?
If your biggest competitor copied every single feature you have, how would you still win?
If you were not allowed to have a website, how would you still grow your business?
How I’ll use this: During my quarterly strategy sessions for my various endeavors, I’ll bring this up to encourage a wider frame and some bigger goals.