Automate and leave it alone
Smarter, not harder
I'm a big fan of automation in work and life. Automation in work looks like auto emails sent to podcast guests and calendar booking software that helps me stop the back-and-forth meeting emails. Automation in life looks like habits and rituals I create to get the outcomes I want. Rituals like my morning routine of walking the boys to the bus stop and then walking the dog for a mile. And habits like cleaning up the kitchen right after dinner so we won't have to do it later.
Last week I had coffee with a new friend. He was telling me about golf lessons he had been taking and his instructor's unique perspective. His instructor teaches that it's essential to get your golf swing correct, automate it, and leave it alone. It's the last part that got me; leave it alone. A lot of golfers work on the perfect swing. They get a good swing, but then they tweak and tweak and tweak and make it bad again. The result of all that tweaking is a swing that goes from good to bad, back to good, without real improvement over time. The same is true with our automation.
Once something works, leave it.
Once something is working, we must automate it and leave it alone. If we insist on continuing to tweak it, we will get marginal improvements at best, and we will likely make it worse. This is true for our daily routines, like getting up and out the door, working out, and nighttime routines. It's also true for our work schedules, habits, and even how we spend our downtime.
The trick is to get to where something works for you, leave it alone, and then work on the next thing. It's not easy, but it will make life easier.
Originally posted on my blog at adamjwalker.com
Great leadership reading from this week
Psychological Safety Is The Key To Successful Teams, According To Google
”Psychological safety, in short, is when everyone on the team feels like they have an equal opportunity to say important things up and down the chain of command without being ignored. Psychological safety is when one expects to be taken seriously in their concerns.”4 Ways to Get More Done in Less Time
The last thing I do every workday is to plan my next workday. At that moment, priorities are clear, and my vision for productivity is unencumbered.These are the top 10 most passive-aggressive phrases you’re probably using in email
I hope you aren’t using these, and I confess; I may have used one or two. The one I hate most on this list is “per our last email” it’s just rude.
Other great reading from the week
I'm 44 And Only Have Months To Live. Here's What I Want My Kids To Know About Life.
This one was hard to read but worth it. Live in the moment.Go to bed smarter than when you woke up
I love this advice and try to live by it every day. That’s why I create this newsletter from what I’m reading and learning.
Interesting podcasts from this week
If Teachers Took Over the Government with Sharon McMahon - Work Life by Adam Grant
My Podcasts to check out
Tech Talk Y'all - My tech/comedy news podcast.
Real Pink - I host the national podcast for Susan G. Komen. If you want some inspiration or information about breast cancer, give it a listen.
While Daring Greatly - My podcast.
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