đŁPodcast version of this Memo
I have want-to-dos and need-to-dos. Want-to-do is moved by inspiration, the need-to-do by responsibility. Itâs often the case that the need-to-do is a necessary step to a bigger inspiring want-to-do. Both are equally important. The question is: âHow do I find the balance between acting on inspiration vs. following the plan?â
Inspiration is a precious asset. Sticking with the plan is crucial at certain moments. Ideally, I want my schedule to be flexible enough so that I can choose appropriately. When I have that choice, I can match my current internal state to the activity I will be performing. For example, if I have my morning free, I can choose to leverage my natural morning inspiration to read and write. Later in the day, during the âafternoon slumpâ, I can choose to get through my more boring tasks.
Does acting on inspiration lead to easy work and procrastinating âhard shitâ? The truth is that finding a genuine inspiration that moves me past the natural inertia to do anything is challenging. As long as I have a system in place that ensures I get the very urgent tasks done, giving in to inspiration has tremendous benefits. It might seem easy, but maybe that is because I have been trained to not always like what I do. When the right stars align, the inspiration acts as a force that makes doing âhard shitâ effortless. This is the place where I want to end up.