- Social Media
Long time readers of this blog know that I’m a big proponent of digital minimalism, long form content, and generally being off the grid. That hasn’t changed, but I did make a adjustment in my perspective because I do think there can be a place for social media in your life where it can be a net positive in your life. My friend Tommy started a PT business where he gets all his clients through Instagram. He uses social media like a pro: he has a clear objective, a funnel for getting clients, regimented posting schedule that is outside the app, and set times when he interacts with people on the platform. Having clear boundaries like this make it possible to side-step the addictive function built into these platforms, allowing one to use it as a tool instead of being the tool.
In an effort to grow the reach of this blog & future projects I’m going to do my best to follow Tommy’s lead and use social media as a pro via twitter. Posting workouts, readings, lessons learned, and other musings in a shorter format. You can follow along here. I’ll also be doing my best to maintain my position as a digital minimalist, and will be sure to share learnings on any of the trappings I run into.
2. Memorization
“Anything worth memorizing is worth looking up” – Seth Godin
I’m a huge fan of Seth Godin’s. When I initially heard this quote he was referencing this in terms of the education system and how old practices (memorizing material for a test) is not important in the modern era when we can look everything up on the internet, arguing instead that critical thinking and decision making is the most important. I still agree with that to an extent, but I’ve changed my mind on this to say “most things are worth looking up instead of memorizing”. This year I’ve taken some time to memorize a handful of things: my wedding vows, a couple poems / speeches that I like (i.e. the man in the arena), processes at work, litany against fear, a verse from both the bible & meditations. All these things I have found, once committed to memory, are there for you when your mind wanders – you can call it forefront of your mind as needed.
So, yes, most things are not worth memorizing (state capitals, etc.) but some things carry tremendous upside.
