Tuesday 20 December 2016
Monday 18 April 2016
The Top Idea In Your Mind
I realized recently that what one thinks about in the shower in the morning is more important than I'd thought. I knew it was a good time to have ideas. Now I'd go further: now I'd say it's hard to do a really good job on anything you don't think about in the shower.
Everyone who's worked on difficult problems is probably familiar with the phenomenon of working hard to figure something out, failing, and then suddenly seeing the answer a bit later while doing something else. There's a kind of thinking you do without trying to. I'm increasingly convinced this type of thinking is not merely helpful in solving hard problems, but necessary. The tricky part is, you can only control it indirectly.
I think most people have one top idea in their mind at any given time. That's the idea their thoughts will drift toward when they're allowed to drift freely. And this idea will thus tend to get all the benefit of that type of thinking, while others are starved of it. Which means it's a disaster to let the wrong idea become the top one in your mind.
What made this clear to me was having an idea I didn't want as the top one in my mind for two long stretches.
I'd noticed startups got way less done when they started raising money, but it was not till we ourselves raised money that I understood why. The problem is not the actual time it takes to meet with investors. The problem is that once you start raising money, raising money becomes the top idea in your mind. That becomes what you think about when you take a shower in the morning. And that means other questions aren't.
I'd hated raising money when I was running Viaweb, but I'd forgotten why I hated it so much. When we raised money for Y Combinator, I remembered. Money matters are particularly likely to become the top idea in your mind. The reason is that they have to be. It's hard to get money. It's not the sort of thing that happens by default. It's not going to happen unless you let it become the thing you think about in the shower. And then you'll make little progress on anything else you'd rather be working on. [2]
(I hear similar complaints from friends who are professors. Professors nowadays seem to have become professional fundraisers who do a little research on the side. It may be time to fix that.)
The reason this struck me so forcibly is that for most of the preceding 10 years I'd been able to think about what I wanted. So the contrast when I couldn't was sharp. But I don't think this problem is unique to me, because just about every startup I've seen grinds to a halt when they start raising money—or talking to acquirers.
You can't directly control where your thoughts drift. If you're controlling them, they're not drifting. But you can control them indirectly, by controlling what situations you let yourself get into. That has been the lesson for me: be careful what you let become critical to you. Try to get yourself into situations where the most urgent problems are ones you want to think about.
You don't have complete control, of course. An emergency could push other thoughts out of your head. But barring emergencies you have a good deal of indirect control over what becomes the top idea in your mind.
I've found there are two types of thoughts especially worth avoiding—thoughts like the Nile Perch in the way they push out more interesting ideas. One I've already mentioned: thoughts about money. Getting money is almost by definition an attention sink. The other is disputes. These too are engaging in the wrong way: they have the same velcro-like shape as genuinely interesting ideas, but without the substance. So avoid disputes if you want to get real work done. [3]
Even Newton fell into this trap. After publishing his theory of colors in 1672 he found himself distracted by disputes for years, finally concluding that the only solution was to stop publishing:
I see I have made myself a slave to Philosophy, but if I get free of Mr Linus's business I will resolutely bid adew to it eternally, excepting what I do for my privat satisfaction or leave to come out after me. For I see a man must either resolve to put out nothing new or become a slave to defend it. [4]Linus and his students at Liege were among the more tenacious critics. Newton's biographer Westfall seems to feel he was overreacting:
Recall that at the time he wrote, Newton's "slavery" consisted of five replies to Liege, totalling fourteen printed pages, over the course of a year.I'm more sympathetic to Newton. The problem was not the 14 pages, but the pain of having this stupid controversy constantly reintroduced as the top idea in a mind that wanted so eagerly to think about other things.
Turning the other cheek turns out to have selfish advantages. Someone who does you an injury hurts you twice: first by the injury itself, and second by taking up your time afterward thinking about it. If you learn to ignore injuries you can at least avoid the second half. I've found I can to some extent avoid thinking about nasty things people have done to me by telling myself: this doesn't deserve space in my head. I'm always delighted to find I've forgotten the details of disputes, because that means I hadn't been thinking about them. My wife thinks I'm more forgiving than she is, but my motives are purely selfish.
I suspect a lot of people aren't sure what's the top idea in their mind at any given time. I'm often mistaken about it. I tend to think it's the idea I'd want to be the top one, rather than the one that is. But it's easy to figure this out: just take a shower. What topic do your thoughts keep returning to? If it's not what you want to be thinking about, you may want to change something.
Notes
[1] No doubt there are already names for this type of thinking, but I call it "ambient thought."
[2] This was made particularly clear in our case, because neither of the funds we raised was difficult, and yet in both cases the process dragged on for months. Moving large amounts of money around is never something people treat casually. The attention required increases with the amount—maybe not linearly, but definitely monotonically.
[3] Corollary: Avoid becoming an administrator, or your job will consist of dealing with money and disputes.
[4] Letter to Oldenburg, quoted in Westfall, Richard, Life of Isaac Newton, p. 107.
7 Idea Dumping Tips (How To Manage Diarrhea of the Brain)
Idea dumping is a lot like brainstorming. (I happen to be an expert
on idea dumping because I just made the term up 5 minutes ago.).
Brainstorming to me is more of a process where you have a problem, and
you try and find a solution to it, with the end goal in mind. It’s a
great concept in theory–except it never happens that way for me. It
seems like whenever I really need a great idea, they are nowhere to be
found. Yet when I’m doing something completely unrelated and seemingly
unimportant, I’ll be floating in ideas. And when the mind finally does
agree to cooperate and turn on, I won’t usually get just one good idea
but a bunch of ’em at a time. When it rains it pours, but it’s a summer
in Texas otherwise.
It’s more like my brain all of the sudden opens up and throws out a
flurry of ideas, a proverbial diarrhea of the brain. Except with a good
connotation, (unlike most comparisons to bowel movements). So I’ve
decided to call this process Idea Dumping to kind of fuse Brainstorming
and, well… the bowel thing. So if you haven’t already quit reading this
post, here are my 7 tips for effective Idea Dumping.
1. ALWAYS carry paper
It almost always never fails. I’ll have a great idea, I’ll think
about it for a while, and never remember it again. Why? I didn’t write
it down. Half of having a good idea is actually writing it down. Writing
it down gives you freedom to let your mind explore it even more,
because it doesn’t have to work on actually remembering it. If paper
isn’t your thing, use a voice recorder, your cell phone’s voicemail, a
pda, a rock and chisel… anything so that you can file it somewhere other than your brain.
2. Be descriptive when writing it down
There have also been times where I’ve written an idea down quickly, and
then looked at it later and had no idea I was talking about. The more
descriptive you are, the better you can get back into your train of
thinking when you wrote it down, like picking up where you left off.
Also, being more descriptive frees up your brain’s resources to develop
the idea even further.
3. Plan for not planning on it
One problem with the way we typically brainstorm is this: it’s
unnatural. We bang our heads against the wall while chanting “think,
think”. If you’re like me, your brain doesn’t like to be told what to
do. The second I sit down and “make” myself be creative, my brain goes
on lockdown. Nothing in, nothing out. There’s no such thing as forced
creativity.
I’ve found that the best way to allow your mind to form ideas is when I’m doing something else. You have to be ready at anytime to jot something down. I know this point is a lot like #1, but I can’t stress it enough.
I’ve found that the best way to allow your mind to form ideas is when I’m doing something else. You have to be ready at anytime to jot something down. I know this point is a lot like #1, but I can’t stress it enough.
4. Good environments matter
Allow yourself time to let your mind breathe and relax. I’ve found
that the best times to have idea dumps are when you’re in an
aesthetically pleasing environment, or at least one where you’re
enjoying yourself. A lot of times the ideas start coming when I’m
running, or talking a walk in nice weather. You my find yourself partial
to different situations. It really doesn’t matter, just so long as what
you’re doing somewhat automated and your mind can freely wander
wherever it wants. In short; you’re giving yourself time to daydream.
5. Think big picture down
Ok, so I realize that there will be times when you’ll actually have good ideas when you are forced into brainstorming on a certain problem. A good strategy for finding solutions to a specific problem is always thinking top down. In David Allen’s Getting Things Done,
you should always start with asking yourself why you’re doing it. Why
are you trying to find the solution? Why is it important? It sounds
mind-numbingly simple, but it really helps you focus your thinking on
the problem, rather then going off on tangents.
6. Organize your thoughts
Once your ideas have stopped coming, be sure to organize them more
coherently once you’re done. This will help you get a better handle on
what you’ve discovered, and you’ll remember it better in the long run.
(If you were descriptive in writing down your ideas, you’ll find it
speeds this process up. ) Once you’ve got them organized, break them
into actionable steps ( another component to GTD). You’ll quickly
realize what needs to be done next to implement your ideas, in what
order, etc.
For me, notecards are my weapon of choice. I always keep a few handy,
and I organize my ideas into ideas. If a project has more than one
thought to it, I assign it it’s own card. If it’s something simple like a
future post title, I put it on the “catch-all” notecard that holds just
quick ideas. Later I’ll take the day’s cards and process them further.
7. Know when to stop
Don’t force the issue, man! You could hurt yourself if you’re not
careful. If the well of ideas has run dry, pumping it more won’t help.
Don’t worry, there will be other times of plenty in terms of ideas. Use
what you you’ve been given and start to implement them. Sometimes you
won’t get all you need in one dumping session, like this post.
Ironically enough, this article was a product of 3 idea dumps, spread
over a couple of weeks.
Sunday 17 April 2016
50 Brilliant Storage Ideas
There are so many creative and clever ways to store things without spending much time or money at all. Some of these are especially nice for a small home or apartment where you simply don’t have the space to just throw everything in a drawer or cupboard. Hopefully, some of these tips will help you in your quest to find room for everything while still keeping it easy to access and use!
1. CD Rack Lid Storage
There’s nothing more frustrating in the kitchen than trying to organize tupperware. Keeping track of the lids is a nightmare! Use a metal CD rack to keep them upright and easily seen. Store the larger lids towards the back and smaller ones in the front to keep them all in plain view.
2. Wine Rack Office Organizer
Use stackable wine racks from Pier 1 and cheap plastic cups to store all of your office and craft essentials! Take advantage of vertical space and stack as many as you need to keep your office and craft supplies handy.
Use a paper towel holder to keep your spools of ribbon organized and easy to get to. I like this idea because you can keep it out on a craft desk or closet shelf where you’re more likely to see it and use it.
You can make this brilliant lid holder (assuming you know the basics of sewing) for next to nothing! You could essentially use any scrap material, but I would think using something that is breathable and quick drying would be more practical, and last much longer. The best part about this project is that it doesn’t take up hardly any space!
5. Soap Box Storage
Because these things only cost about a dollar, they are the perfect frugal solution for storing small items that tend to get lost. And, if you have children, you know how they like to bring toys, crayons, and cards along with them in the car? Soap boxes are a great travel solution for this.
6. Dinner Plate Cradles
Instead of stacking your heavy plates on top of each other, consider investing in a few dinner plate cradles to keep them upright and easy to pull out of the cupboard. These are also nice for drying plates next to the sink.
7. DIY Closet Organizers
Hats and scarves! The two awkward things in the closet that are hard to find a space for. Make your own organizing rack with a single sturdy hanger and shower curtain rings. Chances are you’ve already got a hanger on hand, and the rings only cost $2-3.
I’ve been looking at food containers differently lately. I’ve always just thought of them as trash when I was done using them, but a lot of them can actually be very useful storage containers! The Coffee-Mate Creamer bottles are particularly nice for storing and keeping pantry items fresh. The small opening at the top is just the right size for dispersing small snacks, sugar, chocolate chips, nuts, etc. You can also use them as a water bottle!
9. Vertical Bakeware Storage
Instead of stacking your pans and baking dishes on top of each other, where you have to remove every single one to get to the bottom, turn a bakeware organizer on its side and secure it to the cupboard with cable clips. It’s like a mini shelf that’s just the right size for all of those otherwise hard-to-get-to dishes.
10. Under-Sink Storage Solution
I love this idea for the bathroom for all of those little hair accessories and miscellaneous cosmetics! It would probably work best for lighter items in the long run; I’m not entirely sure how much weight those adhesive utility hooks hold and for how long, but this idea takes up just about no space at all!
11. Budget-Friendly Drawer Dividers
Why spend the money when you probably have things around the house that will serve the purpose of drawer dividers without the added expense!? Get creative with things like silicone muffin liners, flat tupperware, an empty egg carton, or a shoe box lid. This way you can store all of your little odds and ends without losing them in the back of the drawer.
12. Egg Carton Storage
My family goes through a couple of egg cartons almost every week. Lately I’ve been buying the organic Eggland’s Best that come in those clear plastic containers. They are really sturdy and easy to clean — brilliant for storing some of my daughter’s small toys, like her Barbie accessories, pencil toppers, bouncy balls, jacks, etc. And, because they are made to keep a fragile egg from breaking, they are just perfect for storing your small Christmas ornaments, too!
13. DIY Christmas Ornament Storage
Here’s a cheap and easy way to store your fragile Christmas ornaments without the risk of breaking! Glue plastic cups to cardboard and stack them in a storage bin. It will also keep the hooks from tangling. I know I’m guilty of piling my ornaments together in a box, and then dealing with the madness of separating them come next Christmas. Great solution!
14. Ceiling Storage
What a great way to take advantage of empty space! Use the ceiling of a closet to store those pesky wrapping paper rolls that always get crumpled and lost in the closet. You could also do this on the side of a closet to keep them standing upright and out of the way.
15. DIY Gift Wrap Organizer
I don’t know how many times I’ve bought gift wrap only to use half of it, and then forget about the rest because it’s buried deep in the back of my closet (probably crumpled and useless). I love this idea because you can hang it anywhere you’d like on a wall and then easily move it later if needed. It’s really rather simple, too! Curtain rods, hooks, and a picture frame.
16. Repurposed Trash Can
It’s the perfect size to store long tubes of wrapping paper. You wouldn’t even need the cardboard tubes that come with the gift wrap for this one. Just toss your paper in. Optional: add wheels on the bottom with cushioned tape.
17. Easy Christmas Light Storage
Tangles, tangles, and more tangles! This is what we have to look forward to every year when we break out all of the Christmas lights. It gives me anxiety! Here’s an easy and cheap solution to that problem: Wrap them around pieces of cardboard and long wrapping paper rolls to keep them better organized and tangle free.
18. Foil & Plastic Wrap Storage
The back of a pantry door is the perfect place to store your rolls of plastic wrap and foil. It’s out of the way, doesn’t take up needed drawer or counter space, and it’s easy to pull the wrap off of the box while it’s secured to the door.
19. File Box Appliance Storage
If you’re anything like me, you leave your hair dryer, curling iron, and hair straightener on the counter while it cools, and then it just ends up sitting there all day cluttering up your counter space. Check out the solution to that problem using a file box! Attach it to a wall or the side of a counter for easy access, yet still out of the way and aesthetically pleasing.
20. Pillow Case Storage
Tuck your matching sheet sets inside one of its own pillow cases to keep your linen closet organized!
21. Repurposed Shoe Organizer
These shoe organizers work great for so many things! You can use it in the laundry room for cleaning supplies, in the garage for spray paint and tools, the kids’ room for toys, or in the closet for scarves, socks, belts, and shoes. They are ideal for small spaces because they take up unused wall or door space instead of your much needed closets and cupboards.
22. Magnetic Strip Bathroom Storage
Use a magnetic strip on the inside of a medicine cabinet door or in a drawer to keep your bobby pins, hair clips, nail file, tweezers, and other metal objects in one organized spot.
23. Repurposed Disinfectant Container
I have one of these in just about every room of my house. I get a little obsessed with disinfectant wipes. They’re just so convenient to use, but hate throwing away those perfectly good containers. For all of you pet lovers, use them to store and easily dispense dog poo bags! You can even decorate the container so it looks nice sitting within arm’s reach on the counter. Hmmm, what else could you repurpose these for?
24. Tackle Box Battery Storage
Use a plastic tackle box to store batteries! The individual compartments are perfect for separating your batteries by their type and size.
25. Ice Cube Tray Drawer Dividers
Place ice cube trays inside of a drawer to store and organize small items like jewelry, crafts supplies, and other little things that are easy to get mixed up or lost.
26. DIY Flip Flop Storage
For all of you flip flop fans, here is an easy and budget-friendly way to keep them organized and off the floor! I’ve always hated those wire hangers, but I do push them off to the side of the closet just in case they are ever needed. Well, here we go! Modify your hangers with a wire cutter and pair of pliers into a nifty storage solution for your flip flops and lightweight flats.
28. Wine Rack Towel Holder
This one speaks for itself. A wall mounted wine rack seems to hold rolled towels like a champ. This is a good solution for a small bathroom that doesn’t have enough cupboard space, but perhaps has a free wall that can be utilized to store your towels.
29. DIY Heel Wall Mount
Closet getting tight? If you’ve got a collection of high heels, this might work for you! Crown moulding angled just right against a piece of base molding will hold your heels up and out of the way. They’re easy to access and actually look quite nice displayed like this.
30. Laundry Basket Shelf
Use a shelving unit (you can get them from IKEA for cheap) to stack and store your assortment of laundry baskets. It doesn’t use up any extra room as you’re just taking advantage of unused vertical space. I’m just a little worried about that neon pink sock in the lights basket.
31. Hidden Toothbrush Storage
I, for one, do NOT like my toothbrush being out in the open, especially in a small or shared bathroom. It just doesn’t seem sanitary, not to mention very pretty sitting on the counter. If you have a medicine cabinet, here is a unique solution to keep them inside without falling out every time the door opens.
32. Under Sink Pocket Organizer
I’ve already discussed all of the wonder benefits of a a shoe organizer, but I really like the idea of cutting one in half to use under the kitchen or bathroom sink. It just never occurred to me that I could customize the size with a pair of scissors to fit where needed!
33. Basket Dividers
Use those cheap baskets you find a Walmart or The Dollar Store in your bathroom drawers to separate, organize and store all of your make up and other toiletries! You could have one basket for eyes, one for lips, one for brushes, one for nail supplies, etc.
34. PVC Curling Iron Holsters
2-inch PVC pipe is just the right size barrel to store your curling irons. Mount them to the back of a cabinet door as an easy storage solution.
35. Outdoor Towel Storage Rack
Although you can purchase these on Etsy, if you’ve got a handy man near by, you can also make something similar with PVC pipe! What a great resting spot for all of your wet towels, shorts and swimsuits! This way they can be used over and over instead of ending up in a pile somewhere.
36. DIY Ball Storage
With a few pieces of scrap wood and a pack of bungee cords, you can create your very own section in the garage to store balls where they can easily be grabbed before practice and put back away when finished. How clever!
37. Baby Wipe Case Storage
Save those baby wipe cases for on-the-go storage! They’re perfect for the kids’ crayons, markers, and stickers.
38. Spice Rack Storage
Just like the mop and broom racks they make for mounting on the wall, you can also buy these made just for spice containers! Mount them to the back of a cupboard door to save shelf space.
39. Clever Lid Storage
Install metal towel bars to the inside of a pantry door to store the lids to your pots! It really does seem like the lids never have anywhere to go and just get jumbled up in a mess. This will make them easy to see and grab.
40. Repurposed Door Handles
Instead of putting your hand towels on towel hook, consider using large antique door handles. This might work better for a smaller spot on the wall where a bulky towel hook won’t fit. It is also more secure and the towel is less likely to slip off.
41. Q-Tip Dispenser
Keep your Q-tips handy with a Qube! It keeps them neat while dispensing them one by one. I think I probably use more cotton swabs than anything else — makes sense to have them right at your disposal.
42. Magazine Holder To Store Kitchen Supplies
Instead of stacking your kitchen essentials in a drawer or cabinet, store them vertically in a magazine holder to make more room in your cupboards and make them easy to access.
43. Sneaky Ironing Board Storage
One of those things that makes you wonder why in world you’ve never though of it! I too, have the same problem with my ironing board that many of you do — the stupid thing gets in the way! I honestly only use it a couple of times a year (stop judging). I like the idea of storing it behind a laundry room or master walk-in closet door where you’ll rarely see it but still have easy access to it. The secret: robe hooks!
44. Easy Baggie Storage
Use push pins to store lunch bags to a wall in the pantry! This makes perfect sense if you don’t have the shelf or drawer space. It’s not like you were going to use that wall anyway.
45. Repurposed Spice Rack
What!? My eyes are in amazement. I’m not much of a cook, so my spices are getting kicked to the curb right now. This really is brilliant. Use a spice rack to store all of your little odds and ends. Let’s see… paper clips, push pins, rubber bands, nuts and bolts, miscellaneous screws, beads, googly eyes, stamps, labels, stickers… love it.
46. DIY Tape & Ribbon Holder
Another alternative use for those wire hangers! Cut one end with wire cutters and loop them with pliers. Now you can open it up to easily store ribbon and washi tape.
47. File Your Scrapbook Paper
Instead of piling it up in a drawer or cabinet where you can’t see it (therefor never use it), why not file your scrapbooking and craft paper in file folders? You can organize them by color or paper type, and now they’ll be easy to file through and choose from for your next project.
48. Garden Mailbox Toolshed
Keep your small garden tools and gloves handy in a mailbox! A vintage mailbox would be charming as part of your garden decor (perhaps even in a corner surrounded with flowers and vines trailing up and over). This will keep your tools dry, clean and at your fingertips! A great way to hide them from the husband who likes to use things and not put them back where they belong.
49. Wine Case Shoe Storage
Pick up a few wine case boxes from your local grocery store, restaurant, or bar to store small sandals and shoes! They already have the compartment inserts that make them ideal for long and small items like this.
50. Power Strip Storage
Keep your power strips off the floor and out of view by hanging a wire basket under your desk. This is also a great solution for short cords that don’t reach the top of your desk without an extension, like a phone charger.
