WEEK 72: FIRST PRINCIPLES

PLANNING (Implementation Intention):  You will follow through 2X to 3X more likely to complete your weekly task than you normally would just by filling in the following statement.

I plan to complete the weekly task [day] at [time] in [location]. 

A reminder you might have to use multiple Implementation Intentions in order to follow through.

EXECUTION (strategies used):  From week to week, I use a combination of many strategies. There are always some which are used more than others depending on what comes up, but I wanted to offer a link to all them at once. 

My advice is to identify the I CAN'T statement you tell yourself during the most. Then find a strategy below the statement which resonates with you, and then start using it. 

Enjoy!

STRATEGY LIST

REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): In W70 I showed you a framework about how to take on any monumental task, ie achieve your dreams. I wanted to add a step in the process from something I learned from Elon Musk, one of the leading entrepreneurs on the planet. 

I read this from an article written by James Clear where he discussed a principle Elon Musks applies to solve complex problems called First Principles.

Elon explained the core principle in an interview with the internet entrepreneur, Kevin Rose.

I think it is important to reason from first principles rather than by analogy. The normal way we conduct our lives is we reason by analogy. (When reasoning by analogy) we are doing this because it's like something else that was done or it is like what other people are doing - slight iterations on a theme.

First principles is kind of a physics way of looking at the world. You boil things down to their fundamental truths and say, " What are we sure is true?"...and then reason up from there.

Somebody could say, "Battery packs are really expensive and that's just the way they will always be...Historically, it has cost $600 per kilowatt hour. It's not going to be much better than that in the future."

With first principles, you say, "What are the material constituents of the batteries? What is the stock market value of the material constituents?"

It's got cobalt, nickel, aluminum, carbon, some polymers for separation and a seal can.Break that down on a material basis and say, "If we bought that on the London Metal Exchange what would each of those things cost?"

It is like $80 per kilowatt hour. So clearly you just need to think of clever ways to take those materials and combine them into the shape of a battery cell and you can have batteries that are much , much cheaper than anyone realizes."

-Elon Musk

So how can first principles be used in the Leap Year process? Where does it fit in the framework of achieving monumental tasks? Let me show you below:

Step 1: Resist nothing, welcome everything by deepening awareness. Be present, as presence allows you to maximize the creativity in every moment.

Step 2: EMBRACING, or cultivating your Soft Zone. Sit with, observe, and use uncomfortable feelings to your advantage.

Step 3. Apply First Principles. Break the chain of thinking of what has been done before, and what others are doing. Boil things down into their fundamental truths and ask what are we sure is true? Then work up from there. 

Step 4: Break the difficult task down into simple steps, so you can take actions on a consistent basis.

Step 5: Iterate and focus on systems in order to make progress. 

Step 6: Gather regular feedback to ensure you are still on the path to achieving your greatest outcome. I have learned what you do not track, you can not change. Thus take the time to gather regular feedback in order to ensure you are still on the right path. 

Want to follow through and achieve amazing things through the Leap Year process? Use the steps in the framework to take the consistent steps to achieving your dreams. 

What Went Well?

Converting email accounts, sick, dealing with the bureaucracy of the Brazilian and Chinese governments to acquire a visa, and dealing with the daily challenges of everyday life and still completing the weekly task!

What is something we can improve? What actions can we take next week?

Tell people when you are tired, as this can help them understand if you snap at them inadvertently. Telling someone this also makes you more aware of your state, so you avoid making rash decisions. 

What is something to avoid next week?

Sacrificing a good night of sleep. SLEEP = GOOD.