0/
I've done it again.
I'm stuck.
IDK WHAT TO WORK ON!
4,000 ideas swirling around in my head and I don't know what to do.
Here's my attempt to figure out wtf I'm working on next.
Using @Julian's amazing handbook "What to work on"
👇🧵
I've done it again.
I'm stuck.
IDK WHAT TO WORK ON!
4,000 ideas swirling around in my head and I don't know what to do.
Here's my attempt to figure out wtf I'm working on next.
Using @Julian's amazing handbook "What to work on"
👇🧵
1/
FIRST
IDENTIFY YOUR PROJECT VALUES
Project values are things you value in a PROJECT
Ask yourself...
1. What makes projects interesting to you?
2. What excites you about working on a project?
3. What inspires you to get a project done?
FIRST
IDENTIFY YOUR PROJECT VALUES
Project values are things you value in a PROJECT
Ask yourself...
1. What makes projects interesting to you?
2. What excites you about working on a project?
3. What inspires you to get a project done?
2/
I wrote a list of my own project values
Then realized Julian already wrote out some values that made MORE sense for the exercise.
So I scratched mine and focused on those instead
👇
I wrote a list of my own project values
Then realized Julian already wrote out some values that made MORE sense for the exercise.
So I scratched mine and focused on those instead
👇
3/
Let me caveat that you can definitely use your own values for this exercise.
But, for me, the values Julian outlined made sense.
I resonated with those so I decided to complete the exercise using those values.
But, don't feel restrained if you want to shake it up
👇
Let me caveat that you can definitely use your own values for this exercise.
But, for me, the values Julian outlined made sense.
I resonated with those so I decided to complete the exercise using those values.
But, don't feel restrained if you want to shake it up
👇
4/
Those values are...
1. Knowledge
2. Adventure
3. Fame
4. Power
5. Money
6. Exercising talent
7. Human connection
We are going to use these to assess the value of a new project.
How?
By asking ourselves these questions
👇
Those values are...
1. Knowledge
2. Adventure
3. Fame
4. Power
5. Money
6. Exercising talent
7. Human connection
We are going to use these to assess the value of a new project.
How?
By asking ourselves these questions
👇
5/
For Knowledge - Do you become more knowledgeable and skilled from it?
For Adventure - Do you accrue novel, memorable experiences?
For Fame - Do you build an audience you can later leverage?
For Power - Do you acquire resources and connections?
👇
For Knowledge - Do you become more knowledgeable and skilled from it?
For Adventure - Do you accrue novel, memorable experiences?
For Fame - Do you build an audience you can later leverage?
For Power - Do you acquire resources and connections?
👇
5.5/
For Money - Do you increase your financial wealth?
For Exercising talent - Do you leverage your skill and creativity?
For Human connection - Do you bond with others?
So, what do you do next?
👇
For Money - Do you increase your financial wealth?
For Exercising talent - Do you leverage your skill and creativity?
For Human connection - Do you bond with others?
So, what do you do next?
👇
6/
RANK YOUR VALUES
For me, it looked something like this.
It didn't change much from the initial list, but it's slightly different.
1. Knowledge
2. Adventure
3. Power
4. Fame
5. Human connection
6. Exercising talent
7. Money
What's my logic for this ranking?
👇
RANK YOUR VALUES
For me, it looked something like this.
It didn't change much from the initial list, but it's slightly different.
1. Knowledge
2. Adventure
3. Power
4. Fame
5. Human connection
6. Exercising talent
7. Money
What's my logic for this ranking?
👇
7/
I recommend writing down your logic for why you ranked things the way you did.
It helped me gain a lot of clarity on the things that mean the most to me.
Okay, let's get into the ranking logic
👇
I recommend writing down your logic for why you ranked things the way you did.
It helped me gain a lot of clarity on the things that mean the most to me.
Okay, let's get into the ranking logic
👇
8/
Knowledge is FIRST because
- I love learning new things.
- I hate doing the same thing over and over again.
- I hate not being challenged.
- Pursuing knowledge ensures what I am working on will be new and novel.
Knowledge is FIRST because
- I love learning new things.
- I hate doing the same thing over and over again.
- I hate not being challenged.
- Pursuing knowledge ensures what I am working on will be new and novel.
9/
Adventure is SECOND because
- I enjoy telling stories.
- Adventure gives me the opportunity to tell stories.
- If you don't adventure, you are doing the same thing every day and your life is boring.
The most adventurous thing I recently did was write every day for 30 days.
Adventure is SECOND because
- I enjoy telling stories.
- Adventure gives me the opportunity to tell stories.
- If you don't adventure, you are doing the same thing every day and your life is boring.
The most adventurous thing I recently did was write every day for 30 days.
10/
Power is THIRD because
- It puts me in a position to help people.
- Power is expertise.
- Power is having the right knowledge.
- Power is identifying the right resources.
- Power is knowing the right people.
- When you demonstrate power, people come to you for help.
Power is THIRD because
- It puts me in a position to help people.
- Power is expertise.
- Power is having the right knowledge.
- Power is identifying the right resources.
- Power is knowing the right people.
- When you demonstrate power, people come to you for help.
11/
Fame is FORTH because
- It gives you more power.
- When you build an audience, you have the power to help that audience in many ways.
- It's difficult to help others when you don't know who to help.
Fame is FORTH because
- It gives you more power.
- When you build an audience, you have the power to help that audience in many ways.
- It's difficult to help others when you don't know who to help.
12/
Human connection is FIFTH because
- Connections help build your audience.
- Meeting new people is one of my favorite things to do.
- Meeting new people energizes me.
- Meeting new people alters my thinking.
- Meeting new people exposes me to new ideas
Human connection is FIFTH because
- Connections help build your audience.
- Meeting new people is one of my favorite things to do.
- Meeting new people energizes me.
- Meeting new people alters my thinking.
- Meeting new people exposes me to new ideas
13/
Exercising talent is SIXTH because
- Your talents are always changing.
- You can always learn new talents.
- If there is something you want to work on, but you don't have the skills, you can always learn something new.
- Exercising talent isn't a MAIN priority for me.
Exercising talent is SIXTH because
- Your talents are always changing.
- You can always learn new talents.
- If there is something you want to work on, but you don't have the skills, you can always learn something new.
- Exercising talent isn't a MAIN priority for me.
14/
Money is SEVENTH because
- I have a full-time job
- I am working on projects on the side.
- Making money would be nice, but it isn't a priority right now.
Everyone's ratings will be different.
🔑I highly recommend taking the time to ask WHY you rated things the way you did.
Money is SEVENTH because
- I have a full-time job
- I am working on projects on the side.
- Making money would be nice, but it isn't a priority right now.
Everyone's ratings will be different.
🔑I highly recommend taking the time to ask WHY you rated things the way you did.
15/
3 things to note about rating your values
Be careful with rating
1. Knowledge
2. Exercising talents
3. Money
Why?
Keep reading...
👇
3 things to note about rating your values
Be careful with rating
1. Knowledge
2. Exercising talents
3. Money
Why?
Keep reading...
👇
16/
FIRST, be careful about rating Knowledge...
Why?
Knowledge leads to growth
The more you learn, the more you grow.
Don't rate this too low...
FIRST, be careful about rating Knowledge...
Why?
Knowledge leads to growth
The more you learn, the more you grow.
Don't rate this too low...
17/
SECOND, be careful about rating Exercising Talents...
Exercising talents leads to being challenged.
I ranked exercising talents lower on my list because I enjoy the struggle of learning new skills just as much as I enjoy demonstrating proficiency in a learned skill.
SECOND, be careful about rating Exercising Talents...
Exercising talents leads to being challenged.
I ranked exercising talents lower on my list because I enjoy the struggle of learning new skills just as much as I enjoy demonstrating proficiency in a learned skill.
18/
THIRD, be careful about rating Money...
Why?
Yes. Money frees you from doing the things you don't want to do.
Yes.
Money removes your financial anxiety about future stability.
No.
Money does not make you happy.
Oh and one other thing...
👇
THIRD, be careful about rating Money...
Why?
Yes. Money frees you from doing the things you don't want to do.
Yes.
Money removes your financial anxiety about future stability.
No.
Money does not make you happy.
Oh and one other thing...
👇
19/
Beware of GroupThink.
You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
Who are those 5 people?
How might those people have influenced how you prioritized your values?
Let me explain...
👇
Beware of GroupThink.
You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
Who are those 5 people?
How might those people have influenced how you prioritized your values?
Let me explain...
👇
20/
4 examples of how groupthink can influence your values
👇
1. Entrepreneurs might value taking big risks and getting rich...
2. Indie hackers might value financial independence, creative freedom, and the ability to work on their own schedules...
👇
4 examples of how groupthink can influence your values
👇
1. Entrepreneurs might value taking big risks and getting rich...
2. Indie hackers might value financial independence, creative freedom, and the ability to work on their own schedules...
👇
21/
3. Academics might value building knowledge and developing understanding...
4. Investment bankers might value a huge paycheck...
👇
3. Academics might value building knowledge and developing understanding...
4. Investment bankers might value a huge paycheck...
👇
22/
Bottom line...
The people you are closest to mold your thinking.
When prioritizing your values, detach yourself from your social circle.
Beware of groupthink and identify the values that mean most to YOU.
👇
Bottom line...
The people you are closest to mold your thinking.
When prioritizing your values, detach yourself from your social circle.
Beware of groupthink and identify the values that mean most to YOU.
👇
23/
So we:
1. Listed our values
2. Rated our values
Now what?
List some projects you are thinking about working on.
For me?
I am thinking about pursuing 4 different projects.
1. Bitcoin Handbook
2. Podcasting Cohort
3. Creator's PKM
4. Non-Target Candidate
👇
So we:
1. Listed our values
2. Rated our values
Now what?
List some projects you are thinking about working on.
For me?
I am thinking about pursuing 4 different projects.
1. Bitcoin Handbook
2. Podcasting Cohort
3. Creator's PKM
4. Non-Target Candidate
👇
24/
Now that you've listed your projects
Compare them to your values
1. Write down your list of ranked values
2. Write down the project you are thinking about working on
3. Put a ✅next to the values that the project fulfills
4. Complete for all projects
One best practice
👇
Now that you've listed your projects
Compare them to your values
1. Write down your list of ranked values
2. Write down the project you are thinking about working on
3. Put a ✅next to the values that the project fulfills
4. Complete for all projects
One best practice
👇
25/
When comparing your values to your projects...
1. When you put ✅ ask yourself WHY you put a ✅
2. When you put ❌ask yourself WHY you put a ❌
Always be introspective.
Ask yourself why.
👇
When comparing your values to your projects...
1. When you put ✅ ask yourself WHY you put a ✅
2. When you put ❌ask yourself WHY you put a ❌
Always be introspective.
Ask yourself why.
👇
26/
Here's that process for the 4 projects I am considering
1. Bitcoin Handbook
2. Podcasting Cohort
3. Creator's PKM
4. Non-Target Candidate
👇
Here's that process for the 4 projects I am considering
1. Bitcoin Handbook
2. Podcasting Cohort
3. Creator's PKM
4. Non-Target Candidate
👇
27/
What to work on exemplar #1
Bitcoin Handbook - A notion database to answer all of your bitcoin-related questions
✅ Knowledge
❌Adventure
❌Power
✅ Fame
✅ Human connection
❌Exercising talent
✅ Money
Score - 4/7
What to work on exemplar #1
Bitcoin Handbook - A notion database to answer all of your bitcoin-related questions
✅ Knowledge
❌Adventure
❌Power
✅ Fame
✅ Human connection
❌Exercising talent
✅ Money
Score - 4/7
28/
What to work on exemplar #2
Podcasting Cohort - Cohort to help people start a podcast
✅ Knowledge
✅Adventure
✅Power
✅ Fame
✅ Human connection
✅Exercising talent
❌Money - at least not at first
Score - 6/7
What to work on exemplar #2
Podcasting Cohort - Cohort to help people start a podcast
✅ Knowledge
✅Adventure
✅Power
✅ Fame
✅ Human connection
✅Exercising talent
❌Money - at least not at first
Score - 6/7
29/
What to work on exemplar #3
The Creator's PKM - Personal Knowledge Management System for creators
✅ Knowledge
✅Adventure
❌Power
✅ Fame
❌Human connection
✅Exercising talent
❌Money - at least not at first
Score - 4/7
What to work on exemplar #3
The Creator's PKM - Personal Knowledge Management System for creators
✅ Knowledge
✅Adventure
❌Power
✅ Fame
❌Human connection
✅Exercising talent
❌Money - at least not at first
Score - 4/7
30/
What to work on exemplar #4
Non-Target Candidate - Help students from non-target schools land jobs at top companies.
❌Knowledge
❌Adventure
✅Power
✅ Fame
✅Human connection
✅Exercising talent
✅Money - at least not at first
Score - 5/7
What to work on exemplar #4
Non-Target Candidate - Help students from non-target schools land jobs at top companies.
❌Knowledge
❌Adventure
✅Power
✅ Fame
✅Human connection
✅Exercising talent
✅Money - at least not at first
Score - 5/7
31/
To recap, here are the 4 projects I am considering and how they rank up
🥇(6/7) Podcasting Cohort
🥈(5/7) Non-Target Candidate
🥉(4/7) Bitcoin Handbook
🥉(4/7) Creator's PKM
Based on these results, I should pursue the podcasting cohort.
How?
👇
To recap, here are the 4 projects I am considering and how they rank up
🥇(6/7) Podcasting Cohort
🥈(5/7) Non-Target Candidate
🥉(4/7) Bitcoin Handbook
🥉(4/7) Creator's PKM
Based on these results, I should pursue the podcasting cohort.
How?
👇
32/
The best way to start something is by doing it a lot.
Here's my plan:
1. Do a lot of podcasting
2. Start the cohort
Let me explain
👇
The best way to start something is by doing it a lot.
Here's my plan:
1. Do a lot of podcasting
2. Start the cohort
Let me explain
👇
33/
FIRST, do a lot of podcasting.
I will be creating one podcast every day for 30 days.
No rules about:
1. Length
2. Content
3. Interview vs. monologue.
30 days of podcasting.
When does it start?
February 1st.
FIRST, do a lot of podcasting.
I will be creating one podcast every day for 30 days.
No rules about:
1. Length
2. Content
3. Interview vs. monologue.
30 days of podcasting.
When does it start?
February 1st.
34/
SECOND, start the cohort.
The cohort will kick off on March 9th, 2021.
It'll offer:
1. Accountability
2. Resources
3. Community
My goal is to make it so easy for you to start a podcast that all you gotta do is CLICK RECORD 🎙
📩DM me if you are interested
SECOND, start the cohort.
The cohort will kick off on March 9th, 2021.
It'll offer:
1. Accountability
2. Resources
3. Community
My goal is to make it so easy for you to start a podcast that all you gotta do is CLICK RECORD 🎙
📩DM me if you are interested
35/
Bottom line...
Next time you are stuck and can't figure out what to work on, follow these steps.
1. Identify your project values
2. Rate your project values
3. Brainstorm possible projects
4. Identify which projects align with your values
5. Choose a project
Bottom line...
Next time you are stuck and can't figure out what to work on, follow these steps.
1. Identify your project values
2. Rate your project values
3. Brainstorm possible projects
4. Identify which projects align with your values
5. Choose a project
36/
Interested in following my next project?
I'll be documenting everything here on Twitter!
Follow to stay tuned
Interested in following my next project?
I'll be documenting everything here on Twitter!
Follow to stay tuned
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