Design ’tiny experiments’ using the PACT protocol: ‘I will [action] for [duration].’ Commit to the action for the set duration without judgment, and only reflect on the results at the end to decide next steps. This allows for exploration without permanent commitment and helps overcome fixed mindsets by being Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Trackable.
Instead of obsessing over finding a single ‘purpose,’ follow your curiosity, explore different paths, and allow purpose to emerge organically from a series of explorations and experiments. This avoids feeling miserable while exploring and acknowledges that meaning can come from multiple sources.
Accept that you don’t know where you’re going and embrace uncertainty as a source of learning and opportunity, rather than trying to escape it. Allow yourself to stay in uncertain situations, explore them, and ask questions to foster growth and a more meaningful life beyond mere survival.
Practice ‘self-anthropology’ by observing your own life and current situations as if you were an anthropologist studying a new culture. Do this without assumptions or judgment to gain distance and identify areas for potential experimentation.
Observe your cognitive scripts (unconscious patterns of behavior) without judgment. Then, intentionally decide whether you want to follow that script or explore a different path, ensuring your actions are mindful and serving you.
Create ‘growth loops’ by pairing action with reflection after each experiment. Use the ‘Plus Minus Next’ tool to systematically review what went well, what didn’t, and what to try next, ensuring continuous learning and iteration rather than just repeating actions.
Limit the number of tiny experiments you run simultaneously (ideally one or a few). This ensures you have adequate space for reflection, can clearly identify the impact of each experiment, and are more likely to complete them, leading to better learning and growth.
Approach productivity with mindfulness by non-judgmentally observing your work, feelings, and mental state. Aim for a state of calm, focus, and creative flow, rather than pushing for productivity at all costs.
Sync your work with your energy levels by observing when you have creative energy versus when you’re depleted. Schedule deep, creative work during your peak energy times (e.g., first hour of the day) and avoid energy-draining tasks like checking emails during those periods.
View procrastination not as an enemy, but as a signal that something is wrong with a task. Engage in a ’triple check’ conversation with your procrastination to identify if the problem is rational (head), emotional (heart), or practical (hand), then address the root cause without self-blame.
Practice ‘intentional imperfection’ by accepting that you cannot be perfect in all areas of life simultaneously. Use ‘ambition dials’ to consciously adjust your effort levels across different commitments, deciding where to perform at 95% and where to intentionally ‘drop the ball’ (e.g., 50%) to make your goals achievable and reduce self-blame.
Intentionally create ‘magic windows’ in your day – small rituals that help you reconnect with a sense of qualitative ‘kairos’ time, where you lose yourself in the moment and feel present. This helps break free from ‘chronos’ (quantitative, rushed) time and toxic productivity.
Accelerate growth by ’learning in public,’ which means sharing your experiments and learning journey with at least one other person or a small group. This provides social support and accountability, strengthening the process of habit formation and exploration.
Seek out opportunities to engage with others who are deeply engrossed and curious about a task or conversation. Being around people in a ‘social flow’ state can make it easier for you to access and unlock your own individual flow states.
Build community engagement incrementally: start as an ‘apprentice’ by joining and learning, then become an ‘artisan’ by actively contributing, and only then consider becoming an ‘architect’ by starting your own community. This gradual approach makes community building more manageable and fulfilling.
Question the obsession with leaving a grand, distant legacy and instead focus on generating visible, immediate positive impact within your current local communities and on the people around you. This shifts focus from unpredictable future fame to tangible present-day contribution.