I’ve always loved writing. It’s the closest thing we have to thinking, imagining, and creating.
Everything starts with writing: the best movies, groundbreaking discoveries, successful businesses, but also much of our learning and understanding of the world.
With the current speed of information - dictated mainly by how the web and social media work - it’s hard to sit still and find the necessary calm to write.
You already write
Our phones are responsible for the - arguably - majority of our writing, through messaging.
There’s no doubt that messages are one of the most direct, undisturbed forms of communicating with someone.
Your closest contacts already get many of your brain dumps. Why not embrace total freedom and also write for yourself - or for the world?
Write for yourself
Imagine what is a big obstacle for people who try to write for themselves. Any guess?
Tools.
We have over-engineered tools, especially note-taking apps, that push you to do everything but writing.
Choose simplicity: OS-level note-taking apps (like Apple Notes), or .txt files.
You should write for yourself because it’s the easier way to structure your thoughts.
Since thoughts are pretty impactful in your life, structuring them helps.
Also, you probably work or study. Either way, you have things to do, projects to complete, and topics to learn. Writing is the best way to define and direct your actions.
Write for others
But why keep your words to yourself?
If you work, you probably do things others also need to do.
If you have a chat with someone, you probably share a few ideas.
What if somebody else in your organization needs that system you came up with? What if somebody else in the world needs that piece of advice you just told your friend?
Besides the potential for being helpful - which might or might not be on your to-do list - that’s also how you create leverage.
That helps you progress in your career, unlock new opportunities, or simply expand your horizons.
Do you write? How does that help you? What do you think it could help with?
That’s it for now.
See you next time.