Issue 1: How to be more original? Advice from Adam Grant
Being original requires a lot of energy to work, and it is worth it.
Hey, friends,
Let’s discuss about passion, being true to yourself, time management, and climate change.
Original has been on my reading list for such a long time. Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist at Wharton University, has written many bestselling books and is one of the most influential psychologists in the world.
At first, I assumed this book, like any psychology book I had ever read, was full of reality reports and data from various spectrums. And yes, it’s true. The book describes many events, from Martin Luther King’s famous speech “I Have a Dream” to the failure of the Polaroid Company.
At a glance, this book covers many world phenomena and offers practical things for individuals, business leaders, and parents to be original.
This is why I love psychology books more than self-help or self-improvement books. If you need more explanation or want to read the book, shop it through your favorite E-commerce.
So, in this newsletter, I’ll tell you the best practical thing you can do to improve your “originality.”
Question the default
Don’t say “Yes” to every rule that has existed for a long time. Assume it like a child and ask like a 5-year-old child. “What would be the main cause of these rules? Why does everyone believe in such a term?” By doing this, you will have your definition and conclusion, and you’re not doing something simply because everyone is doing it.Procrastinate strategically.
It sounds lofty. I don’t want to justify your bad habit of procrastinating without aiming for something. The mood is an energy that you can control. However, by doing this with strategy, you can incubate more ideas from your brain. How should you do this? Taking a break in the middle of your brainstorming or your work session.Balance your risk portfolio.
When you take a risk in one domain, offset it by being unusually cautious in another realm. Many popular icons have avoided the risk by doing another thing to secure. For example, before becoming a full-time singer, John Legend still worked as a consultant for BCG. He made a slide during the day and performed during the night. And today, John Legend become one of the most influential singers in the world.Don’t try to calm yourself.
Stage fright is a common problem, and we always try to cope with it. The advice usually given is “calm yourself”, which slightly affects our mood. Instead of saying, “I’m Calm,” try to say, “I’m excited.” It significantly affected your mood, energy, and even the outcome of your speech.Make your ideas more familiar.
Don’t discount the possibility of your idea. Repeat yourself, and it makes people more comfortable with an unconventional idea.
😇 Radical Hope
So, lately, satu tali kusut dikepalaku akhirnya tidak kusut lagi xoxo
“Follow Your Passion” adalah nasihat yang udah lama ada sejak lama. Banyak yang pro dan kontra terkait nasihat ini. Kapan sih “passion” bisa kita temukan dan kalau udah ketemu, seberapa yakin kalau itu benar-benar “passion” nya kamu? Aku sebenarnya kurang setuju dengan kalimat “Follow Your Passion,” karena sampai sekarang pun definisi “passion” itu masih agak membingungkan. Aku jauh lebih senang dengan istilah “Interest.” Passion rasanya seperti hal yang fix dan tidak akan tergantikan, sementara Interest adalah hal yang bisa jadi berganti secara terus menerus dengan jangka waktu tidak ditentukan.
Ada juga moment tertentu yang bikin kita overwhelm dengan too many interest yang kita miliki. Aku pribadi sering merasa terintimidasi untuk memilih salah satu dari beberapa interests yang aku minati. Ini cukup sulit, ibarat milih mie ayam atau mi aceh. This moment leads me to a contemplation mode. Radical way yang kulakukan adalah dengan menulis.
Kemampuan otak kita adalah generate ideas secara terus menerus, tapi tidak bisa menyimpan ide-ide tersebut dalam jangka waktu yang panjang. Ide ini termasuk semua bahan pikiran kita. So, whenever I feel like my head mau meletus karena tali yang udah padat, I’ll grab my pen and notes. Journalling sangat membantu aku mengurai tali yang udah gabisa ditemukan ujungnya ini. Seperti case passion, dengan menullis/journalling, ini membantu aku untuk menemukan my interest dan mungkin my passion.
Tenang friends, there’s no need to rush, ya.
🥰 Favourite this Week
🎤 Podcasts: Ali Abdaal, “How I Manage My Time - The Trident Calendar System.”
Have you ever tried to plan your day, week, and yearly goals? It can be exhausting whether you’re trying to finish a project that was started years ago or to create a daily habit. In Ali’s video, he explains his technique for planning his perfect day, week, and year. I find it applicable and encouraging. I have to admit that planning our day can benefit our mental health. Here is the link to the video.
My app recommendation for planning would be Google Calendar and Todoist.
📚 Magazine: National Geographic Edisi April 2023
November 2022 remarked as the day our world hits 8 billion population. What a vast number. I’m so curious about how we will feed the entire population. I’ve written this issue on my LinkedIn, by the way. In this edition, National Geographic explains the shrinking population in China, the massive growth in Nigeria, and the projected population growth in 2050.
Another hot topic is ants and their contribution to climate change. I still remember when I was a kid, every afternoon, we enjoyed the dragonfly in our backyard. That was a memorable moment, and I can’t redo it again. There’s no dragonfly today in my backyard—poor me.
✍️Quote of the Week
I’m reading a book from Austin Kleon this week and found this cute Quote. I hope it enlightens your day :)
“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as possible. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it well, serenely, and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
📝Poem of the Week
Have you ever read a book titled “Time is a Mother”? By Ocean Vuong. If not, here’s a bit of the poem:
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All the best,
Melva Bintang.