Chris J Wilson

As I was thinking about how to manage publishing obsidian notes to my digital garden, I was saying I wanted a “simpler” solution. That was partially true. Really, I wanted a simpler solution for me, the user, even if it meant a more complicated backend. The danger is that complicated workflows are easier to break.

This is true of other areas of life too. We try to make things “simpler” for ourselves but under the surface there is a sea of (hopefully) hidden complexity.

The danger, is those dependencies will fail and our system comes crashing down or grinds to a halt like a shipping cannel clogged by a boat. Simple solutions may end up needing more maintenance than the “complicated” option.

So perhaps a simple drag and drop isn’t the worst thing in the world after all.

There are some business books where you get all the value from the one paragraph summary or even just the title. I suspect Cal Newports latest might be another example. I’ve heard him on a couple of podcasts discussing it and I can buy into his basic idea.

• Avoid open loop communications tools that anyone can contact you at any time for anything.
• Promote context specific tools which you work on asynchronously.

It’s basically trying to avoid the “So when shall we have a meeting” chain of messages where it takes four messages to get the ball moving and instead use something like calendly which helps close discussions faster.

My team has made this shift in a couple of areas (moving away from our real-time chat and too google docs/trello/figma). We still occasionally ping each other over real deadlines, but it just makes more sense to not get inundated with pings all the time.

Of course, there are some topics where the lesson is clear from the title, but that doesn’t make it easy. Ego is the enemy for example. Sometimes the value of the book is not the information, but the repeated exposure to the message.

It’s a very Christian idea I’ll admit. That we can get the idea instantly and see a transformation (justification) but still regress and require a ongoing change to truly inhibit an idea (sanctification). Perhaps my own faith background and its emphasis on reading the scripture explains my openness to such books.

Well, I didn’t expect that ending when I sat down to write.

I’m really happy with not trying to force my iPad to be my main computer but just use it for what I like doing on it (reading, drawing, some web browsing, Listening to audiobooks while cooking, facetime calls with family back home) and use my Macbook Air for what I like doing on that (writing, editing videos, day job… which is writing, trello, managing and spreadsheets…oh so many spreadsheets.)

If Apple updates iPadOS to make the iPad better for day job work, I might reconsider but I’m not sure why I would now.

I like having a causal device and work devices or having a book/notes open on my iPad with a writing space on my Macbook.

When I was an “iPad only*" person I valued the iPad’s prompting of monotasking. While that hasn’t changed, I’ve since found that the MacBook can be equally low-distracting as it can be seen as a work device (when set up with fewer notifications, not installing certain apps, limits on internet access etc).

In fact, freeing the iPad to be an iPad has allowed me to also make it less distracting. Now I don’t have to use it for work, I can block the internet, uninstall anything that gives a notification related to work, and make it a better consumption and creation device.

If Apple adds more pro apps to the iPad or improves support for multitasking, external windows, split audio etc then fine. I’m sure some blogger will write about how the iPad truly can be anyone’s only computer just as they have for the last X years. (While the verge will also point out how it can’t be your only computer because it doesn’t work well with their CMS).

But whatever happens, I doubt it will affect my workflow much.

(There is a chance that future Chris is really mad at how stupid past Chris is writing this… I guess we’ll see!)

*terms and conditions apply. Definitions of iPad only may vary and usually don’t include day jobs.

Whenever I have the thought that I can’t believe some co-workers don’t act or think the way I do, I’m wary.
Maybe they know something I don’t.
Perhaps there’s a different reason for their actions.
Probably I don’t do things the way I think as often as I think.
Definitely there are other things I do which are irrational or stupid.

And yet, I write this and realise that in truth. I probably don’t have those reflections most of the time and just think the other person’s an idiot.

But I aspire to be more humble, and give the grace to others I wish was given to me.

Best communication channels to provide content/web design updates at my work.

1. A document with comments/track changes.
2. Project management system with comments/attachments etc
3. Email, so there is an easily found record later.
4. Real-time chat application like Slack. (I’m open to hear about better ideas)

I haven’t counted to know for sure, but I’m fairly certain that our usage is reversed. From what I’ve heard about Cal Newports new book (a world without email) he seems to advocate for moving from email and real-time chat tools to those more asynchronous and focused channels.

I’m certainly wondering how I can encourage more of that at work.

tl;dr: I’m doing a guided tour of my obsidian system. provisional date April 6: 20:00 UTC

Obsidian can be really confusing, but I don’t believe it has to be.

I’ve been using Obsidian for a while and while I know my system is perfect, I’ve solved some of my core problems and it’s working for me.

So after a couple of people mentioned they’d be interested in seeing my system, I thought I’d host a “show and tell” session going through my system.

The date may change if it’s not a good fit for people so sign up even if you can’t make it.

Register here

Let me know any questions you have and I’ll do my best to address them.

I really hate things where there is no single “perfect” option, but instead a list of compromises and considerations. Some examples.

Bags

While there are definitely better and worse bags, the best bag for today might be different than the best bag for tomorrow. Today I want something small and discrete, tomorrow I’m taking lunch into work and need something to support that. Admittedly, lockdowns and work from home have made me forget about these issues somewhat.

Cameras

Do I want the fixed lens rangefinder (yes, yes I do) that would be terrible for wildlife (okay, maybe not but I’m as surprised as you are). Or what about a small micro four thirds camera with cheaper fast lenses but worse low light performance and fewer megapixels? OR maybe a full frame mirrorless beast that costs an arm and leg and is so large you’d probably just take your smart phone. Every option has compromises.

Headphones

Do I want the over-ear headphones that are comfy while at the desk, but horrible when out walking (I had a nice pair in Spain but it was so hot that I just avoided wearing them!) or the in-ear pair that are great when walking, but also never really fit my ears and get annoying after a while. Or Airpods whose battery die after a year and a bit.

The answer is both none of the above, and all of the above…but my wallet dictates none.

Compromise, or por que no los dos?

The solution is either to compromise for most situations (my bag approach.) or buy multiple (my headphone approach, although my airpods have now died…so I’ve ended up with one pair). Sometimes I wish there was a perfect solution in these areas but I suspect that even a bag which could adjust size would also be a compromise (not as thin when compact, not as comfortable, maybe not as sturdy).

At times like this, I’m grateful for those “coca-cola” options. The things where there’s one solution which meets your needs at least 90% of the time.

Last week I felt utterly demotivated. I’m not even sure why. Although I was slowly plodding along with my work for SPS, I felt like it was pointless and wondered if I should even bother. It turned out that I wasn’t alone. Chad felt the same way too for reasons that were similar and different. We decided to have a “lighter sprint" or even a “Sabbatical Sprint" – following the six week cycles of Shawn Blanc and Sean McCabe as well as have a call to discuss some things. Well, we had our call earlier today and everything’s changed. It actually started yesterday when I realised I had done more than I had set myself to do and some of my previous barriers had been removed. Those two small changes boosted my motivation and when I could share that with Chad, I felt rejuvenated. Our call only served to magnify that effect as we shared our frustrations, recent successes (however small) and some ideas for how we could continue in the future.

As I was walking home yesterday, I had this thought

“I don’t know who needs to hear this but take it easy on yourself… I don’t know who needs to hear this, but it’s time to dig in."

There’s a real magic to knowing when we need to push past a barrier and when we need to slow down and take a step back. I’m glad I took a step back for this sprint, I’m excited to push harder for the next one.

I will never get over the number of times I see my company doing the very things we preach against. Today’s example. It’s probably that instead of updating a shared document, someone has made a new version that has updated details. Of course, they haven’t shared it with everyone which has caused some errors based on outdated information. The most infuriating part is we are using the very tools which are designed to avoid these issues. It seems the error lies between the monitor and chair.

Parkinson’s law says that work expands to fill the time allocated to it.

I’ve found something similar with “stuff” at home.

If we get more shelves or cupboards, they get filled.

We moved a few things around last week and opened up some floor space…now it’s my daughters favourite location to play with puzzles.

I’m not saying it always has to be this way, and you can certainly need more space, but it seems like we’ll probably fill however much space we have.

I communicate with my team through a combination of real-time messaging and email. Before I send a message, I try to ask myself “Do I need to interrupt them?”.

I say try because sometimes I forget to reflect on this point (sometimes because I DO need to interrupt them). Most of the time, the answer is “no” or “not now” (I asked my team when they are most productive and I try to guard those hours for them) but sometimes the answer is yes.

Depending on the answer to the question, I can work out if I should

• fire off a quick message
• send an email
• add an item to a task list
• or just wait. I know how annoying it can be to have the over eager colleague who has to share every idea, and I know I can fit that description to a tee. So I try to rein myself in so they can stay fully focused.

Of course, I’ve written this down as I just felt the pull to send a message and then realised, I can and should wait till the end of the day.

That’s at least one success for the day.

Back when I was a teacher, I was a huge believer in time blocking: planning your day and marking certain hours for certain activities. It made total sense for me back then. I knew when I’d be in a class, I could estimate my travel times, and setting boundaries on lesson planning helped overcome Parkinson’s law. But after transitioning to work for a corporation in marketing, I had stopped time blocking. At first I had tried to use time blocking principles, but I found the days were too changeable and I’d often have to suddenly drop what I was doing for something else. It didn’t seem to make sense.

Now I’m managing a team, this trend has got worse and yet I’ve decided to return to time blocking.

Why return to time blocking

Although I have less control over interruptions (with more coming from above and below), that is precisely why I need to block certain time for what Cal Newport calls “deep work”. If I am always in reactive mode, with inboxes open for any interruption, then I never really engage with my work properly. And while there is some amount of instability I’ll never be able to prepare for, I can predict certain parts of my week (for example, when I need to review some content before it’s published and when I’m more likely to be messaged). I also need to create some blocked off times and the only way I can do that is by planning. If I hope a time of concentrated, distraction free work time will magically arise, it never will. I have to make it.

Time to begin

So I’m using the daily plan bar in my Leuchttrum bullet journal again. I’m intrigued to see how this experiment goes but I’m hopeful. I know that there will still be interruptions and my plans will never be 100% realized, but I’m confident it will be better than going in blind.

As Chad Moore and I were discussing SPS, we came up with the term “Graceful accountability”; encouraging each other to do our best, but understanding our circumstances and limits.

I wonder how it applies elsewhere?

Accountability to meet the goals you set and develop yourself with wiggle room and understanding. Providing challenges, but knowing that life has a great way of messing up our plans.

I think it might be a good approach for most things in life.