That's the thing about motivation...
Lost momentum can always be regained, if...
This first post was particularly challenging to finish.
Fact.
I wrote three different versions before I settled on this one – it wasn’t until I went hiking through the Southern section of Wilson’s Promontory for three nights that I became clear on what I actually wanted to write about.
Nature is great.
Fact.
The process pissed me off a little bit, but not as much as if I hadn’t closed this loop.
Open loops are boomerangs.
Fact.
When a flywheel is initially put into motion, energy is required to overcome the inertia of the flywheel and bring it up to its operating speed. This energy is typically supplied by an external power source, such as an electric motor or a diesel engine.
I'm motivated by all of the founders who quit for the wrong reasons. The colleagues who burned out or worse. The rise of toxic productivity - smoking before the Clockwork Orange labels.
That and the promise of a latte and toasted Rueben when I get this dusted.
I’m only human.
Once the flywheel is spinning at its operating speed, the energy required to maintain its motion is much lower than the energy required to initially accelerate it. This is because the flywheel has already overcome its initial inertia and is able to maintain its speed with relatively little energy input.
When I’m in flow my routine feels effortless and enjoyable, whether work or play. When I’m not; I fight it. Tooth and nail.
Fact.
Nothing seems to take more energy than a new beginning, or re-beginning.
The last newsletter I sent (previous to this) was on Friday, August, 2022, from a muggy co-working hub in Seminyak, Bali. I was deep into a four week, that turned into six week Melbourne winter hiatus - still working part-time (remotely) but more than making up for that in my spare time. I remember staccato-geckos on the ceiling, the unmistakable damp-sweet smell of the tropics, Astrud Gilberto in my headphones (creative muse) and feeling anxious to send so I could officially terminate my work sprint. Pack away my gear, jump on my surfboard-rack-enhanced motor scooter and head directly to surf-nirvana.
My newsletter flywheel completely lost momentum after that surf.
Nine months passed…
Chatbots powered by AI were made available to the public, potentially moving us significantly closer toward a day of reckoning with The Machine. I for one am in some seriously deep shit if Google Home decides to even the score.
The world’s population exceeded 8 billion.
Pause.
I’ve become clearer on my mission: to champion mindful productivity and ultimately; to prevent professionals pursuing their Epic Path from burning out.
It’s time to begin again.
That’s the thing about flywheels: they can always regain momentum, as long as you have the energy.
Be your EPIC
- Michael (Mike) Drohan
We out. 🙇