I try to read a variety of different books, including the occasional “Self-Help” book. While reading The Secret, one thought repeatedly crossed my mind:

Wow. This book is full of magical bullshit!

Now, don’t get me wrong. I think the book contains a lot of empowering ideas. But, reading this book was like listening to a 4-year-old explain how computers work. Sure, they seem to grasp that computers have incredible potential, but their understanding of the inner workings are a bit fantastical.

This mysticism can be a non-starter for many people that would otherwise benefit from the book. That got me wondering: could I write a self-help book without the magical bullshit?

Now that I think about it… I probably could. Here’s an initial outline of some of the topics I’d want to cover:

• Intro

  • I’m not a billionaire who buys a new mansion instead of mowing the lawn.
  • I’m just somebody who seems to be doing OK at life.
  • Here are some of my strategies.

• Some easy wins to get us started:

  • Stop making self-deprecating remarks. (Reminder to self: tie back to this in Echo Chambers chapter)
  • Spend 2 hours cleaning your workspace / home.
  • Get some sleep. (Reminder to self: only 24 hours in a day)

• To-Did Lists

  • There’s a good chance that you’re already doing a ton of things!
  • Listing these out on a daily basis can give you a sense of accomplishment, and thus help to reduce anxiety.
  • Once you’re feeling less anxious, you can then review these lists and figure out what to change.

• To-Do Lists

  • Brainstorm first. Organize later.
  • Strategies for organization.
  • Strategies for prioritization.
  • Pick 2-3 things. Table everything else.
  • Oh, and leverage things like Trello or Google Keep!

• Overcoming Decision Paralysis

  • Prototyping
  • Timeboxing
  • Picking things at random

• Embracing Technology

  • Don’t allow an irrational fear of technology to become a barrier to opportunity!!!
  • Must-Have apps: TODO lists, calendars, document sharing, etc.

• Investments and Efficiency Gains

  • There are only 24 hours in a day. Work vs Value.
  • Reevaluation and Accelleration.
  • Automation.
  • Delegation.

• Echo Chambers and Seeing Reality

  • Most people don’t see reality. They are just sleep-walking through a dream.
  • Noticing unconventional paths. (Reminder to self: sidewalks)
  • Assertions, Accreditations, and Capabilities. (Question everything. The world is full of misinformation and useless noise.)

• Contingency Planning

  • Devise 2-3 solutions to every problem. (ie: “alternative plans”)
  • Always be prepared to fallback to another plan.

• Multitasking

  • We’re not all wired for multitasking. But, there are some basic time-savers that many people are able to do.
  • Exercising while listening to audio books.
  • Talking on the phone while walking to your destination.
  • Etc.

• Making friends

  • Find people who inspire you!

• Taking care of yourself

  • You might not be in a position to do some of these things right now. But, make these a priority ASAP!
  • Eating right.
  • Getting plenty of sleep.
  • Respecting yourself. (ie: make time for yourself. Don’t let others stretch you too thin, etc)

Okay — not too bad for an initial brain dump. But, it’s a good thing I didn’t include a section on “motivating yourself”. Otherwise, I might actually have to write this book!