exercise: writers, take your mind off self-doubt

“Find an activity that lets you relax and turn your mind off.

Raise some chickens. Plant herbs on the windowsill. Start meditation. Go for a walk or a run or a swim or a climb a rock wall. Learn how to refinish furniture or knit or blow glass. Heck, do something totally pointless and relaxing: run a bath, stare into a crackling fire, cuddle up with your honeybun.

Do something that occupies your mind so that it doesn’t have any spare energy to fret.

While you’re at it, you’ll have the satisfaction of an activity you enjoy, something that has none of the weighty associations of keeping up your writing talent. You just learned how to stain a shelf – congratulations. You’re not worried about losing that skill forever tomorrow, are you?”

Such a good point. We don’t think we’ll lose all our other skills, so quit worrying about your writing abilities and just write.

Source

exercise: budget time for randomness

“Deliberately underschedule yourself for a day next week to read a book you wouldn’t otherwise read, take a coworker in a different department out for lunch, or attend a speech or seminar in a different but related field.”

Source: The Startup of You

exercise: develop your transferable skills

“Develop more transferable skills, those skills and experiences that are broadly useful to potential other jobs. Writing skills, general management experience, technical and computer skills, people smarts, and international experience or language skills are examples of skills with high option value—that is, they are transferable to a wide range of possible Plan B’s. Once you’ve figured out which transferable skills to invest in, make a concrete action plan you can stick to, whether by signing up for a course or conference, or simply by pledging to spend one hour each week self-learning.”

Source: The Startup of You

exercise: grab coffee

“Schedule a coffee meeting with someone who used to work in your professional niche who pivoted to a new career plan. How did he or she make the shift? Why? Was it a good move? What were the signs that the time was right?” 

Source: The Startup of You

exercise: reach out to ten people

“Imagine you got laid off from your job today. Who are the ten people you’d email to solicit their advice on what to do next? Reach out to them now, when you don’t need anything specifically.” 

Source: The Startup of You

exercise: create a plan b

“The best Plan B is different but very much related to what you’re already doing. As you think about your own Plan B alternatives, favor options that let you keep one foot planted while the other one swings to the new territory. Pivot into an adjacent niche.

Start your potential Plan B on the side. Start learning a skill during the evenings and weekends. Start building relationships with people who work in an adjacent industry. Apply for a part-time internship. Start a side consulting practice.”

Source: The Startup of You

exercise: invest in yourself

“Create a soft-asset investment plan that emphasizes learning about growth markets and growth opportunities. Maybe this means taking a trip to China, attending a conference on clean technology, or signing up for a software programming course. Email your plan to three trusted connections and ask them to hold you accountable. Budget money to pay for these things, if necessary.”

Source: The Start-Up of You 

exercise: have a “yes” day

“Set aside one full day coming up to be a “yes day.” Say “yes” all day and note the serendipity that comes of it.” 

Source: The Startup of You

exercise: start an “interesting people” fund

“Create an “interesting people fund” to which you automatically funnel a certain percentage of your paycheck. Use it to pay for coffees, lunches, and the occasional plane ticket to meet new people and shore up existing relationships.” 

Source: The Startup of You

exercise: oneword.com →

From the site:

“Simple. You’ll see one word at the top of the following screen.

You have sixty seconds to write about it.

Click go and the page will load with the cursor in place.

Don’t think. Just write.”