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January 20, 2006

A contributed addendum to newsletter essay

Nice contribution from Bruce Morehouse in Maine, re: my recent newsletter essay about GTD and karate similarities:

David's comment about karate resonated particularly well with me. I'm 47, and have been pooping along in karate for six years. His analogies are all spot on, but there's one big one that I think he missed: Thinking about it doesn't count! I don't progress when I decide to work at it, I only progress when I DO work at it. If I think about practicing my katas, IT ACTUALLY CREATES OPEN LOOPS. If I practice my katas, my flow and moves get better and it closes the loops ("I really need to practice, no I really need to practice, if only I were more disciplined, etc.) If I think about getting on the rowing machine, I get the double negative of NOT getting in shape and of creating MORE self recrimination about getting in shape (multiple open loops!). Get on the machine, get in shape, feel better, loops closed.

Indeed, as someone said, knowledge can be gained from being around smart people; but wisdom is not attained by simply being around the wise.

Posted by David at January 20, 2006 06:08 PM