LSC #41: How to be smart đ¤
Hola! Welcome to a new #LSC, the 41st edition this time.
As a quick heads up, in case you just landed here or have been forwarded this newsletter, expect to find some content on productivity, personal growth, health hacks, and interesting content, always with a down-to-earth approach. Nice, right?
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And now, let's get into it!
Todayâs summary:
đď¸Â Clarity before speed
đŻÂ Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound
đ Track your habits, the analog way
đŹ Daily tips from the trenches: Josh Spector
đ Weekly Pick: Search for happiness
đď¸Â Clarity before speed
It doesnât matter how fast you move if itâs in a worthless direction.
Weâve all been there. Rushing from task to task, feeling productive but getting nowhere. Itâs like running on a treadmill: lots of movement, but no progress (yes, itâs me, expect running analogies).
But hereâs the thing: Knowing where you want to go is just as important as how fast you get there. Speed is valuable, but only if you're heading in the right direction (yes, another running analogy).
Letâs break it down:
Know your destination: Before you start, ask yourself: Where am I headed? Without a clear goal, you might end up somewhere you didnât intend.
Plan your route: Once you know where youâre going, draw a path. Planning helps you pass obstacles and stay on course.
Understand your âwhyâ: Why are you moving in this direction? Whatâs driving you? Knowing your motivation keeps you focused and committed. Itâs your inner fuel.
Balance speed with direction: Itâs easy to get caught up in the rush. But remember, moving fast without direction is pointless. Slow down, assess your path, and then accelerate with purpose (canât stop with the running thingy).
Iâm often guilty of running full speed ahead, only to realize I was heading the wrong way. Itâs frustrating, but it teaches a valuable lesson: Clarity comes first.
So, next time youâre about to jump into a new project or goal, ask yourselfâam I moving in the right direction? Speed up when youâre sure of your path, but always make sure your direction aligns with your destination.
đŻÂ Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound
One method I find incredibly helpful for gaining clarityâboth at work and in personal projectsâis setting SMART goals. I know, such a classic, especially in the digital workspace, but it helps me stay focused and organized, whether in team projects or personal goals.
So, what exactly are SMART goals? SMART, as most of you already know, stands for:
Specific: Goals need to be clear. Instead of âI want to get fit,â a specific goal is âI want to run 10 kilometers.â
Measurable: Your goals should be trackable. For example, âI want to cut 50 grams of sugar a dayâ lets you measure success.
Achievable: Make sure the goal is realistic. âIâll lose 0.5 kg a week for 20 weeksâ is more achievable than aiming for drastic weight loss in a short time.
Relevant: Goals should align with your overall priorities. If nutrition is a focus, a relevant goal could be âIâll add vegetables to every meal.â
Time-bound: Give yourself a deadline. âIâll finish a 30-day fitness challenge by the end of this monthâ creates urgency.
Letâs break this down into examples:
Running
â I will run 10k.
â I will complete a 10K run in two months by running three times a week, increasing distance by 1 km weekly, and tracking my progress with a fitness app.
Nutrition:
â I will lose 2kgs.
â Iâll reduce my sugar intake by 25% over the next month by cutting out soda and processed snacks, tracking daily consumption using a nutrition app.
Social media:
â I will gain 1200 followers.
â Iâll post three pieces of content on LinkedIn weekly for three months to build my audience, tracking engagement to see what resonates.
Saving money:
â I will save 500 âŹ.
â Iâll save âŹ500 over three months by setting aside âŹ75 from each paycheck and reducing takeout food and coffees, tracking savings with a budgeting app.
Reading:
â I will read more.
â Iâll read one book a month for six months by dedicating 30 minutes daily, tracking my progress using a reading app.
Well, there you go, you get it, right? All goals should address all aspects of the SMART framework, making sure theyâre specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This way, there is no space for deviation, bringing success way closer!
đ Track your habits, the analog way
Alright, letâs tie this weekâs recommendation back to the SMART goals and habits discussion. If youâre up for it, thereâs a beautiful process that lets you track your habits offline, giving you a break from screens, which I think we all need more often.
Inspired by an idea from Guillermoâs Fail Again NL, I highly recommend creating a physical document to track your habits.
Why track habits? You might be wondering why itâs even necessary (sure you do). Well, here are a few reasons:
Write it down: Putting your goals on paper makes them real and concrete.
Track progress: A simple checklist gives an immediate sense of accomplishment.
Celebrate small wins: Seeing your progress visually helps you recognize milestones, no matter how small.
Create a routine: The act of tracking becomes a habit itself.
Regular review: Checking your goals daily keeps you aligned and allows for adjustments.
Hereâs where the fun begins: Grab a notebook, some pens, and a ruler, and start creating your habit tracker. Get creative, choose a few habits you want to focus on, and give them space in the notebook. Drawing your progress feels so much more personal than tapping on an app!
This page has everything you need to get started (maybe even too much, to be honest). If you decide to try it, Iâd love to hear about your experience and see your results!
đŹ Daily tips from the trenches: Josh Spector
Each week, someone outside the #LSC will share a tip, tool, or technique that helps them navigate their day-to-day life. These are actionable tips you can apply, offering a peek into how others manage their time and tasks.
If you're a content creator or involved in content as a business driver, Josh Spector is someone to follow. His one-paragraph newsletter, For the Interested, offers simple, proven ways to grow your audience and increase revenue from contentâbased on how others have succeeded. It's one of those daily reads where Iâve picked up ideas that, unsurprisingly, work. When I reached out to him, I honestly wasnât expecting a reply. That alone speaks volumesâheâs a good guy, willing to help, and thatâs rare these days.
This week, Josh shares a tip that Iâve been trying to apply more in my life (not always with success, but hey, progress is progress):
âI've got a writing tip for you that's as powerful as it is simple.
When you think you're done writing something and you're about to publish it, send it, or do whatever you're going to do with it...
Do a word count.
Then, force yourself to delete at least 10% of the words.
(Bonus points if you delete 20%.)
It will ALWAYS make what you wrote stronger - regardless of how talented a writer you are in the first place.
Because when most writers edit their work they look at each line and ask themselves whether they need that line.
They think they do.
But when you know you have to delete SOMETHING, it changes the whole approach.
Now you're looking for the LEAST necessary lines to eliminate and the result is a tighter, stronger piece of writing.
(The above is the first draft of my tip - it's 143 words. Below is what happened when I listened to my own advice and reduced it to 68 words - a 52% cut!)
Here's a powerful, simple writing tip:
When you think you're done writing something and are about to publish...
Do a word count.
Then delete at least 10% of the words.
(Bonus points if you delete 20%.)
It will ALWAYS strengthen your writing.
Because rather than considering whether you need each line, you instead look for the LEAST necessary lines.
And deleting those improves what you wrote.â
đ Weekly Pick: Search for happiness
And hereâs your weekly content recommendation.
Not many short videos change how I view the world. But this story of a rat's search for happiness surely did. The whole video is amazing, animation, music, story, script⌠a masterpiece! What more could you ask for in a 4-minute video?
đ Data Dive
And to finish the newsletter, letâs take a little look at the #LSC performance (yes, a bit of #buildinpublic here):
410 Subscribers â Last week we were 403
3 Unsubscribed â We lost 5 subscribers last week
51% Open rate â The goal is to keep this, as you know, in the 60-70% range. I think I should set a new goal here đ
Before leaving, here you have are a few things you can do to help me:
Share this newsletter with someone you think will like it.
Reply to this publication.
If youâre on Substack, like this publication, re-stack it, move it aroundâŚ
And now, for good: Keep an eye out for the next LifeScore Chroniclesâsomething exciting is just around the corner. đ
Until next week, stay safe and healthy!