Things that aren't doing the thing
Go do the thing
A couple of weeks back, I a came across these lines below, an essay by Strangest Loop. I remember reading them out loud to a couple of friends in the days that followed because of how deeply they resonated.
I reflected upon what I’m doing right now–writing and creating helpful content–and how, so often, I loop into the very things listed here ↓
Preparing to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Scheduling time to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Making a to-do list for the thing isn't doing the thing.
Telling people you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Messaging friends who may or may not be doing the thing isn't doing the thing.
Writing a banger tweet about how you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Hating on yourself for not doing the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on other people who have done the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing isn't doing the thing.
Fantasizing about all of the adoration you'll receive once you do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Reading about how to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading about how other people did the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading this essay isn't doing the thing.
The only thing that is doing the thing…
is doing the thing.
↑
I grinned when I read it. Laughed out loud. It was hilarious—and painfully real.
I felt it because I’m guilty of having done (and still do) every single one of the items in those lines.
If this was a bingo card, I’d have yelled “BINGO!” even before the card even hit the table.
Over the past decade or so, I’ve tried to build several products and companies. I’ve had tens of ideas. Maybe hundreds?
But how many did I actually build or try to build?
Single digits. Less than 10.
I talked about them.
Dreamt them up.
Planned for them.
Researched.
Branded them.
Spent hours finding a name.
Even more on domain names (shoutout #godaddy).
Pitched them to people.
Surveyed users.
Studied industries.
Analyzed competitors.
Defined my edge.
And still… only a handful became real.
Tangible.
Launched.
I’m not saying doing all the upfront work (those 12 lovely items) is wrong. Or shouldn’t be done.
It is helpful.
It can be necessary. Helps you decide whether building a business or tapping into a market is worth it in the first place.
But, I could’ve built a simple landing page in a few hours and assessed buying intent or market interest/demand instead.
Then decided whether to persist or pivot (reference to the Lean Startup–read it in 2015, still quote it today).
Faster iterations.
Shorter loops.
Less procrastination.
More doing.
So…what now?
Well, flash-forward to today, I’m trying to spend less time doing things that aren’t doing the thing.
I’m not perfect at it. Far from it.
But I keep going back to one analogy I love: signal vs. noise.
Everything that isn’t doing the thing?
That’s noise.
The thing?
That’s the signal.
And the 2 questions we always need to answer for are those:
How can I increase my signal-to-noise ratio?
(i.e., my “doing-the-thing” to “avoiding-the-thing” ratio)
(or thing-to-things-that-are-not-doing-the-thing ratio)
How can I raise my hit rate? For every 10 things I do, how many are the thing?
(If I’m at 10% now, how do I get to 20%? Then 30%?)
“But I’m not building a business…”
This isn’t just about startups.
It’s about anything you’re trying to move forward in.
Writing that post
Recording that video
Applying for that job
Asking for that raise
Leaving that toxic environment
Asking that person out
Or leaving that unhealthy relationship
Starting that hobby
Trying that sport
Telling the truth
The list is endless. It’s all the same loop.
So, next time you’re doing something and you have the thing at the back of your mind.
Stop and ask:
Is this actually the thing? Or is it a distraction from doing the thing–something that isn’t doing the thing? Is it signal–or noise?
Then go do the thing.
That’s one way to become.
Just do it. Literally. (Nike said it best)
I’ll leave you with a question:
How can I best bring you value through this publication?
What kind of content, tools, or resources would support you in whatever you’re trying to do?
Feel free to reply to this email (if that’s where you’re reading it) or send me a message below. I’d love to know.
I’m experimenting with a few themes–leadership, growth, AI, and tools–so feel free to subscribe only to what speaks to you most. And if there’s something you’d like me to add, tell me.
It’s still early days, but we’re getting there.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for being part of becoming.