The Case for Sharing Your Work in Public and the Benefits of a Systematic Approach to Life

The Case for Sharing Your Work in Public and the Benefits of a Systematic Approach to Life

In today's digital age, the idea of sharing your work in public has become more prevalent. Some studies suggest that keeping our intentions private can actually increase the likelihood of us achieving our goals. The reasoning behind this is that goal sharing can give us a psychological satisfaction of accomplishing a goal without actually putting in the work. This is because we often receive premature praise from others. However, other studies show that sharing your progress can be beneficial. For example, sharing your weight loss progress on Twitter can be a great way to stay motivated.

Author Austin Kleon suggests that we should "become a documentarian of what you do." By sharing our work in public, we have the opportunity to reflect on our progress and plan our next steps. It allows us to take a more iterative approach and ensure that what we're working on addresses the needs we have identified. Additionally, sharing our ideas can increase the likelihood of connecting the dots between our ideas and those of others. This can lead to new insights and potential collaborations.

One of the benefits of sharing your work in public is the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. By finding the people who are interested in a similar space, whether through online groups or offline meetups, you can build a network of support and potentially find mentors or partners. Working on an idea in a vacuum can stifle the creative process, and sharing your work in public can help overcome this.

While it may feel uncomfortable at first, sharing your work in public on a regular basis will become easier over time. Once you get into the habit, it will almost feel strange to work in a vacuum. This is something that many Glasp users have reported experiencing. The key is to find the people who care about what you're doing and connect with them. This can help you stay motivated and accountable.

Now, let's shift our focus to the benefits of a systematic approach to life. Often, we set goals as a way to achieve success, wealth, health, or happiness. While setting goals is an important step, relying solely on them can have its drawbacks. Goals have an endpoint, and once we achieve them, we may revert back to our previous state. Additionally, goals rely on factors that we do not always have control over.

This is where habits come into play. Habits are like algorithms that power our lives. They can either help us reach our goals more effectively and efficiently or make things harder and prevent success entirely. Habits have a powerful influence on our automatic behavior. As Octavia Butler said, "First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit is persistence in practice."

The purpose of a well-crafted set of habits is to ensure that we reach our goals with incremental steps. Habits are easy to complete once we develop them. Our brains actually change to make the behavior easier to complete. Habits are for life and make up a significant portion of our waking hours. According to research, habits make up 40% of our daily activities.

With consistency, the benefits of non-negotiable actions compound and lead to extraordinary achievements. As Charles C. Noble said, "First we make our habits, then our habits make us." Instead of solely focusing on a specific goal, investing our time in forming positive habits can lead to long-term success. Habits are how we live, and they have the power to shape our character and destiny.

In conclusion, both sharing your work in public and adopting a systematic approach to life have their advantages. Sharing your work in public allows for reflection, collaboration, and connection with others. It can increase motivation and creativity. On the other hand, a systematic approach to life through habits ensures consistent progress and success. By combining these two approaches, you can achieve your goals while also enjoying the journey and making a lasting impact.

Three actionable pieces of advice before we wrap up:

1. Start sharing your work in public. Whether it's through social media, blogging, or attending meetups, find a way to showcase your progress and connect with others in your field.

2. Develop positive habits that align with your life mission and vision. Identify the habits that will support your goals and make them non-negotiable. Consistency is key.

3. Find a balance between sharing your work and doing the actual work. Sharing your work should not derail you from making progress. Find a workflow that allows you to share regularly without sacrificing productivity.

Remember, the journey towards success is not just about achieving goals. It's about the process, the connections, and the growth along the way. Embrace the power of sharing your work in public and the impact of positive habits in shaping your life.