Dear Real Academics, There's a pattern among productivity strategists: If you want results, track your progress. Whether I'm watching a video or reading about financial planning, nutritional well-being, exercise programs, writing productivity, or self management in general, all programs that WORK have some element of what I default to calling "logging". I default to this term because of my experience with logging with writing (more on that below). Logging is tracking your progress. I know, I know...it sounds dull and mundane and boring and hard to remember to do. It may even sound rigid, but here's the news: It is powerful. Why? This is a good question. For this post, I will not get into any facts or figures or empirical data to prove to you that tracking your progress is powerful when it comes to making progress. But, reflect on your own experience. When have you made real progress on any goal you had that required change/effort/difficulty? What did it look lik...
Dear Real Academics, I've been thinking a lot about conflict lately. I've been thinking about it because I don't like it. As much as I prefer harmony and unity, however, I need to be very careful about what this harmony and unity looks like. If what seem like harmony and unity comes at the expense of sacrificing freedom, then it is deceptive. Let me give you an example. In academic discourse, which includes writing and speaking, something always "smells fishy" to me when I can anticipate what someone is about to say so that it aligns with popular lingo and assumed ways of thinking. I call this group think. Furthermore, when those who question or pose a different point of view are silenced or censored and/or held in contempt, then critical thinking is being suppressed in the name of a deceptive idea of unity. I don't know about you, but when I was learning to write persuasively, the idea was to have a well formed argument supported by carefully researched i...
Dear Real Academics, For those of you even remotely contemplating starting a business, consider a lovely book titled, "Mind Your Business: A Workbook to Grow you Creative Passion Into a Full-Time Gig" by Ilana Griffo. Written by a graphic designer who has started several of her own businesses, the book is both fun and interactive. Ilana's personality literally pops through the pages through her fun graphics and writing as she thoughtfully challenges and inspires her readers to work through phases of starting a business. The book is both practical and inspirational. Real and gritty. Fun and creative. And the graphics are...well...really cool! I highly recommend this book for any creatives out there thinking about monetizing (and, yes, this is not a BAD thing) the gifts they've been given to share with the world. (paid link) I am still working through the book. I've read the whole thing, but I'm still thinking things through as I write in the workbook. Lit...