Ditch 90%

The Wealthy Thought Leader event was 3 days, and I was already glad I was there when on day 1 the first guest presenter was Michael Bungay Stanier.  If you haven’t come across his work, his is the genius behind box of crayons and he is a wacky, creative soul.  He had us do a visual mind map of a business idea we’ve been contemplating, and he supplied us with all the necessary tools:  blank paper, crayons, pencils, and markers.  Writing and drawing my idea was a lot of fun and I was going gung ho – pulling in bits I’d thought about, adding things that others had suggested – when he gave the next instruction: ditch 90% of what I had and use the remaining 10% as the new starting place.  Ditch 90%.  This request was freeing and frightening – what about all the good ideas on the page that didn’t make the cut?  Turns out they’d have to wait for another day, another project.  The remaining 10% is much sturdier, and I am more confident in what I can create.  Ultimately, ditching 90% is an act of permission and freedom; permission to do only what’s burning to come out, freedom to let the rest go and run with what is.

Me with Michael


Mind map for a Book about Work