I recently came across an article published by Leo Babauta on his blog, zenhabits.net, in which he states that when he first started writing about David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” productivity system, he hadn’t read the book that started the whole GTD movement. He was simply getting his information from the internet. When Naomi Dunford from ittybiz.com released her e-book “SEO School”, she made a similar claim: she got the information for writing the book from the internet.
This is one of the many positive aspects of living in the Information Age: we can find information on just about anything we need simply by turning on our computer and logging unto the worldwide web. The negative aspect of living in this day and age is that there’s so much information out there that we can easily get caught in a spiral of reading and learning, and never actually getting to the doing. This is commonly referred to as “analysis paralysis”.
Leo and Naomi didn’t just read about GTD or SEO on the internet: they read about it, they learned how to do it, and they applied it. Below you’ll see how you can do the same.
The 25-50-25 Rule
A while ago I came across an article in the newsletter Early to Rise, in which Robert Bly presented “The 25-50-25 Formula” as a solution to analysis paralysis. The following quote from the article describes the situation well:
“All the information you are taking in has overloaded your circuits. You can’t process it all, sort through it, and figure out what to do first. So, instead, you do nothing. You take no action – other than to order yet another course or report to read.”
You’ve probably heard many times before that the best way to learn something is by studying it, observing someone else doing it, and then doing it yourself. (I’ve read that there’s a fourth step, teaching it to someone else, but we’ll ignore that step for purposes of this discussion.) Rob Bly explains that the 25-50-25 rule says that to put what you learn into practical action, you must divide your time as follows:
- Spend 25% of the time researching and studying the subject matter.
- Spend 25% of the time observing. For example, if you’re studying how to become an effective copywriter, surf the net and look for examples of copy writing that catches your attention and analyze how they applied–or failed to apply–the principles you read about.
- Then spend 50% of your time actually doing. As an example, if you’re learning about SEO, start implementing SEO every time you write a new article for your blog. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like you really know what you’re doing yet: get started and learn as you go along.
You’re Not a Researcher, You’re a Writer, Or an Internet Marketer, Or . . .
Charlie Gilkey from Productive Flourishing recently wrote a great article titled “Stop Lying and Start Creating” in which he talks about how lots of creative people get stuck in the researching stage of a project. He explains that many creative people will spend the bulk of their time doing research, categorizing the research, filing the research, making neat little labels so that they can easily find the research, and so on.
Although research is an important part of most creative endeavors, you need to set limits to the amount of time that you’ll spend in this preparatory stage so that you actually get started on the real work of creating. Charlie’s solution is to stop lying to yourself, quit procrastinating, and just get started already.
Taking Action Gives You Valuable Feedback
Anything that you do–any action that you take–will have an effect, so by acting you’ll be creating feedback with which to work. By acting you’ll either have more information on what works, or you’ll have more information on what doesn’t work. In either case, movement will provide you with real and immediate data on what you did right and where you need to make changes.
Analyze the feedback that you receive, decide what changes need to be made, modify your response, and act once again. This constant acting and tweaking based on an analysis of the outcome that you’re getting will accelerate your learning process a lot more than sitting down with yet another manual without actually implementing what you’re learning.
Conclusion
We know, of course, that the culprit is not the latest book on “How to Be a Writer” lying on our nightstand, or the latest e-seminar we’ve just subscribed to. The reason we don’t get started on “the doing stage” of the process is because we’re afraid. We’re afraid of failing, afraid of not knowing, afraid of criticism, afraid that if we mess up we’ll never get a second a chance . . . and the list goes on and on.
In order to succeed we have to put ourselves out there. Julia Cameron’s quote below illustrates this well:
“Very often audacity, not talent makes one person an artist and another a shadow artist – hiding in the shadows, afraid to step out and expose the dream to the light, fearful that it will disintegrate to the touch.”
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Thanks for this post. One of the ways I’ve found useful to get myself to take action and finish writing something, when I’m concerned that it’s not good enough or that I don’t have the credibility to write it or something, is to ask what I’m really worried will happen if I write it anyway. Usually I’ll recognize that the worst-case scenario is someone making fun of what I wrote, and it suddenly doesn’t seem as serious — but as long as I don’t look at what the fear is it will seem like I’m going to rip the space-time continuum if I finish.
Hi Mare. This makes good sense. It is a challenge today with so many avenues for receiving information. I struggle with this from reading blogs and splitting my time up between a wide variety of tasks — all things I want to do, not have to do. There is so much to do and take in and it’s fun to learn. But as you say, the real accomplishment takes place with the doing. I thrive on the creativity, the research, the organization, and the writing.
Davinas last blog post..The Quote Effect: Naughty, Nice & Niche Bloggers
Great post, Marelisa! I like numbers so 25-50-25 is a very useful guideline on how much time to devote to each part of a project. I’ll remember this!
Daphnes last blog post..Why You Should Trust Your Instinct
This is so true. I am good at giving excuses. For all sorts of things. And I am fed up with it. So this year I am trying to stop finding excuses and actually doing things. I have that intention, I will give it the attention and I intend to stick to it and do something.
Thanks for the reminder.
Mindful Mimis last blog post..What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
Hi Mare,
This really is a good reminder to “do”! If I honestly look at myself…I can see a lack in the “doing” stage – as much as I don’t want to admit it. Fear…is definitely what holds me back from really doing – and I think it is because I’m “putting myself out there”. In areas where fear isn’t such an issue – it is much easier to jump into the action stage… Okay, you’ve pointed out where I need to focus on!!
Lances last blog post..And The Word Is…
Mare
You’re so right about the fear. It’s not so fearful to read and study and plan, but putting yourself out there is.
Do you think we often we tell ourselves that our excessive research and study is taking action to justify our procrastination? This is something I’ve been working to change. Sometimes it’s difficult because I love to learn through reading. Now I’m practicing learning through doing too like I used to as a kid. I forgotten how much fun it can be to learn this way. Throwing off the need to be expert is quite liberating.
kathys last blog post..A Mother’s Heart
Forget the 80/20 rule – I now live b the 25-50-25 rule!!!
I know that one of the reasons I spend so much time in research is the “fear factor”. The biggest lie I tell myself subconsciously is that if do enough research, I’ll drop the odds of “failure” to zero. The thing is, the only way to drop the odds of failure to zero is to never start the last 50%
Kathy @ Virtual Impaxs last blog post..Twitter Bug on the Loose
You nailed it in the conclusion. Fear keeps many people mired in all kinds of destructive patterns, and that includes research when the researching is done. Edison could have taken 50 years to research how to create a lightbulb, but instead he went out there and starting doing. It took 10,000 tries but hey, imagine he stuck to the library and not the lab? Thanks Mare!
Jays last blog post..The Power of Silence- Part 1
hey marelisa
this is so true: All the information you are taking in has overloaded your circuits. You can’t process it all, sort through it, and figure out what to do first…and not just with information, but life. So much to do or read that we end up doing nothing. I do work better when I set myself on a schedule and not spending too much time doing next to nothing. The doing part is most important when you’re learning.
Naturals last blog post..You Know It’s Time To Give Up Blogging When….
Hi Mare – This is great advice. I guess it’s easy to get bogged down in research to the point that you don’t know where to stop. The folk you mentioned learned & did enough, so they could produce a product that does what it says on the tin.
I like Jay’s Edison example. If he’d spent 50 years researching, we might still be living in darkness.
Hi Chris: That’s a great approach, asking yourself: “What am I afraid is going to happen?” And giving it a name does help reduce the fear.
Hi Davina: I subscribe to a number of blogs on blogging, and they’re great blogs with so much valuable information, that sometimes I just want to sit there going through the archives and learning all I can about blogging. But you know, the best way to learn about blogging is to blog
Hi Daphne: I think numbers are powerful for setting limits
Hi Mimi: That sounds good: 2009 is the “no more excuses” year
Hi Lance: It’s like there’s a stage with a spotlight on it, and you’re preparing yourself to walk into that spotlight but you keep telling yourself: “OK, no wait, let me read a little more on this and make sure I’m really prepared”; “If I read this book then I’m sure I’m going to do a fabulous job when I’m up there”; “Oh, I’m so glad I came across this article. I had no idea about this and might have fallen flat on my face” . . . You do need to prepare, but then you need to stop preparing and just get up there.
Hi Kathy: Yes, I definitely think that “read this article”, and “sign up for this e-mail course”, and “buy this book” all look like action. After all, there’s a lot of verbs in there
But after a while we’re just deluding ourselves: we’re taking action, but it’s no longer the right type of action. I love reading too, and I love making summaries of what I’m learning. So I have to tell myself: OK; enough theory, now put it into practice.
Not just fear, but perfectionism can get in the way. I have several ideas for my blog that are in the “analysis paralysis” stage . . . time to move on!
Vintage Mommys last blog post..A Big Milestone and a Small Milestone
Hi Kathy (Virtual Impax): I know what you mean. More information gives us more of a sense of control. But if you think about it, it doesn’t matter how much you know: you’re never in control of the outcome.
Hi Jay: I think Edison is a perfect example: it’s not failure, it’s feedback you can learn from. And the only way to get that feedback is by acting.
Hi Natural: I’ve definitely suffered from circuit overload. When I was in law school sometimes I would study so much for an exam that I would forget basic information like my ATM number. I’m getting better at not overloading my circuits though
Hi Cath: I guess it’s about having enough self-mastery that you know when to say: “I’ve done the research, I’ve applied the knowledge and gotten good results, and now I’m ready to share what I’ve learned with others.”
Hi Ann: You’re right about perfectionism, but I think that perfectionism is actually fear of failure in disguise. Nothing can ever be perfect. There’s nothing you can do to prevent others from finding fault with something you’ve done. That’s why they say to strive for excellence and not for perfection.
I agree with Ann about perfectionism, and I agree with you that perfectionism is fear of failure. I often think “analysis paralysis” is just an excuse. It’s not the information overload that holds us back. We CHOOSE to overload ourselves with information instead of taking action.
Action does seem to be the key to progress.
Now, I am going to go and audaciously work on guitar practice, (well after I go see if there are any new commnets to answer on my blog.)
Jannies last blog post..A happier ending
Hey, thanks for the link. The way I’ve started thinking about this is by using a metaphor for breathing: you can’t breathe in and out at the same time. Most of us knowledgeworkers, though, spend a lot of time breathing in (taking in information) and not enough time breathing out. It’s balancing the flow of air that’s critical.
I just realized upon rereading it that I’m basically at that point; although I think I’m more 33, 33, 33. The coaching that I do counts in all parts which diffuses my 50% a bit.
Vered said it best. It’s true that I tend to overload myself with info before diving in and as a result, I scare myself to death from all the info that I’ve gathered. Now my wife is different. She dives right in and learn on the process as a result, she gets more things done.
Mare,
I have a post sitting in my drafts – about how my happiness seems to be tied to the balance of my input and output. Too much consumption brings me down – and inaction is more tiring than action.
But yes, wanting to be perfect is a crazy obsession – it kills me. To overcome that, I started using Remember the Milk – using the GTD philosophy – and i give myself deadlines – so I continue to act while I consume.
On the same note, that is exactly why I love commenting on blogs – it is active while reading is passive. Loved your ideas here !
Mayas last blog post..Preparing to Believe in Yourself: The Science of Ditchiness
Another great article, and absolutely true. There are times when people get so bogged down in stuff that they become totally inactive and don’t do anything. Every once in awhile I’ll start to fall into that trap, doing way more research than what’s needed to get things done, but then I’ll decide enough is enough and finally produce something.
Then again, you’ve seen my blog, so I’m never stagnant for long. lol
Mitchs last blog post..My Favorite Eighteen Blog Posts Of 2008
What a inspiring post!
I want to get 25-50-25 tattooed on my hand now…
Christophers last blog post..Twins Born On Different Days, Years
Hi Vered: Yes, we forget the information is there for our convenience and we “let” it take over. I think once you know enough to be able to articulate a concrete action you can take to implement what you just learned, you should take that step.
Hi Jannie: Without action our ideas die. You go be audacious now (I’ll do the same)
Hi Charlie: I’ve heard of the breathing in and out metaphor as it relates to allowing yourself to receive from others. There are people who are very good at giving to others, but somehow not good at receiving. Life is about both, like breathing is about giving and receiving. I’m glad that you’re already applying a ratio that works out well for you
Hi Chris: That’s another negative aspect to accumulating too much info: it gets scary because you become overwhelmed by the minutia. Follow your wife’s lead
Hi Maya: That’s interesting: your happiness level is related to having a proper balance between learning and doing. I used to be a perfectionist, but now I’m more of a “just get going” person.
Hi Mitch: Yes, I have noticed from your blog that you do get going
Hi Christopher: How about an index note posted up where you can see it that says 25-50-25
That’s a great last line – “Very often audacity, not talent makes one person an artist and another a shadow artist – hiding in the shadows, afraid to step out and expose the dream to the light, fearful that it will disintegrate to the touch.”
I’ve been guilty of just that. I jump from project to project for fear of being judged. The only way we will ever get awesome is by putting ourselves out there and learning from our wins and failures.
Karl Staib – Work Happy Nows last blog post..How Does Google Create a Great Atmosphere?
Mares, great article and very timely for me. I am working on a new writing project that came to me in December and the paranormal genre of it means I am doing lots of research and brainstorming to build the slightly altered ‘world’ in which the characters live. This is all well and good, but reading this article it occurs to me that I am in danger of getting too stuck in research and brainstorming/planning, and maybe some of the details would naturally be fleshed out if I did more writing. Even if what I wrote didn’t get used, it would have me producing work and maybe I could figure some details out organically.
So, I’m off to do some long hand writing now and see what the characters have to tell me about themselves.
Cheers
Kelly
Hi Karl: I guess that’s why they say that those who can’t do are critics. It’s so easy to look at others’ work and evaluate it; but to be the one up on the stage, that’s the tough part.
Hi Kelly: I do think that once you’ve gotten to the point in the research where you understand the subject matter, you can start writing and let the characters talk to you, as you point out. It doesn’t mean that once you start writing you can’t continue to do research as necessary, but then the research feeds the activity of writing instead of being a preliminary step to doing.
This is a great break from the 80/20 rule, and this one has its own value. It sends the right message about usage of time, as one that uses this rule will notice when they are spending too much time researching, as they will realize that they didn’t plan on spending doubly as much time as that in the “doing” phase. Your point about the culprit not being a book, or other item, that we have laying around, is a good reminder to those who keep thinking to themselves thoughts such as: “when will I finish that darn book?”.
Armen Shirvanians last blog post..Making Use of New Year’s Momentum
Well said. I find that I’m not applying enough what I know. In fact, I’ve every intention of putting some of the self-help techniques I’ve learned previously into more practice for year 2009.
Tie me to the chair if you find out that I’m buying a new expensive program or software. I have enough to keep myself occupied for a good many months with old stuff that I already have bought and not taken much action.
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Past Life Memories In Hokkaido
I’ve noticed the same thing, too – there comes a point when you just have to start. Then when you do, the next step to take sort of unfolds before you.
That’s a great quote about audacity – I see it all the time with musicians. Some of them organise lots of gigs for themselves when they aren’t that great, while others who are better, don’t.
Cheers, Mare!
Robins last blog post..5-Year Plan For This Blog
Hi Armen: Exactly. And I think that you could even take it a step further and say that you should apply this for each segment you read: read a chapter from a how-to manual, spend an equal amount of time looking for concrete examples of what you just learned, and then spend twice that amount of time implementing.
Hi Evelyn: It’s easy to start buying one of those programs after the other, isn’t it? They all look so interesting. But you’re right, it’s not just about listening to the program and learning something new, it’s about applying it so that it becomes a part of our life.
Hi Robin: And I bet the ones without so much talent but who constantly put themselves out there do better than the more talented ones that hold back.
This is great information.
I like the ratio you have presented. You’re right, the research stage can get out of hand.
It’s really interesting that Leo and Naomi got their information from the internet. It’s astounding. What they accomplished, Leo with his writing and Naomi with creating that e-book exemplifies being a doer.
Bamboo Forest – PunIntendeds last blog post..Our Identities Finally Revealed
Submitted to Digg.
Bamboo Forest – PunIntendeds last blog post..Our Identities Finally Revealed
Love the quote and the system. Now we know how you produce so many high-quality articles. Well done.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Works last blog post..Be Authentic and Grow Rich
I did work on guitar an hour again today, not the best practice ever, but I guess some days are better than others. Just have to get back on the horse again tomorrow. : )
Jannies last blog post..Notes to self
Marelisa, another great post. I am working on Barbara’s Twitter list right now and your 35 ideas post. I read until an idea pops in my mind and then I go and try it on. I then write….I actually find that I am doing my research often in the pre-editing stage, then editing ( which has been rather a sloppy dance lately) and finally post.
I am finding that I am getting 5-10 ideas per idea on the post. That means I am going too slowly in my mind. I tried to do my own tweetdeck trial install, that just wasted my time, I did not have enough information from my IT person. I did recognize when to stop and move to another idea until I can consult.
People are very fresh these days…I am having trouble keeping up
Patricias last blog post..After Math
It took me over a year just to launch Green and Chic. I spent soooo much time researching and learning and I still made a great deal of mistakes along the way. I find once I start taking steps, everything falls into place as long as I keep moving ahead.
Carlas last blog post..Does Eating Organic Mean Going Broke?
Ha! Yes, index note is probably a better idea than a permanent tattoo…
Christophers last blog post..Beautiful Examples of Tilt-Shift Photography
Hi Bamboo: I think that you can always do some more research in the end if you need it, but we tend to overestimate how much research we really need. I also found it interesting about Leo and Naomi when I read about that on their blogs. Thank you for the digg
Hi Tom: Ah yes, now you know my secret
Hi Jannie: Glad to hear it
Hi Patricia: It sounds like you’re really doing the work necessary for your blog to grow, that’s great!
Hi Carla: When I was just reading about blogging before I had a blog I had trouble organizing all of the information in my mind. But now that I have a blog when I come across something new that interests me I just implement it and learn as I go along.
Hi Christopher: I have it written on an index card
Yay! Action! I’m right with you! I’m all about actually doing things. I like the division of labour and it’s a good reminder for me who tends to jump into the doing with researching or acting enough…
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndromes last blog post..When just surviving is the only choice: Kelly Erickson Interview
Hi Alex: Yep, the actually doing is where it’s at
A lot of great ideas fall short for lack of execution! I’ve been there before too…you get stuck planning and planning that ultimately, very little (if anything), gets done. Sometimes, you just have to go for it! You’ll feel much better when you do! And the process outlined here sounds like a good one to me.
Ricardo Buenos last blog post..WordPress or Typepad? A Poll & Upcoming Podcast!
Hi Ricardo: And ideas are so much clearer when you start to execute them. I was just looking over an e-book I bought awhile back on blogging. I remember when I read it the first time everything sounded so foreign and difficult to apply. Now as I re-read it I was thinking: I do all of this, I can’t believe I thought this was complicated