2x2: Managing a thousand Ideas

Hello friends. Welcome to this week's edition of the 2x2 Newsletter — links and ideas for leaders and creative folks. As you read this, I’m probably getting my camping gear ready. One of my best friends recently turned 40, and this weekend we are going to a lakeside campsite for a few days of kayaking, photography, and open-fire cooking. I’ll be taking my camera (of course), and I am very much looking forward to getting some photos around sunrise and sunset. I’ll be sure to share them with you all later. Anyway. As always, below you will find a couple of resources, tools, diversions, books, tools, toys, or other types of recommendations for you to check out; and then, secondly, are a couple of ideas, stories, or tips from me. Check this out 1: [Building a Second Brain]( This is Tiago Forte’s brand-new book all about idea management. For creators and knowledge workers, your ability to manage your ideas is perhaps one of the most valuable career skills there is. My copy of BASB arrived a few days ago and I am eager to dive into it. 2: [4A Framework for unlimited ideas]( Speaking of ideas… here’s a great tweet thread from Dickie Bush about how to create thousands of topics from a single idea. Something to think about 1: [Whole Brain Creativity]( The brain is far more complex than simply having its left and right sides. Dickie’s aforementioned post has some great insights into the various buckets you can pull from in order to create thousands of topics around one single idea. And as you understand more about whole brain creativity, you can also learn how to communicate to others in ways they will connect with. 2: Do you need a Stop Doing List? If you’re feeling like you’re not making meaningful progress toward a goal, or if your day is just filled with more distractions than it should be, then perhaps you need a “Stop Doing” list. What is getting in your way from the results you want? If it’s things within your control, can you stop doing them? Some examples: - Stop unlocking my iPhone before 8:30 am. - Stop bringing my iPhone into the office. - Stop checking my email when I’m bored. - Stop eating snacks after 7:30 pm. - Stop checking social media before lunchtime. - Stop spending money on such-and-such category. - Stop … ? What would you put onto your stop-doing list? — Shawn P.S. This Tuesday. Live with Ugmonk’s, Jeff Sheldon to talk about [running a small business + doing creative work](. [In-Depth App Training for Power Users]( To unsubscribe, click [here](. Blanc Media, 714 Main St., Grandview, MO 64030, United States