The expectations of our life guide us; in fact, “every deliberate action” you take is based somewhat on a presumption of how the world around you will react. ¹ Ev Chapman refers to these expectations as “outcomes” in her excellent blog article, “The Problem with ‘Processing’ Your Notes.” ² Explaining that “whatever outcome you aim for (either implicit or not) you automatically start to optimize your behavior” around that expectation. Ev uses an excellent example of her expectation of having “inbox zero every day” and how that expectancy creates the basis for her deliberate actions of grinding through the “processing of notes” associated with that outcome.
After all, expectations of reaching our desired outcome is a form of faith. Faith in ourselves of receiving what we may not yet see (result) but which we believe our actions and exertions will help us obtain. Would we ever sow if we never intended to reap? ³ If we intend to maintain a “sparknote” inbox of zero, as Ev says, “you automatically start to optimize your behavior around what you want to achieve.” This expectation becomes a problem when it conflicts with other desirable outcomes such as writing and “thinking deeply, being curious & developing ideas.”
Thinking deeply about something is “the very essence of and the most difficult thing to do in business and in life.” ⁴ Therefore, when we have conflicting expectations, we intrinsically default to the least difficult task.
Ev’s elegant solution to this conflict was to “flip the switch,” raising one expectation (I will think deeply, be curious, and develop ideas) above the other desired outcome (I will maintain a sparknote inbox of zero) based on her priorities of writing content.
It sounds simple; however, finding one (or more) expectations that may be tripping up all our other desired outcomes is challenging. After all, staying organized, diligent, and “on top of things” is what every management consultant recommends we do to create the space necessary in our minds to be creative in the first place. So, “Flip the switch,” on an outcome or two in your life; push back on some of your expectations about how the world will react and see if, like Ev, you can’t create your own little space to be your most creative self.
Written February 25, 2023
Footnotes:
(1) Weick, Karl E., and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe. Managing the Unexpected: Resilient Performance in an Age of Uncertainty. Second ed., Jossey-Bass, 2007. p.25.
(2) Chapman, E. (2020). The Problem With Processing Your Notes: What To Do Instead. Medium. Retrieved from https://evchapman.medium.com/the-problem-with-processing-your-notes-what-to-do-instead-cdb27e5b19c8
(3) Lundwall, N. B. (n.d.). A compilation containing the Lectures on faith. Salt Lake City, UT, UT: Bookcraft.
(4) Kekich, David. “Think! At least Once a Week — GTD Connect Library.”