Why am I doing this?
I am completely incapable of learning something new and not feeling the urge to write about it.
This has been most evident in my hobbies1, but lately I’ve felt the urge when it comes to certain tech and productivity related topics. Part of this is probably because I’m a bit of an insufferable know-it-all and I can’t seem to resist occasions when I can speak from a position of authority. However, over time I’ve come to realize that a big part of this is that the process of writing is beneficial to me.
When I write up something it forces me to organize my thoughts and think more deeply about what I’ve learned than I would otherwise. If it’s something from a class or a book, it forces me to take better notes (or to take notes, period) and to engage more with the subject matter. Just about anyone would probably be better off taking good notes and doing some review/organization afterwords. Most of them don’t necessarily feel the need to make that process public. But for me, at least, a key part of the motivation to follow through on those things is the fact that it will be out there for all the world to see. Hence, this blog.
In short, the reason I’m doing this is because writing about something I learn helps me learn about it better. I’m no productivity guru2. I have no ambitions of becoming the next Shawn Blanc or David Allen. Consider this more of a journey of self-improvement, and if you’re on that journey too, consider me a fellow student.