See You Later, Alligator
Or- Paddle your own canoe.
Thanks for joining the tribe dedicated to “Getting better at getting better.” T.R.W.R. is now read in 46 states and 45 countries.
This post will be arriving in your inbox on Thursday, 9 November, so I need to take a moment to wish an early happy 248th birthday to all U.S. Marines past and present, and echo the words of the Commandant, General Eric Smith who closed his birthday message with: “Protect your fellow Marines and our shared legacy. Happy Birthday Marines!”
November 11th is, of course, Veteran’s Day. I want to thank all of my fellow veterans for their service. Saturday is your day, enjoy it, and remember that service to our nation and its people doesn’t have to stop when you remove the uniform.
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Think.
There is a saying that is common in the Marine Corps, but I think it is fairly well-known everywhere, “I’m dealing with the alligator closest to the boat.” While this conjures images (at least in my head) of a harried Marine standing in a shaky canoe beating back the horde of approaching alligators one at a time, it simply means that the person in question is taking care of projects based on due date, or perceived importance.
The problem with this technique is, of course, that if you are using your paddle for a club, you aren’t using it to paddle. This means that you are stationary among the presumably ever-growing population of increasingly pissed-off alligators.
Here’s the thing. You’re in the canoe. The alligators are in the water. Unless they are trying to get in the canoe with you, leave them the hell alone.
General Eisenhower recognized this and developed his namesake matrix.
There are three types of alligators circling your canoe. First are the urgent and important, they are the ones trying to climb in. They obviously need to be dealt with.
The other two varieties (and these are far more common) are the urgent but not important, and the neither urgent nor important. Unfortunately, these are the ones we spend the most time worrying about, looking for, and thumping needlessly.
Focusing on the unimportant is a common malady even among the high performers I coach — the compulsion to pummel alligators who don’t need it. It is enticing to believe that we are just one big push away from breaking through the gathered mass of unimportant alligators, but my experience has shown that there will always be more. This has to do with the Reticular Activating System we discussed last week — You find what you are looking for.
Sure, smashing alligators like a game of Whack-a-Mole feels like an accomplishment, but it doesn't lead to progress. The only way forward is to paddle your canoe.
It’s like Stephen Covey said, “Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant.”
Focus on the wildly important and let me know how it goes.
Read.
This is a phenomenal substack I recently got turned on to. As someone concerned with both strength and endurance with a love for rucking and multiple outdoor sports, this article by
covers everything you need to know to help optimize your training.
Write.
Last week I coined the term ‘organization through subtraction’ which seemed to strike a note with quite a few of you.
Your journaling assignment (if you choose to accept it) is to make a list of the non-important / non-unurgent activities that you engage in regularly and ask yourself, Why?
After you subtract the unimportant, apply the time saved to the things that will move you forward (paddling your canoe).
Repeat.
Words of wisdom from those who said it best.
- Paddle Your Own Canoe - Sarah Bolton, 1851
Voyager upon life's sea,
To yourself be true,
And whatever your lot may be,
Paddle your own canoe.
Never, though the winds may rave,
Falter or look back;
But upon the darkest wave
Leave a shining track.
Paddle your own canoe.
Nobly dare the wildest storm,
Stem the hardest gale,
Brave of heart and strong of arm
You will never fail.
When the world is cold and dark,
Keep your aim in view;
And toward the beacon work,
Paddle your own canoe. ...
..Would you crush the giant wrong,
In the world's free fight?
With a spirit brave and strong,
Battle for the right.
And to break the chains that bind
The many to the few
To enfranchise slavish mind,-
Paddle your own canoe.
Nothing great is lightly won,
Nothing won is lost,
Every good deed, nobly done,
Will repay the cost.
Leave to Heaven, in humble trust,
All you will to do:
But if succeed, you must
Paddle your own canoe.
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See you next Thursday!
You’re speaking my language here, John. Thanks for this! And happy birthday, brother!
Thanks again for your service! Happy Veteran's Day!