Day 13–100 Days Being Visible
Do I write to articulate existing thoughts, or do my thoughts reveal themselves through the act of writing?
After twelve days, I have reached the point that I do not have thoughts about being visible bubbling to the surface, waiting to be expressed. The topic of “being visible” has been on my mind, on and off, all day but has not produced ideas on actions I could take, nor on particular ways to seek new knowledge or share existing knowledge. I can sense in the back of my mind a concern that I am yet to plan just what I need to do to win my ‘being visible’ game. I can sense mild anxiety that I have just allowed fifteen days of work (to be delivered over the next three months) to be entered into my calendar without checking this will not negatively impact my declared being visible game.
Getting more work is generally a good thing; however, as Jim Collins cautions, “good is the enemy of the great”. I am concerned that accepting good work (that two years ago would have been great work that challenged me to be visible at a new level) might now protect me from stepping up to ‘being visible’ in a new way and doing the work I now really want to do. Work that I consider to be ‘great’ work. Work that requires me to win gold in the ‘being visible’ game.
I am cautioned. Tomorrow I will revisit my calendar and review my capacity. Knowing this is enough for today. I also note that I spent the day well, mostly with family and friends. My experience was more of ‘not hiding’ than taking courageous steps to be visible. I had moments when I could have remained alone with my book and coffee but instead sought the company of my family and friends. I am satisfied with a day well spent.
Knowledge
I sat down to write today with nothing to say. I remembered an article I read a couple of years ago that questioned whether we write to articulate existing thoughts or whether our thoughts come into existence through the act of writing. I choose to write and see what thoughts emerged in the process.
“The philosopher Daniel Dennett in 1991 quoted E M Forster’s quip ‘How do I know what I think until I see what I say?’, affirming that ‘we often do discover what we think … by reflecting on what we find ourselves saying.’” Quoted by Eli Alshanetsky in his article “Thoughts into Words, Here’s the paradox of articulation: are you excavating existing ideas, or do your thoughts come into being as you speak.”
Progress
I have at least written and met my minimum criteria for being visible. I am establishing a practice and developing a habit—progress enough for today.
13/13/100 (Number of days goals met/ number of days into project/ 100)
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