🌱 Writing hack from Dr. Seuss

Learn: Dr. Seuss Writing Hack, Effectuation, 2023 Upgrades

Read: 3 min

Hola from Buenos Aires, 

Biggest travel lesson so far = there will be constraints. (Long lines, delays, language barriers, etc)

But realizing with travel, as with life, I can't control all the variables. But I CAN control my reactions. 

(Not having a power adapter is a fun excuse to go exploring to find one.)

So really…

Constraints are opportunities in disguise. 

Therefore we can take it a step further and create our own constraints too. This weekly newsletter constrains me to distill TOP insights into actions for you each week. 

So let’s get to it: 3 brain seeds, 3 minutes. Leggo.

🐱 Constraints 

In 1954 Life magazine published a report on kids’ illiteracy rates. It said kids weren’t learning to read because the books were BORING. (shots fired!)

Publishers didn’t like this. 

One in particular, hit up Dr. Seuss requesting “a story first-graders can’t put down.” And challenged him to do it in under 225 words.

So Dr. Seuss bangs out The Cat and The Hat, using just 236 words (but still losing the bet by 11 words). 

Which prompted his editor to give him another CHALLENGE (aka constraint) to write the next book in just 50 words!

Doc Seuss being the go-getter he is (and only doctor to not go to med school) once again let the constraint GUIDE his creativity. And wrote Green Eggs and Ham using exactly 50 words. 

Some people use constraints as an excuse to STOP. (“I don’t have time/money/resources”)

Others use constraints as an excuse to START. (“oh this will be a fun challenge!”)

Check out this cool video on Dr. Seuss's process.

🛠️ Effectuation 

Effectuation explains the process of how entrepreneurs create new ventures. 

Professor Sarasvathy researched 27 entrepreneurs (each with experience founding successes & failures AND taking at least one public w/ market cap of $250M+).

She found one HUGE difference between the approaches of entrepreneurs vs others:

• Others identify a goal and look for resources to reach the goal

• Entrepreneurs identify the resources they ALREADY HAVE and look for goals to reach with those resources

The latter is effectuation. It's how entrepreneurs create their futures by taking action and making things happen.

Now you're probably thinking, "fancy word bro, how does it actually work?"

I gotchu. Let's tie it together using a real example from above.

Big goals are great for direction.

Small goals are great for ACTION. 

Dr. Seuss wanted to increase child literacy (big goal = direction).

But got started using just 50 words (small goal = action).

Bonus Challenge: Think of a big outcome you want by the end of next year. Now break it down into something small you can do by the end of THIS year. (Hit reply and let me know). 

🤔 Upgrade v.2

While visible constraints can spark action, hidden constraints can limit our actions. These are the artificial constraints we unknowingly carry with us.

“You don't have to travel, but I find extended travel to be a helpful tool for reexamining yourself and the constraints you've artificially placed on your life. It's easy to believe everything has to be done one way if you're always in one place around the same people.” - Tim Ferriss

To avoid this, I like to think of myself as a piece of software. Each year releasing new features and upgrades. 

Mitchell.2022 had some good features as well as a few (okay many) bugs. But excited to roll out a bunch of new upgrades in Mitchell.2023!

What features are you upgrading in v.2023?

Mucho amor, 

Mitchell aka "Dr. Cohen"

Ps. Hotel travel hack