Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.
Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.
”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.
BlogsKnow your smokeMerlin Mann | Apr 12 2008Is your car smoking from the exhaust pipe? Reader wemerson was kind enough to correct me on my metaphor in the previous post about tracking down the sources of whining in your life. Turns out that my use of "white smoke" was incorrect. Many thanks -- and I made the correction. To share the information and prevent future slightly-appropriate-metaphor-makers from repeating my error, here's how to tell what's wrong with your car based on the color of smoke coming out of your tailpipe. From trustmymechanic.com:
Related: in the event that a conclave at the Sistine Chapel has been voting on who the next Pope shall be, here's what Wikipedia says to watch for in terms of smoke (emphasis added): read more »5 Comments
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Whining, Blue Smoke & the Mechanics of Getting UnstuckMerlin Mann | Apr 10 2008I've been working on a bunch of (non-43 Folders-related) stuff lately, but I started feeling that hankering to come back and write something new here. To get the engine started, I went through some old posts and turned up a few (oddly self-inspiring) ideas that I want to re-share. The topic? "Getting unstuck."
I guess all I'd add -- since it's on my mind today -- is that I'm learning how much it pays to listen whenever you hear yourself mentally whining. read more »POSTED IN:
Href affection for March 31stMerlin Mann | Mar 31 2008
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Topless meetings for team focus?Merlin Mann | Mar 25 2008When it's hard to stay focused, try going 'topless' to meetings - San Jose Mercury News Our good pals over at Adaptive Path have been experimenting with banning laptops and other communication devices in meetings (something I've supported in the past). From today's Mercury News:
[via Dan Saffer] The Question to YouHas your team tried some version of topless meetings? How did it work for you? Anybody tried it and given up? How did the meetings change without the toys being on? POSTED IN:
Creative Constraints: Going to Jail to Get FreeMerlin Mann | Mar 24 2008A Brief Message: No Resistance Is Futile Paul Ford has been posting six-word Twitter updates for a few weeks, and now he's also created the magnum opus of six-word criticism: sexological reviews of the 763 mp3s in this year's SxSW torrent. Writing on (the 200-words-or-less site) A Brief Message, Paul talks about how the constraint changed his approach and his thinking:
Yes. Constraints. As Paul shows, constraints get you thinking about the creative process in a whole new way. Me? I ♥ constraints. 30 seconds. 5 things. Less than 140 characters. In fact: Twitter's making me a stronger writer. I think harder about how to say more using fewer and shorter words. Nothing beats hitting the Twoosh. (140 chars) Let's close with a favorite quote on creative constraint from Anne Lamott's wonderful Bird by Bird. She explains that she keeps a one-inch-square picture frame on her desk to remind her of "short assignments:"
Well put. (And only 17 characters north of the Twoosh.) The Question to YouGot a good example of a creative constraint at work? POSTED IN:
MBW 81: Throbbers, excess moisture, Johnson Rods, and Male Answer SyndromeMerlin Mann | Mar 20 2008MacBreak Weekly 81: Click the Throbber
Here's a direct MP3 download of MBW 81. Very fun episode this week if I do say so. Andy and I nerded out a lot, there was much jollity, we worked blue a few times, and my (repeat) pick o' the week is SafariStand -- specifically for the amazing "Copy Link as Markdown" and "Copy Link HTML Tag" functionality. Dammit: go pimp your Safari! Update, 2008-03-20 16:29:45 Next Week: Patrick Wilson from WeezerOh, man. How did I forget this? Next week, MacBreak Weekly's special guest will be Pat Wilson, the drummer from Weezer and The Rentals and the multi-instrumental leader of That Special Goodness. Yeah, I know; I can't believe it, either, but he actually asked Leo if he could be on the show. Weird. I wonder if he sent email to the wrong place and actually thinks we're Grammar Girl or something. Anyhow, it's on, and I'm thrilled, because I go way back with Weezer. After the jump's a live video of an old Weezer favorite (which, according to WikiPee, Pat co-wrote), "My Name is Jonas." read more »POSTED IN:
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