Dien Rice
August 7, 2021, 09:09 PM
If you've been near the radiation field of a TV in the last 18 years, you've probably heard of the TV show, "Mythbusters"...
Adam Savage is the co-host of Mythbusters, and he's a specialist on model special effects - or, as the experts like to call them - "loud explosions"...
How did he get so successful?
One secret, according to him, is his checklist technique... Which helps him to actually complete things...
Most people write out a checklist, and then either leave the checkbox blank (if it hasn't been completed yet), or check the box (if it's been completed)...
"That's for amateurs!" says Adam Savage (well, in my head, anyway, I don't think he said that in real life)...
What he does is a three-part checkbox process...
- If the task hasn't been started, or barely been started, he leaves it blank
- If it's completed, he fills in the checkbox
- If it's partly completed, he half-fills in the checkbox...
Here's what a half-filled in checkbox and a filled checkbox could look like...
◢ ■
or maybe more simply, a diagonal line, and a cross, like this...
[/] [X]
I've started to do this myself!
Why use "half-filled" checkboxes?
Often, you don't get a task completely done, but you are partially done... This lets you see that instantly...
It is also more motivational. You can still feel a little dose of contentment by having a task partly done, rather than feeling as empty as the empty checkbox you're staring at...
Here's the article where Adam Savage talks about this, for those who want more...
Adam Savage on Lists, More Lists, and the Power of Checkboxes
https://www.wired.com/story/adam-savage-lists-more-lists-power-checkboxes/
Best wishes!
Dien
Adam Savage is the co-host of Mythbusters, and he's a specialist on model special effects - or, as the experts like to call them - "loud explosions"...
How did he get so successful?
One secret, according to him, is his checklist technique... Which helps him to actually complete things...
Most people write out a checklist, and then either leave the checkbox blank (if it hasn't been completed yet), or check the box (if it's been completed)...
"That's for amateurs!" says Adam Savage (well, in my head, anyway, I don't think he said that in real life)...
What he does is a three-part checkbox process...
- If the task hasn't been started, or barely been started, he leaves it blank
- If it's completed, he fills in the checkbox
- If it's partly completed, he half-fills in the checkbox...
Here's what a half-filled in checkbox and a filled checkbox could look like...
◢ ■
or maybe more simply, a diagonal line, and a cross, like this...
[/] [X]
I've started to do this myself!
Why use "half-filled" checkboxes?
Often, you don't get a task completely done, but you are partially done... This lets you see that instantly...
It is also more motivational. You can still feel a little dose of contentment by having a task partly done, rather than feeling as empty as the empty checkbox you're staring at...
Here's the article where Adam Savage talks about this, for those who want more...
Adam Savage on Lists, More Lists, and the Power of Checkboxes
https://www.wired.com/story/adam-savage-lists-more-lists-power-checkboxes/
Best wishes!
Dien
