There’s an intersection near my house called “The Star”. A fairly gruesome legend lies behind this sparkly name:
Some 500 years ago, a bunch of pro-socialist peasants decided to revolt against the ruling 1%.
This revolt was soon put down, as tends to happen with these things.
But even after the revolting rabble was scattered back to their villages, the cruel noblemen knew that it was only a matter of time before a new revolt broke out.
So they decided to set an example.
They dragged the shackled, bloodied, and beaten leader of the peasant revolt through the city, to a crossing of four roads.
On each road, there were four snorting stallions.
After putting a red-hot iron crown on the rebel’s head and pinching him with red-hot iron pincers, the noblemen had him tied to the horses.
Each arm and each leg got its own horse.
And then the horses were whipped, until they pulled and strained and ripped the peasant revolt leader in four separate directions.
Hence — The Star.
And you know, metaphorically, I feel a little like that peasant revolt leader these days.
Because I’m being pulled in a bunch of different directions by responsibilities and goals I’ve set for myself:
Completing client work… trying to whip up a social life out of thin air… fulfilling my daily quota of downward dogs and happy child poses… chasing girls… expanding my copywriting business by taking on expensive coaching… writing a couple sets of daily emails… coming up with ideas for lectures I could give at a local school… courting potential new clients… planning an occasional trip to keep myself sane.
I’m not complaining, by the way. I choose to do this to myself. My reasoning is this:
The more work I take on, the more I get accomplished.
Yes, I often don’t get everything done.
And with more responsibilities, the the not-done part increases too.
But by my math, 75% of 200 is bigger than 95% of 100.
Perhaps, if you too are struggling to be fully productive, then this counter-intuitive math can help you in some way.
And if you want advance notice of a copywriting project that’s contributing to my drawing and quartering right now, the consider looking down this path: