Warren has worked in the software industry for a long time, and to this day he still surprises me with offbeat terms used at work.
The strangest is probably “violent agreement,” which means you agree on the outcome but not on the way to get there. As a word nerd, this actually sends chills down my spine (why would anyone put a harsh word like “violent” alongside a peaceful word like “agreement?”).
Photo by certified su via Flickr
This past week he said something else that surprised me, and discussing it led to us making some changes. I’m curious to know what you think about this.
The term is peanut-buttering, and it has to do with spreading your resources evenly instead of effectively.
(Hungry yet?)
Peanut buttering: pp. Spreading the resources of a company or person too thin.
—peanut-butter v.
How peanut butter can kill creativity
Spreading your resources thinly and evenly gives the impression that you are covering a lot of ground. As a nation of multi-taskers and hard workers, this seems like a good idea.
But when you have allocated your precious resources to be broad instead of deep, you cheat yourself (and your family/customers/coworkers/friends). When you choose to “peanut butter” your work, your life, or your relationships, you are dooming them to mediocrity. You can’t be great at anything without nurturing, strengthening, and using your talents.
That means giving special focus and attention in certain areas and limiting or abandoning others. Artists do it. Athletes do it. Successful people in every walk of life do it. Why don’t the rest of us?
What this means for us
If we peanut-butter our travel efforts we stay the same amount of time in each destination and spend an equal amount of money. When we put it in those terms, it is pretty easy to see how ridiculous that would be and makes it easier to apply the same logic to other situations.
We’ve come to the realization that we were more tied to the Monday-Wednesday-Friday posting schedule than we were to delivering quality content. The schedule has dictated our contributions instead of our contributions dictating the schedule.
We don’t feel good about this.
What this means for you
Starting today, this blog will publish once or twice a week with a post about travel, living better, and making your own way in this world. We’ll be asking more questions from you as we explore topics in a deeper way, and we want you to feel at home here in the comments section. Just imagine yourself sitting on our couch after dinner and enjoying a lively conversation about the things we all care about.
(Forget for a moment that we don’t even have a couch anymore. Or a dining room.)
If you want to keep up with what we’re doing between posts, you can always find us on Facebook or on Twitter (Warren or Betsy). To have posts delivered to your feed reader or your email box as soon as they are posted, click here. And you can always email us. We love getting to know you and have learned a lot from you guys.
For more information on going deep instead of broad, check out some of my favorite writers:
- Danielle Laporte at White Hot Truth always tells it like its. In this post she talks about the effort needed to create something meaningful - and why it was okay for her to give up almost everything else temporarily to get it done.
- Seth Godin talks about becoming a linchpin by following your talents and instincts instead of the safety of rules
- The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp continues to inspire people in every field imaginable to hone their craft and deliver their talents to the world.
Where are you spreading the peanut butter too thin in your life?
About Betsy
Bravo Bravo - a great decision. To deepen instead of ‘covering all your bases’ - is a terrific life choice.
Journey on friends.
I love it that we are on the same wavelength today. I just read your post about how balance is bullshit. Same message, different illustrative material.
Just when I finally bought into your “3x a week posting” concept - you go and change it on me!
Seriously, great idea and perfect example of your dedication to living by the seat of your pants - in an orderly way, of course…
Ah, but I knew if I changed up the schedule without announcing why you would ask, so I went proactive on you and threw in a lesson to boot. Cause I’m an over-achiever like that.
I had to do this with my life. It was sort of painful because I had to spend less time hanging out with friends so that I could build the business that I love. I was spreading myself too thin even though it was fun. I had to ask myself “What are you here to do and does your life reflect that?” I realized I was playing small, hiding.
I still get to see friends but the cool thing is that my business is booming, I’m carrying the message more and farther, and my real friends are excited for me.
It’s weird to think of hiding behind fun, or hiding behind something that feels good, but it’s possible!
Thanks for the post. I’ve retweeted it!
Margit
Margit, it has been so awesome watching your business blossom over the last couple of years and see the joy you get from helping teenagers and parents. You were born for the work you do, and I’m so happy you’ve been able to make your mark and help so many people. And you’re right - those of us who love you completely understand and support your dedication to the cause.
Thanks for your constant support and bright smiling face, Betsy. I always feel good around you (and a shout-out to Mr. Betsy as well!)
Schedules are the death of creativity…I know this…I used to be a project manager for 14 years. In those 14 years the creativity in me was sucked out and replaced with Microsoft Project (Warren may like that!). Now, after 4 years living outside of the shadow of conf. rooms and MS Project - my creativity has returned!
I think you make a very good point about peanut buttering (a term I had never heard of before this) when it comes to travel. I really do encourage you to simply stay somewhere and just see what happens. Have a one way ticket and see where it leads you. When I planned my career break, I planned the first 3 months, and the rest was a blank slate - I didn’t even have a plane ticket. Really scary at first, but worth it in the end.
I’ll come sit on your imaginary couch with you any day…I don’t have a couch either…but I can imagine one! Write when you have something good to write. Make it fun, not work. Something I will remind you again of in 6 months when you are on the road and trying to figure out how to balance blogging with travel!