‘Twas a simpler time, 2013. I was a couple of years into my ScrumOfOne adventure. The year started with my girlfriend ‘n’ I looking at engagement rings. The Boston Marathon bombing happened, and that same day, after rushing home to find her OK, calmly watching Mad Men after having done her taxes, I asked her to marry me.
2012 was an even simpler time for me. My girlfriend moved in halfway through the year, into a 550 sq. ft. apartment in Boston’s Back Bay, which meant, now that I think about it, the below was written before then. The below was written when I had space to sprawl out notes before conglomerating them onto the back of a business card of a failed venture.
I discovered the below while cleaning the archeological site known as my desk. Holding the business card like a newly discovered Dead Sea Scroll, this artifact revealed how Past-Merrill… really gave a shit. He went through all his notes, archived across journals and Google Docs and physical folders of significance, to squeeze the below onto something portable, ironically to never leave the desk.
Past-Merrill would read the below before hitting the gym, all 23 items.
Past-Merrill would read one item on that card before going to bed.
Here is what was on that card, in all its eagerness and hope.
- shower
- dress as the man I want to be
- Sprintly Press Release
- ritualistic tradition
- Be a man of action every day!
- output something
- will to done
- the 1 thing I accomplish today
- 1 meaningful thing
- 1 thing towards vision
- 1 story (/point) per day
- believe in my daily system each day
- take initiative at start of day to set tone
- do something exciting
- desires have to be burning
- do 1 thing that is intentional action
- live like a millionaire
- each day is my last
- don’t have a fine day
- make waves
- stay in trouble
- Imagine a life where all my time is spent on the things I want to do.
- stop desiring (outside), simply will (r. available)
- night: “There goes another day of my life, never to return again.”
Nowadays I have 2 morning affirmations. Here’s one.
I believe something wonderful is going to happen to me today.
Brian Tracy
Here’s the other, a more personal amalgamation, with a dash of Jordan Peterson at the end.
I am: enough, literally manifesting dreams, standing up straight with my shoulders back.
Present-Day-Merrill ain’t got time to read a 23-item saga each morning like 2012-Merrill did… that guy didn’t have a kiddo waking up a li’l after dawn to play with.
Some of that list useful for ya? Please steal.