Page 126 - The Magic of Tiny Business

Chapter Seven  Walk to Work (Even If You Work from Home)

to reach the top view. I wasn’t alone; there were hundreds
of us climbing the cliff shear step by precipitous step.

But there were many more people at the bottom
watching, deciding if they wanted to take the risk of hik-
ing up with the chains. Be honest with yourself: Which
group do you choose to be part of?

Choose a New Habit

If you’re feeling stuck in your old ways, start a new habit.
The best way to get out of a practice that may be hindering
you is to replace it with a new one that is enjoyable and
rewarding.1

A friend gave me a sand timer as a gift. I loved how
the sand expired after exactly twenty minutes. I was bored
and looking to reengage a sense of curiosity in my life, so I
decided to use the timer to shift me.

I began to write for exactly twenty minutes a day,
every day, for a year. I sat in the same chair, turned the
timer over, and wrote about whatever came to my mind.
The subject didn’t matter; putting words on paper did. It
wasn’t easy and at times was very uncomfortable.

When the timer finished, I stopped—even if I was
mid-sentence. Keeping to exactly twenty minutes was
important even though sometimes I wanted to continue to
write. By limiting my writing time I stimulated an inter-
est, piqued my curiosity, and created a desire to write
more. Instead of giving myself more than my allotted

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