#51 - Why I Write This
Isolated, making space, and an island
Aren’t you supposed to be running a business? You might wonder, as you see this pop in to your inbox each week.
Well… Err, yes… I’m trying to. I might stutter in response.
In fact that's precisely why I write this. Let me explain…
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Isolated
Before we get to that allow me to take you Helgoland, a tiny island in the North Sea. In 1925.
Werner Heisenberg was on holiday. The isolation was an attempt to cure his hay fever. History does not record if he was successful to this end but he had a remarkable trip for another reason.
Heisenberg was a 23 year old physicist. The field going through a renaissance with Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr starring. Yet the next leap came not from these greats, but our young protagonist.
Whilst Heisenberg recuperated, inspiration struck. I won’t go into the science. It’s over my head. But that breakthrough led to his Uncertainty Principle. At 23 Heisenberg laid the foundations for Quantum Mechanics. It's a field that baffles scientists to this day and will play a huge part in what is to come.
The lesson here is that breakthroughs come when the mind wanders. They come when we make the space.
Making Space
This newsletter does forces me to make space for my mind to wander. I might not be revolutionising physics but each week I'm faced with the challenge of creation.
In years gone by I’d spill out the office at 6pm on a Friday and head straight to the pub. Between 4 and 16 hours of carnage would ensue and I’d limp into the weekend. I’d barely recover before Monday morning was upon me.
But now? Yesterday- Friday evening- I didn’t know what to write about. So I took myself off for a walk. I spent 45 minutes wandering around Camden. Ideas came and went. As I rounded the corner to home good old Werner Heisenberg popped into my head. Ah yes. I thought. That’s it.
Today- Saturday- I've made the time to write it. But it's not simply that it keeps me out of trouble each weekend- although there's no denying that. In these mind wandering session I have the chance to reflect.
An Island
I didn’t have that time before. Life was just a constant stream of activity. If I continued the same behaviour today I shudder to think what would have happened. Unplugged might not have got started at all.
Work expands to fill the time available. If I didn’t write this each week the time would be squandered. But by having this task I make the space.
Like Heisenberg, each week I find a little island so I can collect my thoughts. It gives me the chance to take what's swirling around my head and examine it, free of distraction. It’s rather wonderful.
My Week in Books📚
Pour Your Heart Into It by Howard Schultz
The Starbucks story. Quite the ride. Today Starbucks seems synonymous with consumerism but behind the scenes they are rather remarkable. They’re pioneers in many areas. Much to be admired.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Dark indeed. Fiction but loosely based on Conrad’s own experiences in colonial Africa. Harrowing in parts but a masterfully written book.
I’ll be updating the books I’ve read this year here. Any recommendations? Let me know!
A Final Thought 💡
“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.”
- Peter Drucker