Garbage In Garbage Out
Garbage in garbage out is a term from computer science relaying how bad input produces bad output. Since computers operate by a series of logical gates, they will process bad input (garbage) the same way they would process a “good” input. This often produces undesired and nonsensical results. More often than not you’ll get an error in modern day systems, but sometimes unpredictable results.
This same concept applies to everything you fill your mind with. If you feed your mind with junk expect your thoughts, and therefore your actions to reflect that. It’s important to feed your mind with good quality information.
You may have not given careful consideration to what you allow to enter your mind. Even your choices of entertainment should be carefully considered. If you’re watching reality TV rather than say reading a science fiction book, the inputs are drastically different regarding how they engage your mind.
Some examples of things I’ve cut from my life that I decided were not useful: daily news, reality TV, and endless hours on social media. I try to limit myself to no more than ten minutes a day on any social media site. Even video games are moderated to no more than a few hours a week these days.
Regarding writing, I make an attempt to read in a variety of genres from both fiction and non-fiction in order to stimulate new ideas.
This quote from Stephen King sums it up pretty well.
You have to read widely, constantly refining (and redefining) your own work as you do so. It’s hard for me to believe that people who read very little (or not at all in some cases) should presume to write and expect people to like what they have written, but I know it’s true. If I had a nickel for every person who ever told me he/she wanted to become a writer but “didn’t have time to read,” I could buy myself a pretty good steak dinner. Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.
source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128239303
Time is naturally at a premium for everyone. I try to read for at least 30 minutes a day with a timer. There is something about reaching that accumulated thirty minutes that makes it reasonable to hit. There are lots of areas where we can squeeze this in: waiting in lines, time between meetings, etc. I find setting the bar low also makes me more likely to do it, plus it makes you feel good when you’ve gone beyond your desired goal.
I try to read books in the following areas:
Fantasy (naturally)
Books about writing
Personal development
Entrepreneurship
Business
Marketing
Science
Finance/Trading
Books outside my areas of interest or expertise (romance, feminism, republicans) This type of practice allows you to see the world with a new lens.
I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do.
— Charlie Munger
I can’t emphasize enough how filtering what goes into my brain and how consciously choosing what I read has affected my thinking. It’s helped me generate new ideas and has helped me to become more curious about the world. I try to always ask myself when spending a good chunk of time “what type of investment am I making now?” It could be an investment in my body via exercise or relationships with spending times with friends and family. That question helps you filter bad uses of your time. Remember: Garbage In = Garbage Out.
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