Pyramid

I spoke at Columbia Business School last week and went through four of our Methods - Sell the Position, Problems and Opportunities, Personal Venn Diagram, and Rivers and Dams.

I’ve spoken to MBA folks (and been one) before, so I included one more method that isn’t mine, the Life Force Pyramid. I included it because the big secret about MBA students is that most of them have no clue what they want to do with their lives. Applying for and getting an MBA is a great distraction for high achievers and makes them think that this will help them figure out what they want. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t.

Anyway, I get feedback forms after these talks and the thing people were most excited about was the Life Force Pyramid. Coincidentally, when Tacklebox founders in the program are struggling with direction, I push them towards this, too. It’s undefeated.

I’d described something similar to our founders for years but recently an alum sent me this, saying it was a tighter version of what I’d discussed. Heads up, Jonah Hill is going to randomly show up and pull things away from the more interesting guy. But the pyramid is laid out simply and effectively:

Startups are all consuming, from a time and mental perspective. Especially when you’ve got a job. Focusing on the pyramid takes time but dramatically increases the effectiveness of the hours you spend on your idea. It’ll create clearer thinking and crisper, more creative strategy.

The outline is simple:

Body - sleep, eat, and work out every day.

People - spend time speaking with people about things that aren’t your work or your startup each day.

Self - journal to allow your unconscious to unload. The journal is the key to all of this - a practice of emptying your mind each day so that it’s ready to take on new ideas and make connections again.

I have a notebook on my pillow and each night spend 1 minute recapping body/people from the day, and making sure I’ve got both on the schedule the next day. Then, 5 minutes writing about the day. Couldn’t be simpler, and makes sure the pyramid stays a priority. And, emptying your mind before you go to sleep is useful - I’ll empty stuff out, then pick a problem I want my subconscious to chew on over night and think about it right before I go to bed.