In his book How to Work for Yourself, author Bryan Cohen draws from his own successes and offers practical strategies to overcome common obstacles like time constraints, lack of energy, and misplaced priorities. This guide promises to equip readers with optimized techniques for planning and executing their own side projects—be it a business, blog, book, or other creative pursuit. By implementing Cohen’s tried-and-tested methods, readers can expect to unlock their full potential, achieve greater personal satisfaction, and potentially discover new avenues for income and career growth. Whether you’re a aspiring entrepreneur, writer, or creative professional, this book aims to set you on a fast track to turning your spare-time ideas into tangible accomplishments.
The book offers 105 helpful tips for working better. Here is a sampling of twelve of them:
Keep your phone, tablet and laptop off as long as possible throughout your day
“If you can keep the phone off or in your pocket when you’re walking instead of scrolling through who knows what, you’re likely to walk faster and keep your mind clearer. Keeping your tablet and laptop off, or at least turning the Wi-Fi off while you’re getting ready for work in the morning or going to bed, can likewise keep you focused on the task at hand.“
Spend a three-day weekend in a library
“Getting three straight days to work on your project can be priceless if you have the motivation to do it. If you spend your three days in a library, you’ll also have access to all the research materials you need for your project. The destination does not have to be a library, but I do recommend that it’s somewhere other than your home.“
Replace butter, salt and oil with spices
“[R]eplace unhealthy cooking items with no-calorie, high-nutrient spices… My favorite spices to work with include black pepper, red pepper, curry, oregano, thyme and rosemary.“
Pretend you’re conducting an interview with a co-worker, family member or friend
“I gained a lot more energy out of my exchanges by pretending to be an interviewer instead of a railroader. I asked questions in an effort to learn more about my co-workers, family members and friends. Imagine my surprise when I felt much better than I ever did blabbering about whatever came to mind. Try asking at least three questions with people you typically railroad and see how it makes you feel.“
Interrupt your negative thoughts with music, humor or positivity
“When I catch myself thinking negative thoughts, I tackle the problem in one of three ways. I play music or I sing something out loud to interrupt the thought. I try laughing, looking up a funny video or thinking about a funny moment from my life. Lastly, I turn the negative thought on its head by focusing on the other side of the coin.“
Sign-up for a 5K, triathlon or bike race and train for it
“While you’re gearing up for the race, you’ll also get in much better shape and increase your energy levels.“
See one live form of artistic expression at least once a month
“Whenever I feel like I can’t generate new ideas, I go to a play or an improv show. By the time I get back home, my mind is usually buzzing with energy. If you aren’t a theatre person, take in a concert, go to a museum or watch a dance performance. As long as it’s live and you aren’t staring at a screen the whole time, you are likely to get a creative boost out of the process.“
Write down or say something completely nonsensical
“Mick Napier, the director of Chicago’s Annoyance Theater. In the exercise, he suggests pointing at items randomly and saying words out loud that have nothing to do with the object. For example, pointing at a door and saying, ‘cat,’ followed by pointing at a trashcan and saying, ‘twinkle, twinkle.’ If you notice yourself starting to create a pattern, like naming three animals in a row, make sure to change it up. I think you’ll get a lot of mileage by trying this out loud or on paper. Use actual words or made-up gibberish and write or speak for at least a few minutes.“
Write a review of 30 artistic performances in 30 days
“Writing a review after you see a performance is like asking yourself the question, ‘Why do I feel the way I do about this performance?’ Seeing 30 different performances in a single month can be a challenge. You’ll want to see as many of the performances for free as possible through free readings, asking to visit the rehearsal of an improv troop, signing up to be an usher at a concert or play or otherwise volunteering for the performance. After you see a performance, write down your thoughts about it as soon as possible. This review project may help you to learn more about creative expression and teach you about the essence of your own creativity.“
Give yourself a 30-day challenge related to your project
“Create a 30-day challenge related to your project. If it’s a book, write a certain amount of words per day. If it’s a business, make five cold calls about your company each day for 30 days. If it’s a blog, create a new blog posts every day for 30 days. Whatever your project is, find a way to incorporate the 30-day challenge and you’ll make major progress in one month’s time.“
Write down all your debts, including interest rates, and devise a plan to tackle the scariest one first
“Go through all of your credit card and loan accounts to determine how much debt is in each account and at what interest rate. Perhaps it’s not even as bad as you thought. Maybe it’s worse. Regardless, you need to know where you stand. Once you have accumulated all that information, you can begin making a payment plan.“
Trade off extra time working on your project for extra time helping your partner with his or her passions
“It’s important that you put a deal in place to make that time up to your partner. One of the best ways to do that is to help your significant other with his or her passions. Repay the sacrifice your partner made by making a sacrifice of time and energy right back in return.“
Disclosure: Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links.
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