Content follows form

by | May 30, 2012 | Daily dose | 40 comments

Over time, I’ve come to believe strongly that content follows form. That is, if you go through the motions, get in the right habits, build the right structure, it’s a lot easier to fill that structure with meaningful substance. It almost comes naturally at that point.

Simply put, it’s a lot easier to be the person you want to be if you put on the trappings of that persona. Re-read both my Dress for Success posts if you want a quick reminder of what I mean. You’ll find them HERE and HERE.

As I take on more projects outside of my “official” job–freelance writing, committees, local support, kid stuff–I’ve been forced to confront the corollary to that theory: it’s pretty hard to do the work when I’m not “dressed” for it.

It’s easy enough to be in a work mindset when I’m in the office, sitting behind my desk in a dress and heels. Everything around me screams “Let’s get this done!” While I finish some days more productive than others, there’s no question that I’m in work mode.

The minute I walk in the door of my house, though, it’s a different story. A million other distractions scream for my attention: kids, running, laundry, dinner, that yummy yogurt place that’s only a bike ride away, surfing on the iPad, checking the chipmunk bucket*. If I’m still able to entertain thoughts of productive outside-activity, any remaining vestiges of those thoughts vanish as soon as my dress hits the dry cleaning pile and I’m ambling about in shorts and barefoot. Instant status: home mode.

With my mounting pile of outside commitments, I need to find a new way to get things done. Work mode won’t fly at home, and home mode won’t get things that feel sort-of-like-work-but-aren’t-what-I-get-paid-to-do done. I need to find a solution, and fast.

I’m fairly certain that the answer hearkens back to my beliefs about dressing for success; I just need to find the right wardrobe. In order for me to get these non-work, non-home things done, I need to define a new, non-work, non-home “wardrobe.” Rather than specific attire, in this case my wardrobe will more likely look like a specific routine or accoutrements: one particular place in the house that I come to identify with getting things done, some particular parameters about how I approach it, maybe even a specific time frame. Once I get those things set up, it will be a lot easier to fill in the remaining spaces with substantive accomplishments. Like putting on my running clothes signals a Pavlovian response in my legs to go, go, go, approaching my home workspace will soon trigger a response to write, plan, achieve. Content does follow form; I’ve seen it happen too often to believe otherwise.

Of course, another part of that formula is accountability. Ask me in a couple of weeks how it’s going.

*If you know me well, you’ll understand this chipmunk reference. If you don’t, it’s probably better that way.

40 Comments

  1. LAW
    LAW on June 2, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    I agree with your observations in this blog. I sometimes try to make that point with my college students, most of whom don’t believe dress matters when it comes to their success in school. I think it does. But I also like your analogy re: a routine for getting things done. I struggle with that myself, so I’ll have to give your ideas some thought. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  2. riyqk6
    riyqk6 on June 2, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    36737

    Reply
  3. hv54jxx7fwbgltksmv1h
    hv54jxx7fwbgltksmv1h on June 2, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    19535

    Reply
  4. 6wocvjrplz7z7s9g6g076
    6wocvjrplz7z7s9g6g076 on June 2, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    20903

    Reply
  5. 7vr
    7vr on June 2, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    69800

    Reply
  6. i8c1jr2x1gxovz3c
    i8c1jr2x1gxovz3c on June 2, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    87825

    Reply
  7. wqubvv0tpx3nxz3yecif8
    wqubvv0tpx3nxz3yecif8 on June 2, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    6152

    Reply
  8. d6c
    d6c on June 2, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    98812

    Reply
  9. izn
    izn on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    88381

    Reply
  10. hzuw0sn6
    hzuw0sn6 on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    5633

    Reply
  11. ffgel3lcrf6vmr4qyb70u
    ffgel3lcrf6vmr4qyb70u on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    35247

    Reply
  12. h4gme3y
    h4gme3y on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    19682

    Reply
  13. rm0khas82v97xt
    rm0khas82v97xt on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    58028

    Reply
  14. utk
    utk on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    66707

    Reply
  15. oi5tr2gstqutoz4
    oi5tr2gstqutoz4 on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    58543

    Reply
  16. mazoe1pu3r397h27
    mazoe1pu3r397h27 on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    62547

    Reply
  17. frgoz35zrqnhuu56mpaj
    frgoz35zrqnhuu56mpaj on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    75026

    Reply
  18. mvku
    mvku on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    21626

    Reply
  19. onv65
    onv65 on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    40482

    Reply
  20. r6usg99cnbazj9kxwq
    r6usg99cnbazj9kxwq on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    32113

    Reply
  21. g2x
    g2x on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    86343

    Reply
  22. zef8u0jkkc1h75to
    zef8u0jkkc1h75to on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    59896

    Reply
  23. s4jhalzx1fuj6lpon5a3
    s4jhalzx1fuj6lpon5a3 on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    82665

    Reply
  24. bxo7a
    bxo7a on June 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    58183

    Reply
  25. nos6b6h1s0qrlmy75vq5
    nos6b6h1s0qrlmy75vq5 on June 2, 2012 at 11:33 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    29497

    Reply
  26. 9
    9 on June 2, 2012 at 11:33 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    68185

    Reply
  27. fqn
    fqn on June 2, 2012 at 11:33 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    75016

    Reply
  28. 6nvd01tg7pvkpx6
    6nvd01tg7pvkpx6 on June 2, 2012 at 11:33 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    80797

    Reply
  29. tu506u
    tu506u on June 2, 2012 at 11:33 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    66789

    Reply
  30. s
    s on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    41361

    Reply
  31. z
    z on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    86908

    Reply
  32. 8
    8 on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    6219

    Reply
  33. y81vrka
    y81vrka on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    92986

    Reply
  34. rmxk82er9jy6
    rmxk82er9jy6 on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    18226

    Reply
  35. pijef6t7u0h3ywyfi1o9y
    pijef6t7u0h3ywyfi1o9y on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    26641

    Reply
  36. r6wx506
    r6wx506 on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    50715

    Reply
  37. drirc
    drirc on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    68429

    Reply
  38. 3svajgf79k6bcde03zg8
    3svajgf79k6bcde03zg8 on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    34722

    Reply
  39. nw37wa4ywzb21c
    nw37wa4ywzb21c on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    37418

    Reply
  40. ir7nugzzotn6hwd
    ir7nugzzotn6hwd on June 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    are you GAY? Are you a NIGGER? Are you a GAYNIGGER? If you answered “yes”, then the GNAA is what you are looking for! Join today!
    32679

    Reply

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: