Someday Is Today by Matthew Dicks

After coming across this book recommendation from Ali Abdaal on his YouTube channel, I decided to dive into it during my free time.

I truly appreciate Matthew Dicks's writing style. The book is crafted with short, simple sentences and numerous bullet points, creating an engaging read. Its core message revolves around efficiency and productivity.

Given the book's focus on these themes, I'll attempt to summarize the major stories and key learning points below. This not only serves as a future reference for me but also involves compiling the action plan provided in the book as a helpful reminder.

Chapter 1: The One-Hundred-Year-Old Plan

The book kicks off with Matthew sharing his life story, a tale of a boy navigating the challenges of growing up without much parental love. He faced the daunting task of surviving on his own after high school graduation. Despite excelling academically, financial constraints hindered his pursuit of higher education. Matthew entered the workforce as a McDonald's employee. However, his life took a dark turn when he was falsely accused of stealing money and charged with a crime he didn't commit. This marked the lowest point in his life – losing his job, residing in a former pantry with a goat sleeping with him, working illegally for McDonald's again, and facing the imminent threat of a robbery that nearly cost him his life on the 'greasy McDonald's floor'.

Despite these adversities, Matthew persisted. Within a year, he found himself enrolled in a community college. Matthew Dicks led a hectic life, juggling work, education, and various leadership roles. His endeavors included becoming an elementary school English teacher, venturing into the wedding DJ business, and authoring books. The driving force behind his achievements was the determination "not to miss the last day of his life." Regretting the perceived wastage of his 20s, Matthew committed to seizing every moment in his current and future life, engaging in activities that held personal meaning.

The concept of the 100-year-old plan played a crucial role in Matthew's approach. He envisioned what his future self at 100 years old would say to his present self. When faced with dilemmas, he would picture his elder self guiding him on which choices to prioritize.

'Asking your future self to make decisions allows you to play the long game.' - Matthew Dicks

'Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.' - Steve Jobs

Chapter 2: 86,400 Seconds

A story unfolds with Matthew Dicks encountering a woman expressing interest in publishing her book, though she hasn't even started writing it. She envisions the 'right process,' one filled with a nice and cozy environment to embark on her creative writing journey.

Matthew Dicks finds this situation amusing, almost like a joke, as he contemplates it. Known for valuing his time immensely, he makes the most of the few minutes while waiting for the woman. In those moments, he manages to jot down 9 sentences for his book—seemingly trivial, yet significant when you consider the accumulation of many such 'few minutes' in his life, all dedicated to advancing his writing.

Even as a full-time teacher, he remains committed to writing throughout the year. Matthew adeptly reclaims every little black hole of time, turning it into an opportunity for writing or efficiently tackling other tasks.

The one commodity that we all share in equal amounts is time: 1,440 minutes - 86,400 seconds - per day.

Minutes matter. And you should keep the following rules in mind:

1. Include the element of time as a Primary Factor in all decision-making.

For example, if you need to choose between A+ service that takes 1 hour to get and A- service that takes 10 minutes to get; obviously choose the A- one. Don't ignore the time needed, and merely focus on the A+ and A- service.

2. Minimize the time it takes to get places.

Shorten your commute time if possible by choosing a prime location of housing. You wouldn't want your time to be restricted on packed suffocating commute.

3. Consider all the stuff you didn't consider when choosing (or changing) a career.

• What time do you arrive in the office each day?
• When do you typically leave?
• How often do you work from home?
• Do you work on the weekends?
• What kind of vacations do you take?
• How much flexibility do you have with your schedule?

Are you content with the salary and career prospects given the amount of time you lack control over and the reduced flexibility? If not, think again. For Matthew Dicks, being an elementary school teacher fulfilled his need for personal time outside of work.

4. Maximize task efficiency

Matthew Dicks is extremely particular on minimizing the time needed for routine tasks, allowing him to engage in more meaningful activities. Chores such as emptying dishwashers, folding laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking dinner, when done efficiently, can save a significant amount of time

5. Relinquish and reassign tasks

One of the best ways to be more productive is to stop doing other things.

• Pay-for-play: Pay for services, when you are financially capable to do so, to free up time to 'play'. Money can be made. Time cannot.
• Delegation: Trust people to handle their responsibilities, whether it's creating a travel itinerary, planning meals, or dealing with other work-related matters in your profession. By 'simply letting go of the details and decisions and allowing someone else to be in charge,' you can save a lot of time and preserve mental bandwidth.
• Dividing and Conquering: Efficiently divide tasks and responsibilities based on strengths. This concept is applicable in a household where two individuals focus on what they are best at and most interested in, completing things with efficiency and without questioning the other person's role.

6. Choose how to spend your time

'You can get a lot done in 10 minutes.' - Matthew Dicks

Compile a list of things that you can do in 10 minutes, and do those things when you found yourself stuck in meaningless occassions in that 10 minutes.

7. Minimize time spent on routine tasks and fruitless pastimes

Matthew Dicks breaks down ways to save time in various daily activities like food, showering, shopping, price chasing, watching television, and walking.

Here's a quick rundown: Multitask while eating alone; Shower faster; Prepare a grocery list and avoid peak hours when shopping; Don't chase a negligible lower price in return for an extra mile traveled; Watch your favorite drama series in a controlled manner; and Walk faster.

It's easier said than done, but just try.

Chapter 3: Sleep Correctly

Sleep is crucial for humans, but Matthew Dicks has a love-hate relationship with it. It's like a temporary death to him, yet he treats it with reverence. With a consistent sleep and wake-up schedule, he attains an alert and energetic mind the moment he wakes up. No coffee required.

1. Remember that the purpose of a bed is sleep. In other words, don't to other things, like reading, using phone and watching TV on the bed before sleep.
2. Play white noise. By providing a unique auditory cue to tirgger the brain to fall asleep, you can sleep faster, and save the time rolling on the bed.
3. Relax. Try meditation, relieve tension of specific parts of your body and have a warm shower before bed.
4. Exercise.
5. Forgo the snooze alarm. The extra 10 to 15 minutes sleep does not help in waking up with an alert mind. Just step out of your bed when that alarm rings.
6. Set an optimal temperature. 18°C is a nice number.
7. Look at your lighting. Install curtains if necessary, and use f.lux to dim the lighting of your desktop screen at night.

Try waking up 15 minutes earlier after you have adapted a sleep schedule. Later, shift it to 30 minutes. Maybe 1 hour? Make time to try this out. If it doesn't suit you, you can always go back to sleeping more, but maybe, you don't need this 1 hour of sleep.

Chapter 4: The Eagle and the Mouse

Embrace the perspective of an eagle, focusing on the big picture, and steer clear of adopting the mindset of a mouse, fixating on details and fretting over every little thing, especially when it involves matters that don't hold as much value as your time

1. Curiousity kills productivity: Cultivate deliberate incuriousity. Try to be uninterested in things that have little impact on your life and major decision-making, as these things can steal time from you, and you won't even remember thinking about them in the future.
2. Limit decision-making. We have limited bandwidth and mental capacity every day, so choose wisely when deciding what matters. Repetitive tasks like clothing or food choices, or menial tasks like schedule delegation, can all be automated or decided by others, so don't waste time on them.
3. Focus on what truly matters - today and tomorrow. Don't expend your emotions on incidental problems that won't matter tomorrow.

If it won't matter tomorrow, don't let it matter today.

4. Be organized when it saves time. Tackle tasks before they accumulate, whether they are daily work assignments or household chores. However, avoid spending time on unnecessary color-coding if it doesn't provide any real benefits.
5. Avoid the 'Spotlight Effect'. In reality, no one cares much about your appearance or what you do, as long as it doesn't affect them negatively. By internalizing this perspective, you can save valuable time and eliminate unnecessary stress and worry about how you are perceived.

If eliminating all the mundane decisions in your life makes you uncomfortable, consider removing those that don't have a significant impact or meaning.

Chapter 5: Things that Don't Deserve Your Time

'How can I do more in less time?' 'What is the most productive way to spend my time?' More importantly: 'What is the least productive way to spend my time?'

Asking these questions helps you sidestep unnecessary commitments and part-time jobs that don't justify your time investment. Instead, you can channel that time into self-improvement rather than catering to others' requests.

1. Stupidity of bragging rights: If you're thinking about queuing up for hours to be the first to buy something from a newly opened store, it's not worth it. No one cares when you brag, so invest that time in something more meaningful.
2. The black hole of addictive games: Avoid downloading games like Candy Crush or Flappy Birds or any games that isolate you from interactions with friends or loved ones. Replace them with a good book, an incomplete grocery list, or responding to emails.

Chapter 6: Be a Criminal

When stuck in those dreadful, time-wasting situations, consider crafting a list of quick tasks to tackle. Matthew Dicks managed to become a notary by delving into a 58-page PDF and filling out a lengthy application during seemingly pointless meetings. He even went a step further and crafted a novel amid the ongoing meetings. The key takeaway here is not to shy away from bending the rules a bit to optimize your use of time.

1. The misconceptions of rule followers: Many folks believe they'll land in hot water if they break any rules, but Matthew views them more as feedback than trouble. Feel free to 'bend the rules' if you've weighed the consequences as insignificant—doing so might save you time or lead to a better experience.

'Trouble' occurs when real, life-altering consequences follow the feedback: Loss of job, privileges, position or pay. Delayed or permanently stunted career developmemt.

2. Someone else's rules need not be your own: Many folks think there's only one right way—their way—of getting things done. If it doesn't align with your principles, feel free to forge your own path.

Chapter 7: Don't Lose Days to Rotten People

In life, you're bound to bump into some mean, irrational, and negative folks. But hey, don't let them set up camp in your head for too long. Stick with the positive vibes by surrounding yourself with optimistic people. And if you're still grappling with memories of that one grumpy person, check out these tricks:

1. Forgiveness: It's the toughest approach but one that completely clears the slate.
2. Empathy: This helps you comprehend the foolishness or cruelty of the person who wronged you, and perhaps, by understanding their perspective, you can let go of the negativity.
3. Elimination: Cut these individuals out of your life; by minimizing interactions with negative people, you'll gradually forget about them.
4. Enemies list: A space where you can temporarily stash the names of individuals or groups until you're ready for forgiveness, empathy, or even revenge. Box up the anger for another day. Maybe through achieving notable success or eventually revealing their wrongdoing, you can then erase them from lingering in your mind.

Before ending this chapter, steer clear of the company of those who embody the 'yeah, but' monster, and refrain from becoming one yourself.

'Yeah, but' is never good. It's a disingenuous agreement. An artifical attempt to move on and discount all that was possible as moment before. It's an attempt to discredit or ignore what was said but to do so under the guise of acceptance, only to move right past it into the land of negativity.

Chapter 8: Say Yes

This chapter delves into Matthew Dicks's escapades as a wedding DJ, his ventures into novel and opera musical writing, all fueled by a simple yet powerful principle – saying 'yes' to unexpected invitations. The narrative underscores the idea that while the destination of a 'yes' may be uncertain, a 'no' invariably leads nowhere. Embrace the unknown, venture beyond your comfort zone, and explore new opportunities, even if initial reluctance is present. Sometimes, it's through these 'yes' moments that you discover unexpected passions.

The key takeaway: just start. Don't let perfectionism or confusion hinder you from saying 'yes.' Imperfections are part of the journey, and taking that first step is already an accomplishment – something many who never start miss out on.

Don't make it into 'someday, somehow', but make it into 'today, now'.

Chapter 9: Be a Chicken, Not a Pig

The well-known tale of the chicken's involvement and the pig's commitment to the bacon-and-egg breakfast teaches a valuable lesson on diversifying our activities.

'I believe that your best chance of making something great is by making many possibly great things.'

1. Stuff begets stuff: When you blend different interests, magic happens. Writing a book might just transform you into a more effective teacher. Chickens, surprisingly, are onto something – the more, the merrier. Having multiple areas of expertise opens up limitless and unexpected possibilities.
2. Leave the juggling to jugglers: Multitasking isn't the superhero move it's cracked up to be. Instead, focus on one interest at a time and allocate equal time to each.
3. The idea file: Capture those lightning-bolt thoughts that strike or resurface unexpectedly. Maintain a broad horizon and nurture diverse passions. Always be on the lookout for new eggs to hatch exciting ideas.

Chapter 10: You Choose the Finish Line

When enrolling in a course, whatever the subject, the typical expectation is to acquire specific skills related to that field. If it's a poetry class, you'd anticipate honing your poetry-writing abilities. However, for Matthew Dicks, a poetry class from decades ago has had a lasting impact on his skills as a fiction writer and storyteller.

A horizon of possibilities: Embrace flexibility and a multitude of possibilities for your end goals. Life stories of figures like Elon Musk, David Hockney, and Barbara Green, Matthew's mother-in-law, underscore the vast possibilities that arise when you open yourself to new horizons. By avoiding fixation on a single goal, you create room to explore unexpected paths that might yield entirely new skills or accomplishments.

A wise quote before moving to chapter 11:

Instead of a five-year plan, how about a six-month plan? Or a three-month plan? Forget the five-year plan. Someday is today.

Chapter 11: Make Terrible Things

Starting on something new and unfamiliar often scares people off, especially when the beginning looks messy and far from the ideal perfection we envision. Yet, it's crucial to keep in mind:

'Don't let perfect be the enermy of progress.'

'The most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Do a huge volume of work.'

The stories of:

• Matthew Dicks messing up on his journey to becoming a wedding DJ
• Walt Disney facing early rejections for his Mickey Mouse concept
• Michael Jordan getting cut from the basketball team in ninth grade
• Richard Branson's not-so-great creations before venturing into space

may not be inspiring at first glance, but they signify the essential steps forward in one's journey.

Judge the work. Not the person. Despise the product but love yourself. Then start again. Move forward. Create another terrible thing until you make a not-so-terrible thing. Maybe even something great.

The story of Nobel Prize-winning writer Saramago, who ceased writing after an initial lack of response from a publisher, stands in stark contrast to other writers who persisted until they succeeded. This illustrates that while rejection is inevitable, so is persistence.

Chapter 12: How Did They Do It?

When you feel like throwing in the towel, consider pushing a bit further; success might be just around the corner. That's the philosophy that Stephen King, Matthew Dicks, and numerous other accomplished individuals swear by.

It's simply dogged determination, a refusal to quit, a relentless drive to succeed, and dumb luck.

While we can't dictate our luck, we can persist in strolling down the creative path, firmly believing that each step brings us closer to our goals.

Chapter 13: Find Your People

Surrounding yourself with folks who offer valuable and positive feedback can boost your confidence and inspire you to enhance your work through discussions with them. But their role goes beyond that.

1. These people act as first-look audience for you work. By involving people in the creation process, you can transform self-doubt and surrender into hope and accomplishment.
2. They also serve as a form of accountability. When someone anticipates your work, you're no longer your own boss. Without external motivation, procrastination can sneak in, and you might find yourself not creating anything until your deathbed if you're solely in charge.
3. Don't bank on having endless "somedays." People often assume they have plenty of years ahead, but unforeseen accidents can occur, and you might run out of somedays sooner than expected.
4. Building your team is possible by expanding your online presence. Regularly posting on websites or blogs can gradually grow your audience, creating a positive feedback loop of increasing audience and motivation to produce content.
5. Ensure you surround yourself with supportive individuals and cut ties with those who don't fit. Choose your people wisely to stay motivated and avoid feeling dejected.

Chapter 14: Put Your Eyes on the Prize

Understanding your personality is key to finding a job that aligns with your preferences, whether you have a disdain for authority, enjoy interacting with children, or have a passion for exploring new things. Identifying the right career can make pursuing your goals a happier and more fulfilling experience.

Asking yourself why you do what you do can make the path clear.

Dig deep into your thoughts and past experiences to uncover the intrinsic motivations that will sustain you during moments of low enthusiasm and the ticking of time.

Lastly, set measurable goals based on your efforts, irrespective of external validations. Keep your focus on achievable prizes that result from your hard work, and eventually, unforeseen opportunities may arise, leading to significant victories.

Some wisdom from Chapter 14.5: Steer clear of performative productivity, where the emphasis is on showcasing your efforts with statements like 'Look what I did!' or 'Watch me working hard!' The credit you receive should stem from the tangible results of your effort rather than the spectacle of the journey itself.

Chapter 15: Party Often

Cheers to reaching milestones! It's the energy that propels us to conquer the next one. We shouldn't rely on others to acknowledge and cheer for our accomplishments; the true motivation comes from within, and hence cheer for yourself :>

Chapter 16: Feed Yourself a Compliment Sandwich

Many times, we receive compliments that might slip from our memory over time. Unfortunately, when faced with criticism and scrutiny, we tend to forget the positive energy these compliments once provided.

Matthew Dicks offers two valuable pieces of advice: first, preserve those compliments by jotting them down on any accessible platform, be it online or on paper. Second, schedule the return of compliments. Think of it as "snoozing" the compliment for later review. By forwarding these compliments to your future self, you're essentially sending a dose of positivity to the future you. This can prove to be incredibly uplifting precisely when you need it the most.

Chapter 17: Know Your Story. Tell Your Story. Listen to Your Story.

As humans, we often tackle immense challenges, conquer them, but forget to glance back and appreciate the journey. Drawing inspiration from our tales of struggle and triumph can serve as a powerful motivator in moments of doubt and uncertainty.

Recounting your own success stories, both to yourself and others, becomes a positive action that triggers your brain to perceive yourself as successful. This not only boosts your mood but also enhances your overall productivity. Listening to the uplifting chapters of your life, framed by a positive mental attitude, becomes the key to unlocking success.

Remember, a simple 'Good job, __' is ample for your brain to recognize that If I did that, I can do this.

Chapter 18: Creativity Cannot Abide Preciousness

Matthew Dicks' tale of crafting his novel in a parking lot underscores the notion that the creative process can unfold anywhere, anytime. It doesn't demand a cozy ambiance or a formal setting.

At times, things can be simple, and that's perfectly fine. The minutiae, like what you eat, drink, or your hobbies, might not be remembered by anyone. Appreciate them for what they are without attaching unnecessary significance, a viewpoint Matthew Dicks regards as a time-wasting endeavor. However, for a true creator, the act of creating precious things should not elevate the location, timing, or process to a precious status.

The making should be ordinary. The results should be extraordinary.

A nugget of wisdom from Chapter 18.5: Never engage in something that steals time and effort from your life just because everyone else is doing it or if it doesn't yield meaningful results.

Chapter 19: Make Something into Something

Matthew Dicks's storytelling journey, where he expanded a story from 60 seconds to 6 minutes, transformed it into a blog post, got it published in a magazine, and eventually showcased it on Mainstage, serves as a fantastic example of how to elevate a creation into something much grander.

The key lesson here is to maximize the mileage of your creative content. By seizing every available opportunity, especially those you put considerable effort into creating, you can reap the benefits of extended exposure. Take the content you've crafted, give it a refresh, and consider making it different, perhaps even better than before.

Chapter 20: Don't Be an Asshole

As a well-known and approachable figure like Matthew Dicks, he's encountered a diverse array of people, ranging from complete assholes to the polite and socially savvy. His simple advice? If you're seeking attention, approach it with kindness and politeness to up your chances of grabbing it.

Being an asshole may admittedly get you something in the near term, but creators must play the long game.

Publicly griping about perceived unfairness or expressing envy of others' success is a surefire way to attract enemies and spark rumors about your jerk-like behavior. It doesn't contribute positively to any situation. On the flip side, when you express gratitude and acknowledge your good fortune, it's challenging for anyone to label you as unpleasant.

Moral of the story: Dodge the label of being a jerk to ensure a positive reputation, which is crucial for long-term success.

Chapter 21: Eat a Lot

Immerse yourself in a constant flow of knowledge from others. Keep doing this regularly. By doing so, you'll acquire a wealth of information and be able to create something far superior to those who neglect learning from others. Matthew Dicks, for instance, has honed his skills in storytelling, business, investing, comedy, and screenwriting by absorbing the knowledge shared by others.

A jack-of-all-trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.

Diversify your knowledge, and deepen them if possible.

Chapter 22: Pessimists Die Knowing Only That They Were Correct. Optimists Thrive.

Many individuals abandon their dreams regularly; it's a common occurrence. Giving up is the easy way out, and only a select few actually turn their honest-to-goodness dreams into reality.

So, how can you steer clear of falling into this common trap? The key is to embrace optimism. Maintain a steadfast belief that things will eventually align in your favor. Trust that everything will fall into place, and then take the necessary steps to make it happen. Keep in mind that the future often holds a brighter outcome than the current challenges may suggest. So, why not focus on the potential positivity that lies ahead? This mindset allows you to ease the short-term struggles caused by temporary setbacks.

In the spirit of optimistic creation, let's consider the concept of
"Super Cow: Creator Optimistically Winning" as shared by Matthew Dicks and his son Charlie.

In Chapter 22.5, we uncover some valuable insights from Matthew Dicks' strategies neatly presented in this book. So, don't go saying, "I don't have time for that." Claiming you don't have time to save time and boost productivity might sound a bit odd, doesn't it? It's simply absurd.

Certainly, it's not sufficient to merely treat this book filled with advice as is. Action is key, and that's why I've penned another blog. It serves as a constant reminder to adhere to those actions, and you can also use it to review your goals.

[Link here: https://www.ooijianhui.com/action-plans/]

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