Life is more than a grind
Greetings
Over the last few years, I have spent a lot of time looking at ‘time’ and how I use it. And, over time, I have taken a slightly different approach, tried to evolve out of the ‘grind’ or ‘hustle’ lifestyle and become a bit more deliberate with what I focus on, including, but beyond, work. In this process, I have gone through countless productivity books, applying various lessons and tips from them, while also working to ensure that I am not adding to work but rather improving how I work, when I do work. This is evolving, as I travel this journey.
In 2016, a year and a half after I left the last time I was ‘gainfully’ and formally employed, I wrote I Quit My Job For My Children. Reading it recently, I am glad to find that how I envisaged my day-to-day running has, by and large, come to fruition. It hasn’t been without pain, sacrifice and compromise, but so far, it is worth it. I am also clearer on what I could do better.
I just started reading Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How To Use It and have been nodding knowingly through the first couple of chapters. I wrote How To Work Better in 2022 and I reckon I have read the same books as Burkeman. And I am finally at a point where his perspectives on time resonate. He writes, “In practical terms, a limit-embracing attitude to time means organising your days with the understanding that you definitely won’t have time for everything you want to do, or that other people want you to do - and so, at the very least, you can stop beating yourself up for failing.”
Even become better at living life feels like work sometimes. There are so many lessons and tips and approaches, like Eleven theories for how to achieve true happiness. We feel like we need to perfect each one, which becomes another thing that fills our days. I like to pick one thing and follow through on it.
I try not to put unnecessary pressure on myself, doing what I can, when I can, hence how erratic I am with both this newsletter and my podcast. I have, however, started up the Listen To Your Footsteps podcast again after a short break, with a conversation with musician Bokani Dyer.
This is so dope. It is possible to develop without destroying, to work with the natural environment as opposed to disrupting it.
I really believe in the concept of ‘your work speaking for you’ which feels like a contradiction in this personal brand driven world. Recently, I was in Geneva and had the opportunity to spend some time at the El Septimo Cigars flagship store. Chatting to the General Manager, I was struck by how the sold it, in the early days. They gave the retailers samples. Orders came in off the quality of the cigars. Cigar enthusiasts who enjoyed the cigar did marketing for them. El Septimo - The Ultimate Luxury Cigar Brand.
When the podcast Midnight Miracle - hosted by Dave Chappelle, yasiin bey and Talib Kweli - came out, I balked at listening because you have to subscribe to Luminary. Eventually I subscribed and listened to the whole of S1 on a drive to Maseru. The discussions, format, editing and production quality is something else and has me thinking up all kinds of other podcasts to do. Having unsubscribed after listening to S1 (couldn’t find anything else that appealed to me), I resubscribed a few weeks back to listen to S2. Didn’t disappoint, but for length and number of episodes.
That’s it for today. If you enjoy receiving the Zebra Culture By Kojo Baffoe newsletter but are not subscribed, please do subscribe.
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I welcome comments, thoughts, etc. A big thank you to those of you who have sent me messages. I have been experimenting with both Substack’s new Chat and Notes features.
And if you would like a copy of my book Listen To Your Footsteps, it is available online and in bookshops (primarily in South Africa but also on Barnes & Noble and Amazon) both in digital and physical form. If it isn’t available in your local, South African bookshop, ask for them to order it. Or you can mail me and I can make arrangements to get a copy to you.
Easy
Kojo