What does an impactful annual report look and feel like? I would suggest the five-minute report uploaded on the vlogbrothers YouTube channel is a remarkable template. Surprisingly, the biggest impact turned out to be the advocacy work contributed by numerous members of the Nerdfighteria community.
Bank of Nerdfighteria Annual Report (Transcript)
There are three outputs I intend to personally focus on daily. The amount of effort I put into a moment, the mindset in which I encounter the moment, and the posture I assume at any given moment. It is not a complex toolbox but contains areas of focus that impact how I embrace or collide with real-time events. To provide a bit more depth and dimension, I am defining these concepts as follows:
Effort = exertion, energy, action, attention, focus, force
Mindset = attitude, mood, philosophy, belief, perspective, approach
Posture = pose, presence, stature, position, geography, phase
I have not developed a metric to track each concept yet, but considering creative methods to capture the flow of each output.
What guiding areas of focus support your efforts to create the best rendition of your work?
Some things amaze me. I might be impressed by scrolling social media, navigating a city, or walking in nature. Not all of these moments of wonder add value to my journey. Some are worth a glance, but few are worth double-clicking on to explore further. How might we assess if our primary motivation is to amaze our audience or contribute to their odyssey? Are we curating moments for Klout or customizing a benefit that serves those who follow?
Let’s add depth and dimension to our work by illuminating how we strive to serve others. Behind-the-scene tours focus on how the work is completed. We can hear about the obstacles that nearly derailed the project before it was completed. We can see the errors that were left in the construction phase but now are iconic hallmarks. We can feel the commitment to the process.
How might we share our work so our masterpiece has more depth and dimension?
Vision statements resonate when they present a picture of a better tomorrow, a problem solved, a better way, more opportunity, greater access, and/or removing barriers. It is harder to get inspired when vision statements are bland or redundant (e.g., make the world a better place). They can be simple. Achieving the vision might cause your enterprise to consider a new line of work. If oncologists share a vision to cure cancer, reaching this milestone means that a new line of inquiry or one big celebration party and disbanding is needed.
How might your vision identify the headwaters of your journey? How might it inspire with sufficient clarity about the work that matters?
Somebody planned to climb Mount Massive in Colorado’s Collegiate Mountain Range. They discovered the Highland Trail was not the correct way to the summit and left a note (graffiti) for their hiking companion to save them the experience of repeating their mistake.
What wrong turns have you made? How do you share your trail knowledge with others? What mistakes are worth leaving for others to encounter on their own, and which require notification in your judgment?
How might we point out what is worth noting and not be a constant flashing amber light of ‘caution everywhere?’
Sometimes, to access a suitable location for our causes to prosper and grow, we must dig in and create a pathway. How might our work be both visible and revealing?
Riding a bike across a swinging cable bridge creates movement on the deck, amplified by the inputs from the rider. Add more cyclists to the same bridge span, and the journey gets more energetic. Navigating the span becomes increasingly more challenging (and exhilarating) with more inputs.
For others, leaping from a bridge attached to a bungee cord is a thrill, and it provides the rush of adventure and a state of free fall that is not customary to the human lifecycle. There are fewer inputs for a bungee jumper, and removing constraints makes it remarkable.
The impact of variables and inputs creates different journeys and feedback. How might we amplify our journey by seeking higher-quality inputs? Let’s be clear about which variables we hope to leverage.
What catches your eye? What makes you slow down or turn around to take a closer look? We might have seen all the elements of the subject matter, but when combined uniquely, they are remarkable.
What-if-concepts 