Going to my room.

I have the perfect writing space in my new house. Judging by the ochre and sky-blue blades of the ceiling fan, and the room's size, it most likely belonged to a child. It's tiny, and right now, crowded with boxes of books that I have yet to unpack. My desk is pushed against a windowless wall -- just the blank page to look at, and the slow sense of relief that washes over me as I find the words to fill it.

To my right, there's a small window just below the ceiling that looks out into the backyard. It's just high enough to let the daylight in. As I type this, I can see the sun spilling over the leaves of an oak tree, one of its younger limbs reaching toward daylight as it cascades over the roof. 

The tree cover of our house and yard keeps the air heavy with humidity. That moisture is what allowed the yard to get so lush and unruly. It has created a lot of work for me. But I take comfort in that. This house is a place of growth.

The power of Why.

I had a favorite question when I was a kid: Why? It's still one of my favorites. What, more often than not, is self-evident. Or it is so subjective that it's less significant than Why.

For example, as a young reporter, when sent to cover a board of education or town council meeting, I'd compare my story to those of other news organizations that were there. Theoretically, we both saw the same What, but more often than not, there were divergences in the storytelling that highlighted the subjectivity of What.

The subjectivity comes across -- despite the good-natured journalistic intent of objectivity -- in intriguing ways: what each reporter chooses to omit, what they choose to focus on, what quotes they incorporate, what they choose to emphasize with the mechanics of punctuation. Just as the camera does not lie, it does omit what falls outside the scope of the lens. Explaining What works in a similar manner.

Why, on the other hand, is less subjective. Why gives What significance and context. Why is the engine that powers What. It is the very essence of human intellect. 

Most important, Why also has the power to inspire. What, stated alone, reads like an order. It leaves no room for the reader or listener by means of intellectual engagement. It leaves no opportunity for buy in.

Why has the power to motivate, to inspire. Never lose sight of Why.

Building the perfect rocking chair.

I have the highest respect for craftsmen. Today, a friend sent me this photo of a beautiful set of rocking chairs and a table in various stages of production. I try and use the mindset of a craftsman for the things that truly matter.

A craftsman doesn't think of his work as art -- though it is. A craftsman doesn't think of her occupation as a higher calling. They simply employ their God-given, or practice-honed skills. Their tools become an extension of their hands and their minds -- an extension of themselves. To call it an avocation puts an obstruction between the work and the worker.

I just want to build a really great rocking chair. And then do it again.

The most cost-effective way to change your life.

On a recent episode of Tim Ferriss' podcast, author Seth Godin said -- among  many thought-provoking things -- that a book is the ultimate bargain. Few $30 purchases have the power to change your life. One book that's changed mine is The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. For about $10, this book might be the ultimate bargain for anyone looking to create anything, or be more effective.

I've been revisiting WOA when I have a few minutes. Pressfield, a Marine, gives the enemy of creativity a name: Resistance. His book is a manual to knowing that enemy. I refer to WOA in times of self-doubt, or when I need a double shot of motivation. My often-stalled attempt at a novel is the most frequent casualty of Resistance. But there are other casualties -- casualties I'm only beginning to notice.

I ended up in a newsroom management by happenstance at young age and with comparatively minimal experience. One of the most difficult aspects of leading, one that I still struggle with, is communicating expectations, especially communicating when expectations aren't met. That works both ways on the chain of command. Subordinates need to be able to communicate their expectations, questions and concerns.

Why do I suck at it? Resistance. Pressfield points out that you can use Resistance as a compass: the more Resistance you feel when contemplating whether or not to act, the more important it is that you act. Resistance can be a compass for communication in this way. The more difficult the conversation, the more Resistance I feel, and the more important it is that the conversation be had immediately.

In all instances, I strive to prioritize what is difficult, what exudes the most Resistance. I say strive, because I often fail. But everyday, I'm working to improve. And the lessons I encounter along the way might be useful to you, too.

That said, I've been thinking a lot about improving the format of this blog. Inspired by Godin's appearance on Ferriss' show, I'm tweaking things. You can expect short posts daily, with a few longer posts thrown in during the week, all filled with observations intended to be useful to you. Ammo for the fight against Resistance.