The Basic Steps to Engineer an Extraordinary Life
a.k.a. ‘Systematic Briliance’
In 2015, as a recent “pretiree” with no clue what to do with my life, I experimented with logging everything I do. Through constant tinkering, research, and experience that practice has evolved into an anti-regret-generating, Suck-fighting, comfort-zone-pumping, energy-optimizing, (not-so-)superpower-unleashing, perspective-broadening, future-self-befriending, command center for my extraordinary life.
I call it “Systematic Brilliance.”
For all the extraordinary results the system’s had, it’s not that difficult. Kinda boring, to be honest. If I can do it, you can, too. Here are the steps to implement it.
For extra efficient implementation, accountability, templates, feedback, troubleshooting, tips, 1-on-1 fun, and other bonuses consider paying me big bucks:
VIP = ‘very individually personalized’
The Steps
1. Daily Logging
2. Weekly Review
3. Weekly To-Dos
4. Letters to Yourself
5. Monthly Review
6. Annual Review
7. Repeat
Bonuses
1. Daily Logging
- Option 1: Log each activity immediately after completion (See example day).
- Option 2: Log all activities at the end of the day.
- Ensure each entry is objective, with minimal storytelling or subjective interpretation.
- Adjust the level of detail over time based on what your future self finds most useful.
- Advanced Additions:
- Log your decisions. Predict: How will it turn out and by when? Then set a reminder to check reality vs expectation at that date.
- Use tagging. For personal knowledge management. Whenever you collect information worth keeping, tag it with a relevant topic for easier future reference. This can also help for remembering things about people you meet, so when logging about people include their first and last name for easier searchability in the future.
2. Weekly Review
- At the end of each week, review your daily logs.
- Assess your performance in key areas (e.g., relationships, health, mental health, career) – (See: Make Your Comfort Zone Sweat)
- Pumps: What went well?
- Leaks: What could have gone better?
- What lessons did you learn?
- List a few new things you’re grateful for.
- Create an executive recap for the week, summarizing key insights and areas for improvement.
- Use this recap to inform your planning for the next week.
- Adjust the structure and content of the review based on what your future self finds most beneficial.
3. Weekly To-Do List
- Create a to-do list based on your previous week’s recap and any tasks carried over.
- Throughout the week, update your to-do list as needed, or add to the next week’s as things pop up.
- If a task is not completed by the end of the week, decide whether to move it to the next week or remove it entirely.
- Adjust your approach to managing and prioritizing tasks based on experience.
- Suggestion: Divide to-dos by life pillar (health, work, relationships, etc.) to ensure you don’t let any atrophy.
4. Monthly and Yearly Letters to Your Future Self
- At the beginning of each month and year, write a letter to yourself to be read at the end of the month/year.
- Adjust the format and content of these letters as needed, based on what your future self finds most useful.
5. Monthly Review
- At the end of each month, review your weekly recaps.
- Read the letter you wrote to yourself at the beginning of the month.
- Assess your performance over the past month using the same format as the weekly reviews.
- Write an executive summary for the month, intended for your annual review.
- Use your insights from this review to plan for the upcoming month and week.
- Continuously adjust your approach based on what your future self finds effective.
6. Annual Review
- Every year, review your monthly recaps.
- Assess your performance over the past 12 months in the same way you do weekly and monthly reviews.
- Read the letter you wrote to yourself at the beginning of the 12-month period.
- Write a new letter to be read at the end of the next year.
- Use insights from this review to inform your planning for the next year.
- Continue to refine your approach based on accumulated experience.
7. Repeat
- Continue this process daily, weekly, monthly, and annually.
- Regularly iterate and refine the process based on insights and feedback from your future self.
Bonuses
- Hone in on your (not-so-)superpower and use this system to unleash it for maximum well-being.
- Start strong with some Advent-ure Calendar Challenges that will help you feel the benefits of shaking up your status quo, recording it, then reviewing.
- Do a week or two of detailed time logging for eye-opening insight into how much time you have and where you spend it.
- Start your first year of ‘Systematic Brilliance’ with a ‘life workout plan.’
- Subscribe to my free every-10ish-day newsletter for regular inspiration to systematically craft your own brilliant life.
Make Your Life More Brilliant
Patiently follow these steps and I guarantee you’ll start feeling more and more in control of your life and fulfilled by the directions you’re taking it in.
Or if you lack patience (and/or discipline) but have money, consider enlisting my expert 1-on-1 help:
VIP = ‘very individually personalized’
Whether you go VIP or DIY, all I care is that you systematically push your life in rewarding directions that tap into more of your life’s extraordinary potential.
Please email me with any questions. I really, genuinely do want to help you not live so boring-ly.
Thanks for briefly hanging with me here on The Zag.
Keep doing exciting things,
Chris
PS – Consider joining my newsletter for fresh and fun new ideas for systematically engineering an extraordinary life. The emails are somewhat less dreary than this step-by-step.