Turning Bullshit Into Reality
Convert an abstract value into ten concrete next actions
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 76%
George Mack's exercise turns a vague value into concrete action. You start with the 'bullshit' — a value that comes to mind, like physical challenge, gratitude, or adventure — and put it at the top of an Apple note. Then you creatively brainstorm ten specific ways to enact it: 'physical challenge' becomes 'run 5K'; 'gratitude' becomes 'write a thank-you letter to X'; 'adventure' becomes 'message the group chat to arrange the holiday we keep putting off.' Then you go through and actually do them. The exercise works because it surfaces intentions already percolating in your subconscious and moves you from reactive urgency to proactive alignment. Completed actions get moved to a separate note reinforcing 'I am that person,' compounding identity over time. George notes every time he does it, he calls it a great day.
Origin
Devised and demonstrated live by George Mack on the Modern Wisdom Christmas special.
Core principles
- 01A value you never act on isn't really a value
- 02Move from neurons to atoms: esoteric ideals into next actions
- 03Ten quick options surface the ones already rattling in your subconscious
- 04You become the person you want to be by doing, not declaring
How to run it
- 1
Surface a value
Name any value you'd like to do more of. There's no wrong answer: physical challenge, gratitude, adventure.
Pro tip Don't overthink whether it's a 'core' value; pick something you can act on.
- 2
Head an Apple note with it
Create a note and write that value at the top so the whole exercise hangs off it.
- 3
Brainstorm ten enactments
Force yourself to list ten concrete, specific actions that express the value.
Pro tip Make each one a real next action, e.g. 'book the trip' not 'be adventurous'.
- 4
Go through and do them
Work down the list actually completing the actions, converting the value from idea to atoms.
Pro tip Many will be ten-minute tasks you've deferred for years.
- 5
Bank the identity
Move done items to a separate 'I am that person' note to reinforce that you now embody the value.
In the wild
Under the value 'gratitude,' one brainstormed action is writing a thank-you letter you may have deferred for four years but which takes ten minutes. Doing it becomes one of the few things you actually remember when you reflect on the year, and brings you into alignment with the person you want to be.
→ A long-postponed meaningful act finally completed, plus a memorable year highlight.
Common mistakes
Treating values as a statement, not actions
Declaring values without acting is theatre; unless your behaviour is above your own baseline, you don't really hold that value.
Staying at the abstract level
Listing the value without ten concrete actions leaves it as 'esoteric bullshit' that never reaches reality.
Is it for you?
Best for
People who feel misaligned with who they want to be and want a fast proactive reset.
Not ideal for
Those who over-formalise 'core values' rather than just acting on what matters.
From the transcript
“you create an Apple note and you put that value at the top. Now you have to creatively brainstorm 10 ways you can do that”
“you've taken this kind of esoteric bullshit value that you've always wanted to have. Into next action. In from neurons to atoms”
From the episode
Christmas Special - Life Hacks, Biggest Lessons & Best Resolutions - #881