So, this name, Brunson Howard, kept popping up here and there. You know how it goes, someone starts talking about a new method or a new expert, and suddenly you see the name everywhere. I’m usually a bit skeptical of these things, but I figured, okay, let me at least see what the fuss is about this Brunson Howard stuff. Can’t just dismiss it without a look, right?
Getting Started with It
My first step was just to poke around, try to understand the basics. I read a few articles, maybe skimmed a blog post or two that mentioned his ideas. It seemed like Brunson Howard was big on a particular way of structuring work, or maybe projects. Lots of emphasis on breaking things down, but in a way that sounded a bit different from the usual advice.
I decided the only real way to get a feel for it was to actually try it. I picked a medium-sized task I had on my plate, something that wasn’t super urgent but needed doing. Thought it would be a decent test case for this Brunson Howard approach.
The Nitty-Gritty of Trying
So, I sat down and really tried to follow what I understood to be the Brunson Howard method. This meant taking my task and dissecting it into much smaller pieces than I normally would. Honestly, it felt a bit like overkill at the start. I spent a good chunk of time just making this super detailed list.
Then came the actual doing. As I worked through these tiny steps, I had a few observations:
- Tracking progress: Ticking off so many small items felt like I was making rapid progress, which was kind of motivating.
- Focus: For very short periods, it helped maintain focus on one tiny thing at a time.
- Overhead: But, and this is a big but, managing that list and constantly shifting from one micro-task to another added a layer of work. It felt a bit stop-start.
I remember one afternoon where I was trying to apply it to a more creative bit of work. That’s where it really didn’t click for me. The constant need to refer back to the micro-plan and switch context just broke any sense of flow. It felt like I was fighting the system rather than the system helping me.
My Thoughts After Giving It a Go
So, after spending some real time with this Brunson Howard way of doing things, what do I think? Well, it’s not for every situation, that’s for sure. For me, it wasn’t the magic solution some folks might make it out to be. The level of granularity he apparently advocates for just didn’t suit my natural workflow for most tasks.
However, I wouldn’t say it was a complete waste of time. I did find that for certain types of tasks – maybe very repetitive ones, or tasks where you’re struggling with procrastination – breaking them down to an almost absurd level can actually help you get moving. It makes the first step so small it’s hard not to take it.
In the end, I didn’t adopt the whole Brunson Howard framework. I just sort of cherry-picked the bits that made sense to me. That idea of super-small steps for overcoming inertia? Yeah, I’ll use that sometimes. But for the bulk of my work, I’ve stuck to my own tried-and-tested methods. It’s always good to explore new ideas, though. You never know when you’ll find a little nugget that helps, even if the whole package isn’t right for you. You gotta see what fits your own style, that’s what I always say.
