It Wasn’t a Cult, but it Changed EVERYTHING!

Tiny Experiments, the book, and my experience with The Curiosity Collective.

I've been a subscriber and fan of the Ness Labs newsletter for over a year and have shared various articles with numerous people because I find each issue new and brain-tingling.

The newsletter author, Anne-Laure Le Cnuff, has been chronicling the writing of her book, “Tiny Experiments,” and I've been looking forward to its release for quite some time.

As part of the book launch, Anne-Laure created the Curiosity Collective. A place where curious people could gather and learn. There was a short application process and a month-long commitment to become a collective member. Being part of this group meant you received early access to book excerpts to create and execute a tiny experiment in real-time with 300 others. 

The group dynamic was fantastic. It was made up of curious people from around the world interested in learning in public, experimenting, and cheering each other on!

The format for the month was as follows:

• Week 1 - Observing and deciding what area of life to focus our experiments on.

• Week 2 - Creating our experimental parameters and running the experiment.

• Week 3 - Publishing our results within the group, accepting and providing feedback within the cohort. 

• Week 4 - Deciding if we would continue our experiment as it was, pivot, or start over with a new theme.

My first experiment - was around focus and my phone.

I hypothesized that if I spent the first hour of my day screen-free, I would be better able to focus throughout the day. 

The data I collected suggested that while I enjoyed my mornings more if I avoided my phone, recording the data was the anchor point in helping me stay motivated and focused.

During the feedback phase, another CC member shared a Ness Labs article about interstitial journaling with me. I've been using the method ever since.
It makes my brain tingle, pop, click, and chunk along happily all day!

My brain on interstitial journaling 🤤

My second experiment was about chores and house cleaning because tiny experiments are fun. 
I generally spend a chunk of Sunday doing my chores around the house and resetting the scene for Monday morning, but I don't want to spend my Sunday that way.
I mean, how fucking bland and blah!
I want to spend it in my studio, reading books, going on adventures, and eating tacos! 

My tiny experiment was to divide my weekend chores into chunks of time during the week—essentially, two daily chores and none on the weekend.

I made a schedule of chores, and then I gathered data.

And here is where things got so wonderfully interesting and maybe a touch obsessive—as I hope I never look at life the same way. 

In tracking my data, I noted why I didn't accomplish my chore for the day or how it felt when I did. I discovered that on the days I didn't accomplish my chore, it was because I hadn't slept well the night before and was low on energy—NOT BECAUSE I WAS A SLOB!

Until running this tiny experiment, I didn't even realize how hard I was on myself if my house wasn't a certain way or if I skipped cleaning in favor of being in my studio. 

Now, all of a sudden, I had data that showed me when I have energy, I keep up with the house, and when I don't, I don't.

POOF! This was a massive brain bomb of an explosion!!
I don't have to judge myself for being a rank disgusting pig because I'm not swine; I'm just fucking tired!

The relief! Oh, the relief and freedom that comes with DATA.   
BRING ON THE SPREADSHEETS!

The book also discusses goal setting and helped me see that setting big, wild, hairy-ass goals is exciting when planning. But they postpone joy—you don't get to celebrate until the goal is achieved. For example, “I'll be happy when..."

Even then, there is sometimes a letdown once a goal is achieved, called the Arrival Fallacy. A fancy term for building up the outcome of something in your head so big that when one achieves the result, it doesn't measure up, and then the goal-setter experiences disappointment.  And the pressure, motivation, and continued hustle to accomplish a giant goal can be exhausting.
Sometimes, it just doesn't feel good.

Instead, Tiny Experiments suggests small achievable systems or Growth Loops doing something small each week that is productive regarding a more significant desired outcome but takes time to reassess and decide if the actions align with the desired result.

A more thoughtful approach to head down and go hard for six solid months. 

While I love planning and plotting a year out on the calendar each January, it's very rare that the things I plot come to fruition. Then, guess who's there to judge me?!

ME!

Can you believe that shit?

I can already tell you that growth loops feel more sustainable and achievable. It's pretty easy to say I will mail four samples of my cards to small independent retailers each week for 8 weeks and see what happens, vs. I'm starting a wholesale empire - it hits different.

With this information and this thinking style, I feel like I'm on the precipice of a change that will significantly shift my mindset, energy levels, and overall well-being! Keep your fingers crossed and your butt clenched for me!!

Have you read the book? Will you? What will your first experiment be?