Zen Habits

A news column pointed out a very interesting, relatively new site http://zenhabits.net. Blogger, freelance writer, Leo Babauta, gathers some excellent points and suggestions about personal change and productivity through simplicity and basic changes of habits.

I was disappointed to read criticisms of his site based solely on the fact some feel he isn't truly representing Zen. The purists, I fear, will just have to get used to the idea that Zen is in the public domain. Not everyone will apply the terms the same way. It's associated with ideas that are simple and practical as much as it is with challenging concepts of philosophic detail. I'm on Leo's side. I've read, as it appears he has, a good range of ideas, discussion and works of Zen from masters, observers and philosophers. His ideas seem as valid as anyone's about the practical applications of Zen principles.

The particular piece I saw citing his blog referred to his Haiku Productivity principles - a neat way of saying let's keep it simple... and by doing so you can accomplish your work in much less time. In his view you can do all you need work-wise in a couple of days a week. You can find the reference by putting Haiku into the search engine on his pages. This idea is growing in popularity as evidenced by books like "The 4 Hour Workweek" by Timothy Ferriss.  Personally I prefer Leo's Haiku principles.

Ferriss seems to me logical enough, but in ways that few could reliably immitate. Unless you get lucky with a breakthrough idea, I can't believe you're going to succeed financially with a new company the way he happened to do. It's tempting to model yourself on success, but we have to remember that the people who do all the work he doesn't do in his 4 Hour week company are closer to observing him than readers of his book - but they haven't yet all run out and copied his example successfully. If it were that easy, no one would actually be accomplishing work.

On the side of Zen Habits, these are things a single individual would seem to have a reasonable chance of emulating that can serve as examples others can use in their particular fields. It's rare that I run into blog pieces I so thoroughly wish I could have written. Keep up the great work, Leo.