Line BreakAuthor: Armen Shirvanian (5 Articles)
Armen Shirvanian writes words of wisdom about mindset, communication, relationships, and related topics at Timeless Information. You can follow him on Twitter at @Armen.
At any single time, you are only able to either take in input, or put out output. Talking while you are listening is not doable in any useful form, and any variation of this will leave you tired very quickly. Accepting this concept is helpful for you to break up your time into manageable chunks.
Output Is The Name Of The Game
Your first priority has to be on your output. All the things we see around us are are based on some one’s output. Those people certainly had much input and knowledge obtained to be able to create, but they eventually did create. In the same way, you have to mainly be thinking about your time spent working on output.
For a freelance electrician, that means time spent doing electrical work. While an electrician could spend their time talking to other electricians and hearing what they have to say, or reading electrical books, or watching videos about cool electrical appliances, the real deal for them is doing electrical work.
For a student, putting out research papers might be the output that is needed. If this is the case, then repeating the experiment an extra time just for fun, or reading research papers on a similar topic, or doing unrelated writing might be enjoyable to do in some way, but it isn’t what is needed for output. Time has to be set and used for writing and crafting the research paper(s). We have to remember what “done” means, as David Allen would put it.
Input Is Fine As Long As It Is Controlled
Taking in input, like reading something, hearing some one’s story, watching a video, or so on, is just fine, as long as you control the duration and effects of the input. Letting the input control you is not the way to go. It might not be as leisurely or enjoyable, but you’ve got to take in input with a sense of purpose, such as by remembering that you are watching a certain video to learn a concept, or reading a certain chapter to check for a relation to your own life. We get as much out of what we see as we are prepared for, so you want to prepare for input and remain in control.
As long as you make sure to properly separate your periods of input and output, and keep a healthy amount of output in place, you will not get overtaken by input overload or any variation of it that puts you into a trance. Too much input without usage of it is like putting more and more charcoal into a barbecue grill, and not lighting the charcoal on fire. The fire, or output, is the goal.
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{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
A very original post on keeping input and output separate. I think when you practice this in a conversation, it carries over to other areas of your life.
We are not meant to multi-task and are much more effective when we do less and not more.
Hi David.
Thanks about the originality. When I put out things as they come from my mind, I don’t usually have to worry about them being too common.
We sure are weakened when we multi-task. We also are weakened when a lot of our time is spent being disappointed about the success of others. These are a couple of items to avoid.
Hi Armen, nice post. I kind of see input and output as receiving value and giving value. You can receive value by reading books, listening to audio tapes, or going to seminars, but if that’s what you’re mostly doing, then you’re stuck in the receiving value mode (thinking that what you’re doing is giving value). I think a lot of people also refer to this as information overload or analysis paralysis.
But if you focus more of giving value (or output, according to you post), then you will get more value from other people. It can be in terms of getting a good grade from a professor, a hefty paycheck from a boss, or even an offer received from a successful business man. Thanks for this.
Hulbert´s last blog ..Improving on Time, Character, Mentality, Emotions, and Health
Hi Hulbert.
Thanks about the post. This is true in what you are saying. These things that you point out as input sure are, and those items of output are where our mind has to be. If I listen to a certain audiobook all day long, for days in a row, and keep listening to it just out of entertainment value, then it has lost some of its purpose for me.
Nice added example points here.
Fascinating take on this, Armen. Right now I’m really savoring input in my life, relishing new ideas, rolling around with them. And yes, sometimes feeling a bit overwhelmed. I’m probably very out of balance with input/output. But I can feel there’s an internal click just about to happen, when I’ll shift over. I’m not quite ready for that, though. Maybe my fire needs a lot of charcoal these days! Thanks for the thoughtful post.
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Meaning Mondays: The Singing Blog Edition
Hi Patty.
Thanks there. That’s pretty cool about how you said this. You can see your own input/output level at this time, and you are okay with it, and you see that your proportion of output will increase. I think that is a healthy way to go.
Building up that charcoal might be the step needed before switching to burning like a fire.
This was an interesting read, Armen
I would agree that if your input (Garbage In) is of questionable value, then your output (Garbage Out) isn’t of value either. You do have to evaluate what kind of information you are letting in.
Single-tasking, as you suggest can sometimes move you past the analysis paralysis stage so that you can deliver (or act) and produce the necessary output.
Karen
Hey Karen.
Thanks about the article. That is true about how questionably valuable input is worth checking for relevance. That is another component that connects to the concept here. If we have a source of input that is not giving us the whole story, or which is giving us some biased or filtered type of input, we won’t notice until we compare it to others. We could be reading a technology site that is biased towards one type of product or company over another, and that would slowly build bias in us as well.
Hi Armen and Steven, great post! I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately mostly because I’ve become wary of input these days. I’m generally open to listening to input but I’m learning to be more discriminating/discerning about what I pay attention to. Not all input is good/helpful, especially when it comes to choices/actions that are very personal by nature. And the flip side of managing input, at least for me, is to really learn to trust my intuition. Because sometimes, input that engages only at the cerebral level isn’t enough.
Hi Belinda.
Thanks about the post. That’s a good thing that you are wary of input these days. I think most are not wary enough. Checking where you get your information, or how much you are getting, will keep you from getting overwhelmed or under-informed.
Your intuition is a powerful guide. If it tells you that you’re only reading something, and that action or implementation is not likely to follow, you might want to switch to reading something else.
Nice post. Input is a bugger to control but ultimately productive. Atm I’d say my input and output are fairly balanced.
Craig´s last blog ..Deconstructing Creativity: The 4 Roles You Need to Play to be Fully Creative
Hi Craig.
Thanks about the post. It sure is a bugger to control input. We usually want to let input just come to us, and that works out fine until it messes up our efforts or energy. Then it is time to adjust the input intake.
That’s pretty cool about them being balanced. I’d say a 50/50 ratio of input-to-output would put you well above average, as I think most are at something like 10/90 or 20/80.
i think everyone who wants to be more productive should read this post
Hi Farouk.
This is true. I appreciate that. Also, other folks who would want to read this post include those who see the amount or quality of input they are taking in affecting their output, as well as those who see their ratio of input to output as well below their desired ratio.
That sounds exactly like the 80/20 principle. Nice idea, You have to find the minimum acceptable load to get your results.
Richard | RichardShelmerdine.com´s last blog ..Lessons From a Month of Meditation
Hi Richard.
This sure does have some relation to the 80/20 principle, in that ~20% of folks may be putting out ~80% of the effort we see all around us. It’s good to join that 20%. On that point about the minimum acceptable load to get results, I just read something that talked about that. The person in the example said that everyone does what they think is the minimum acceptable load to get results, but that everyone has a different estimate of what that load is, so we see people work at different rates. Pretty cool stuff.
Very simple and to the point, keeping a balance and keeping things in perspective. Great take on the area Armen!
Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..7 Enlightened Thoughts For A Kick-Ass Day
Hi Amit.
Thanks there. I sometimes try to keep things simple. I don’t think I actively try for that, but I usually stop once I feel like I got my concept across. Glad for the support.
Armen, I love the simple distinction you make between input and output – and more importantly the repercussions on our life and on our work by focussing too much on the inputs.
I would say with the currently level of noise all around us, most of us are in danger of having too many inputs and not enough outputs.
The analogy I can think of here is about giving and receiving in general. Ironically, most people are very good at giving and not so good at receiving.
So those of us who spend too much time on inappropriate inputs should reverse their approach and focus on a balance of much more outputs i.e. giving.
Arvind Devalia´s last blog ..Let Your Life Be Your Message
Hi Arvind.
That distinction sure is huge to make. You are right about the danger of having too many sources of input. It’s like standing in front of a hose that’s turned on. It is hard to be effective when water is continually coming at us.
That’s interesting about how folks are better at giving than receiving. That is something that is not talked about much, but I think you are right. Folks are first most likely to take, and then slightly likely to give, and then less likely to openly receive. I think that is the case anyway.
The balance can be changed.
Hi Armen,
Enjoyed this post. I liked this line, “It might not be as leisurely or enjoyable, but you’ve got to take in input with a sense of purpose, such as by remembering that you are watching a certain video to learn a concept, or reading a certain chapter to check for a relation to your own life. ”
It’s the intent that matters–if you take in input with the intent of applying it to better some aspect of your life, you get a lot more out of it.
Justin
Justin Qualler´s last blog ..How to define the word ‘diet’
Hi Justin.
Thanks there. That line is a big one. The intent we have while we are doing something is worth multiple times whatever the thing we are doing is. Perspective is what separates people. Someone might watch a 30-minute TV show to forget about their problems, and have the same problems after 30 minutes, while I might watch the same show partly to build up anger at how the show had no remnants of reality in it, and then return to efforts with more vigor. We would leave from watching the show with very different mindsets.
Good call about checking up on that point.
This is so true for us. We have to produce and production means output. It means creating and developing. If we don’t produce then production stops and so does money. That simple.
El Capitan´s last blog ..
Hi Captain.
You sure have brought it down to the simple parts there. Without production, all these things around us are not there. It has to be the well-guarded priority.
Armen Shirvanian´s last blog ..How To Achieve More And Do Less
Great!
Simple and straight-forward. This reminds me of the exhortation that TO BE A WRITER, ONE MUST GO HOME, PUT PEN TO PAPER OR IS IT FINGER TO KEYBOARD …. AND BEGIN TO WRITE. SIMPLE.
Thanks.
Christopher Kabamba´s last blog ..Why the Science of Success Theory is Flawed
Hi Christopher.
That is very valid. It sounds obvious for folks who are not writers, but any writer knows what it means. A plethora of other activities are useful, but they do not constitute writing.
I looked up ‘exhortation’ with my wonderful program WordWeb that I recommend for all. I think I knew it at one time, but now I know it better. It also gave me a chance to recommend WordWeb that lets you press Control and Right-click a word to see its definition instantly.
Glad for the message.
Great Analogy, this makes it so clear. I think procrastination leads to too much input!
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Born To Run
Hi Tess.
Thanks about the analogy. I’d say you are right about that. Often times when we procrastinate, what we are really doing is taking in input, and postponing output. We might as well cut off the input too, to see what happens.
Boy, did I need to hear this today and yesterday and last week and last month….LOL!! I need to hear this. Thank you sooo much. This is REALLY good advice, In fact, so good that I am going to print this one out. And I don’t print many out as I hate to waste trees (paper). Thank you Armen!! And thank you Steven of having Armen.
Robin Easton´s last blog ..The Power of Our Beliefs
Hi Robin.
That is very cool to hear about. Frankly, I need to hear what I wrote there as much as you. That you are printing it out means quite a bit to me. I very rarely print out articles, so those few times I do are for ones that I need to see in print.
I appreciate the kind words.
Spot on and easy to remember. One of my favourite posts this year so far.
Hi Rosie.
Thanks there. I thought this concept would be a useful one to share. Glad it is up high in your ranks~
Hey Armen, isn’t it amazing how much we can benefit by being reminded of the obvious? It’s so easy to focus on the more complex solutions, when in reality, it’s the simple ones that really pack the power to transform our lives. Excellent!
Jonathan – Advanced Life Skills´s last blog ..Is More Success Always a Good Idea?
Hey Jonathan.
That is true. This one is not so obvious to me, or I would be following it fully already. Simple ones sure are a bit easier to follow.
Simple concepts are the ones we can process and use as a foundation.
Excellent Article Armen – That leads us to a very vital Question – Do we spend our Time as Creators or Consumers?
Devendra´s last blog ..Bridging the (Parent-Child) Divide
Hi Devendra.
Thanks about the article.
That sure is a key question. I’d say that we have to first put our time toward being creators. This is because it is clear that only consuming provides nothing to other creators. If YouTube only had one person posting videos, and everyone else was consuming them, it would not be rich in variety of video types(albeit also loads of garbage comments). Good question to ask ourselves at times, though.
Armen Shirvanian´s last blog ..An Interview With Gail Brenner
Armen – very interesting post. I often say the total opposite, focus on the input and not the outcomes! What do I mean? We can only control ourselves and what we put into any particular endeavour. We can’t control how the outside world responds to our input / efforts and to try only leads to suffering. We can measure what we put in and have control over that, but have no control over the results. That said, I agree that everyone should focus on doing rather than thinking which is your point.
Thanks,
Phil
Phil Bolton´s last blog ..12 Sources of Inspiration
Hi Phil.
Thanks there about the post. I think the word you are labeling as “input” is the one I had labeled in my article as “output”, so I think we are on the same page in some respects. You are right, though, about how we can only control our end of interactions and endeavors. It isn’t up to us, and is a waste of time, to try to control the reactions or responses from others.
On a related note, some big companies are starting to realize this with social networking sites being out of their control, and small company problems can spread very quickly. It’s worth understanding.
Excellent! This is the kind of thing that I need to be frequently reminded about.
Mama Zen´s last blog ..Sky In Bloom
Hi Mama Zen.
Thanks for that. It is something to see or think about routinely, until the a higher ratio of output-to-input is developed. Once it is in place, it will be easier to maintain.
Hi Armen
So good and so clearly illustrated. There is a real danger of going to input overload, simply because we can indulge in more and more information as it is so easily available. The same with materialistic goods, we can have our garage full of stuff but hardly ever use any of it.
Once you are able to make this distinction between input and output a whole lot of problems would disappear don’t you think?
Over eating, over consuming and getting into debt, this is really something to take serious.
Great stuff, thank you Armen.
Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Ann-Marie on ‘I don’t know’ so I say STOP
Hi Wilma.
Thanks there. Input overload is an easy trap to fall into, and although we can easily get out of it afterward, the time lost is unattainable. The few who are strict about the input they take in are the ones who also enjoy input the most. Those who are in an overload cycle barely enjoy the input at all.
Hi Armen and Steven, Great timing for me. I have realised recently I need to address this balance with regards to my blog and how much I am reading vs creating.
Hi Jen.
I am all about timing. I must have planned the article for you as well.
I hear you about that balance between how much you are reading versus creating. I think very few are satisfied with their current balance. It is a key area to keep in mind or keep track of.
Output is important, but too much focus on output can be dangerous. If we don’t have enough input the quality of the output suffers, not to mention that the direction of the output can become misapplied. There’s a reason why Brian Tracy recommends reading 1 to 2 hours every morning; it’s so the quality of our output (and therefore it’s effectiveness) can be enhanced. Obviously a balance should be struck, but too often we get carried away with ‘doing’ than thinking or contemplating. The result can be a lot of wasted energy.
Kenji Crosland´s last blog ..How to Sell Ideas
Hi Kenji.
This is true that shifting the balance way over to the output department can lead to lower quality output. We have to continue to feed the source of our creativity or effort.
Reading for 1 to 2 hours every morning sure would leave a person in a very good position. I don’t think I’ve ever known someone to have that habit, but that would set a person way apart from most.
I can relate on that last point you bring up, about doing a lot without thinking much about it. It was sort of a learning process, but it’s better to have a learning process with something useful than something irrelevant.
Yes I agree with this post and resonate very well with the message. I sucessfully apply the 80/10 rule in my writing and this allows me to focus on output and less on input. You make a great point about having a goal in mind prior to watching a video, or reading material, in order to save time and get the value you need on it, versus spending too much time on input that may take up too much time for the indvidual.
Hi Baker.
Good deal there about the post. I think that is the first time I have heard of the 80/10 rule. We have to find out where to use that other 10%. I am joking there.
Each time I use that method of having a plan before taking part in an activity, I get a result that I am glad for, but if I don’t, it is a toss-up as to whether I get a result I am glad for. Planning raises our fulfilling results probability. Thanks for your thoughts.