Recently, I have been reading self-improvement books and had shortlisted a few. Although I still have a few that I haven’t read yet, I recently finished reading Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff. This blog contains my review and a few important tidbits that I noted while reading the book.
One of the core messages from the book is not to be fixated on linear goals, as the world changes constantly. By the time you learn something, it may already be a thing of the past. Therefore, it is important to live life through tiny experiments without worrying about the results. Note down how you feel throughout the day and then reflect on that later. You will find that you feel excited and energized when you do a particular activity.
Once you know what you like working on, do little experiments with it and see if you can showcase what you learn in public. Another important lesson from the book is repetition and putting in the reps. As you start working on your experiment to figure out what you like, ensure you get the reps in to stay consistent.
The author also says that an experiment is different from a goal because it is time-bound and contains a number of reps. For example, you can create a pact that you will do X for Y days. Once you set a pact, work on it to explore the possibilities of what that experiment can do.
Focus on showing up because even tiny progress can help you get closer to whatever outcome you desire. The book also talks about doing regular checks on how things are progressing with your experiments or with your life goals in general. It also describes a journaling technique called Plus, Minus, Next, where you create three columns: +, -, and →. Under the + column, you write what went well; under the - column, you write what didn’t go well; and under the Next column, you write what you plan to do next to overcome the things that didn’t work. More information on this technique can be found here: https://nesslabs.com/plus-minus-next
The author also encourages you to make a pact that you will consistently do experiments and stick to the schedule. Put in the work first, learn in public, and accept and refine things if they don’t go as planned.
My take on it is that it is vital to show up and put in the reps. In a nutshell, action matters, and you should let your tiny experiments help you explore your curiosity.
My rating: 8 / 10