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The problem with low-hanging fruit

The problem with low-hanging fruit

In this issue, the danger of falling into the collector's fallacy trap, the order of operations to achieve creative mastery, how low-hanging fruit prevents you from reaching your potential, and why it's not always about how high you climb.

PJ Milani
November 26, 2024

🤔 INTERESTING

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art contrasting ‘Gathering more information’ and ‘Acting on information you have.’ On the left, a person lies stagnant in a shallow puddle labeled ‘Gathering more information.’ On the right, a geyser propels a person upward toward a diamond, labeled ‘Acting on information you have,’ symbolizing progress through action.

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A mistake a lot of folks make:

Falling into "the collector's fallacy" trap--
Believing that by collecting more information, we somehow absorb it to grow.

It feels productive to:

highlight more books
bookmark more articles
listen to more podcasts

❝

“If more information was the answer, then we'd all be billionaires with perfect abs.”

Derek Sivers

Real progress happens through decisions, action and commitment.

📐 DESIGN

There’s something quite liberating when you realize you’re exactly where you need to be as you begin learning a new skill. Here’s a short highlight from my chat with Roberto Ferraro on what dancing salsa taught me about the order of operations to achieve mastery.

🔮 ENCHANTING

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art showing the consequences of only pursuing low-hanging fruit. On the left, our hero picks a low-hanging apple from a tree and fills their basket. On the right, our hero is lying on the ground, too full to reach higher, sweeter apples, illustrating how settling for easy gains can hinder long-term growth.

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❝

“If we only do what we’re familiar with, we might miss what we’ve been made for.”

Bob Goff

This issue of Visual IDEA’s is brought to you by:

Stop competing for attention. Be different.

Translate your ideas into visuals!

WHAT STUDENTS FROM THE LAST COHORT ARE SAYING:
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I only wish I had found it sooner.”
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🧠 ANALOGY

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art showing the futility of climbing the wrong mountain. On the left, a person struggles to push a boulder labeled ‘status’ uphill. On the right, the person reaches the top of a volcano, which erupts, labeled ‘wrong mountain,’ symbolizing misplaced effort and goals.

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Friendly reminder: Always check you’re climbing the right mountain.

🤓 WHAT I’M READING NOW

“Big Feelings” by Liz Fosslien & Mollie West Duffy

One of many visual metaphors in the book

I finally got around to buying “Big Feelings: How To Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay” by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy. It’s a wonderful deep-dive on emotions, but more importantly it’s a brilliant example of how you can use the art form of visual metaphors to make a book standout.

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