Being specific is a superpower.

Most of our goals start out as nothing more than whim. Their touch is so light it's almost hard to tell that it's there at all.

But if you take some time to shape it into something concrete, it becomes much more tangible.

For example, take something as common as "I want to see the world." If you wanted to make it more specific, it could look something like this:

• I want to visit 3 countries per year

• I want to spend a minimum of 7 days in each country

• The average cost per trip will be $2,000

• Therefore, I want to dedicate 21 days a year to travel with a budget of $6,000

Seeing the world is tough to turn into a plan, but visiting 3 countries a year is much easier.

And if your plan feels too ambitious—or not ambitious enough—you can always tweak it. Visit 2 countries a year instead of three and it may be more within budget. Or make the trips shorter if it sounds like too much of a time commitment.

It's easy to adjust something that has shape. If you can't adjust a goal, it's not specific enough.

There is no such thing as a full-time customer.

You spend 40 hours or more each week thinking about your product. They spend 10 minutes.

You have dozens of ideas for the future, filling you with excitement. They only see what you've shipped.

You worry about including enough CTAs in your marketing emails. They've already forgotten what your company does.

Talking to customers is a great way to see your product through the eyes of someone who can only spare a fraction of their time thinking about it.

It reminds you what is really important and is kind of humbling in an empowering way.

One of the most valuable notes that I keep on my phone is a running account of the things that help me to have a good day.

I've titled it, "My theory of a good day."

And like any good theory, I am constantly testing and updating it.

Whenever I discover something new that makes me feel better—or something that I want to try—I add it to the list. And I version and date the list each time I change it, so I can keep track of the seasons in my life.

For a while, I would eat a bagel when I first woke up. These days I prefer a bowl of oatmeal later in the morning.

In one version, I would write before starting work. In another version, I wrote in the evening.

The goal isn't to timebox every minute of my day. That would be impossible anyway. Instead, I try to capture the sequence. First this, then that, then this. It's how our days are naturally built, whether we're aware of it or not. I simply document it, then update it when it changes.

And in doing so, I learn a little bit more about what makes me happy, so that I can spend more time doing what I enjoy.

New is not new.

All ideas have their building blocks. Pieces that were contributed by other creators, other authors, other professionals.

To get good at coming up with original ideas, become a master at combining things. Collect the blocks and then put them together in new and interesting ways.

Then build a block of your own.