Poke the Box
A manifesto urging you to take initiative and start things.
Summary of 7 Key Points
Key Points
- Initiative is key to success
- Failure is part of the process
- Start before you feel ready
- Be curious and experiment
- The cost of inaction
- Embrace the practice of shipping
- Overcoming the resistance
key point 1 of 7
Initiative is key to success
In the context of ‘Poke the Box’, the initiative is viewed as the starting point of all achievements. It is presented as the spark that lights the fire of action and the factor that differentiates the successful from the unsuccessful. Without initiative, ideas remain just ideas. Initiative allows individuals to translate these ideas into actions, thereby significantly increasing the chances of success…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 7
Failure is part of the process
In ‘Poke the Box’, the concept of failure is presented as an integral part of any process or journey. Rather than viewing failure as an endpoint, it is depicted as a stepping stone towards success. It is through failures that individuals get the opportunity to learn, grow, and innovate. When we make mistakes, we gain insights into what doesn’t work, leading us to find what does. Failure is not meant to be feared or avoided, but embraced as an essential component of progress…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 7
Start before you feel ready
Start before you feel ready – a concept that prods at the idea that hesitation and waiting for complete preparation often leads to stagnation. It emphasizes the need to take the initiative and begin action, even if we don’t feel fully ready or equipped. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and making the first move…Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 7
Be curious and experiment
The concept of being curious and experimenting means taking initiative, acting without waiting for any form of permission. It’s about going beyond the norm, challenging the status quo and embracing the risks associated with failure. It acknowledges that failure and success are neither opposites nor end points, but stages in a process, encouraging individuals to keep iterating until they find what works…Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 7
The cost of inaction
Inaction can carry a significant cost, sometimes greater than the risk of taking action. This cost is not always immediately apparent. It can manifest in lost opportunities, lack of progress, stagnation, and inability to innovate or adapt to changes. It comes into play when we fail to seize the initiative, to act when we feel the impulse to do something meaningful – when we let fear of failure or judgment prevent us from stepping out of our comfort zones…Read&Listen More
key point 6 of 7
Embrace the practice of shipping
In the pursuit of any objective or innovation, the concept of ‘shipping’ is vital. It is not merely about physically delivering a product or a service, but it is an inner commitment to overcoming fear, tackling resistance, and launching out an idea, project, or product into the world. The act of shipping is about getting your work out there, regardless of criticism or possibility of failure. It is about moving forward, even when the outcome is uncertain…Read&Listen More
key point 7 of 7
Overcoming the resistance
Overcoming the resistance is a dynamic process where individuals step out of their comfort zones and confront their fears. It’s about questioning the status quo and pushing boundaries to initiate changes, despite the internal and external obstacles. This resistance emanates from an inherent fear of failure, the unknown, or criticism from others. However, overcoming this resistance is necessary for initiating new ideas or actions that can lead to growth and success…Read&Listen More