One of the sources I really like and check über-regularly is ChangeThis. ChangeThis says it creates a new kind of media: “A form of media that uses existing tools (like PDFs, blogs and the web) to challenge the way ideas are created and spread.” In fact, it kinda is a digital paper version of something like TED, with often fresh insights and ideas. And, what I also really like, using those existing tools really smartly. You actually must also read their own manifesto (link to a PDF file!), will give you a clearer image on what they try to achieve.

Today, I was cleaning my Downloads folder on my Mac. I actually was wondering where all my available disk space was going. Turned out to be my Download folder. All my downloads go there be default. However, when I downloads things I watch it, open it, etc. but obviously never clean that folder. I never had that problem before OSX or an earlier version of it, but its kindly provided by Apple. Yes, I know I can change that setting. Done that now, but I also grateful to have digital version of cleaning up the attic.

Anyway, while cleaning that folder I bumped into an old ChangeThis manifesto, titled ‘Purposive Drift: Making it up as we go along‘ written by Richard Oliver. I remember to feel relieved in a way, when this manifesto became available, because already the title kind of reflects how I do things. And most of us actually according to the manifesto:

When you were growing up,
did anyone suggest
that making it up as you go along was a sensible strategy
for navigating your life?
I doubt it.
And that is where a paradox lies, for when I look around me
and look back in history too,
what I mostly see
are people improvising their way through their lives.
Some doing it with grace and skill.
Some, frankly making a bit of a mess of it.
Some simply getting by as best they can.
The same can be seen for many businesses and other organisations.
So why did nobody tell us that this is how it is?
Why didn’t anybody give us any tips and tricks for living
by the seat of our pants?
Why did nobody provide us with a framework for doing it better?

Even last week I got that question again, on where I see myself in 10-15 years. I don’t know. I do a lot of things and still haven’t — and have no intention on doing so — decided on what I like or like to do most. And I believe that because of that, I have a lot of fun, go places, meet a lot of nice people and work on fun/interesting projects.

A nice quote from Jason Fried of 37signals, advising young software developers in a keynote speech:

“Make it up as you go along. You’re in a much better place to make a decision when you’re in it, than when you’re planning.” Challenged by a questioner, who argued that the ‘no-planning’ notion was a nice utopian vision, but not practical in larger development worlds, he replied, “I think it is more utopian to think you can plan everything in advance.”

Well, read it yourself.