The most important step that you can take when planning a project is titling it -- and you know it, too, yourself, in the form of topic sentences, which are more than topic sentences: A paragraph’s topic sentence is its North Star -- so, if you write the wrong one, then you’re dead – but why is that?
In 1978, at Harvard University, Ellen Langer had her assistants try to jump the line to the copy-machine by speaking three different, specifically worded requests: (a.) “Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the xerox machine?” (b. )“Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the xerox machine, because I have to make copies?” (c.) “Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the xerox machine, because I’m in a rush?”
The results? 60% compliance, 93% compliance, and 94% compliance. And why? Because of the why. Nietzsche said, "If you have your why for life, then you can get along with almost any how," and not for nothing: The why is purpose and meaning. It is insight.
To this insight I invite you: Jot down, as the insightful soul would, a title for your project and let it be your North Star; if you are capable of conjuring its purpose and meaning, then you have something worth toiling on.
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