Being nimble

I used to think that nimbleness meant only that when a new opportunity arose, you could start working on it immediately. But the ability to start doesn’t mean much without the ability to simultaneously stop doing what you were before.

To be nimble, it’s more important to be able to stop doing things than to start doing them. This summer I did some of my most innovative work, and I credit it mostly to the fact that by moving to London, I was forced to stop almost everything I was doing and start from scratch. By being open to new opportunities, I was able to pounce on the best one when it came up.

> In 1998 I had the chance to talk with Steve Jobs after he’d come back and turned Apple around…’Steve,’ I said, ‘this turnaround at Apple has been impressive. But everything we know about the personal-computer business says that Apple will always have a small niche position…What’s the longer-term strategy?’ He didn’t agree or disagree with my assessment of the market. He just smiled and said, ‘I am going to wait for the next big thing.'” – [An interview with Richard Rumelt](http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Strategy/Strategic_Thinking/Strategys_strategist_An_interview_with_Richard_Rumelt_2039)

But when I look for advice on this, I see lots of people talking about how to *start* things more easily, but few talking about strategies for *stopping* things. Tim Ferriss’ [Four-Hour Workweek](http://ryskamp.org/brain/books/notes-from-the-4hour-workweek) is the closest I’ve come, and that’s why it’s one of my favorites.

> The world throws opportunities your way every single week. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed already, you’re not going to be able to embrace them. Keep your mind clear of these feelings of obligations so you can be open to receiving new opportunities. – David Allen, [Ready for Anything](http://www.amazon.com/Ready-Anything-Productivity-Principles-Work/dp/067003250)

In creativity, like strategy, it’s sometimes more important what you don’t do than what you do.