N-1 is a concept that I read about today on Seth’s Blog. Seth says:
N-1. There are tons of things on your to do list, in your portfolio, on your desk. They clamor for attention and so perhaps you compromise things to get them all done. What would happen if you did one fewer thing? What if leaving that off the agenda allowed you to do a world-class job on the rest? What if you repeated N-1 thinking until you found a breakthrough?
I’ll be honest, this is a really difficult concept for me. I am a perfectionist with a pinch of OCD thrown in for good measure. When I do something I go at it full speed ahead 110%. The problem is lately, I can’t give 110% to everything that I would like to because I am always adding one more thing (N+1). These things are good things, they are worthy things, important things. I feel that way about each one of them or I wouldn’t have taken them on in the first place. But lately I am finding that I am giving each less than what they deserve and not feeling a sense of accomplishment in any of them as a result. I think this is a common feeling among teachers. We always tend to be functioning in the N+1 model. We give everything the best we’ve got and often feel stretched too thin. Today I took an honest look at everything I’m doing and came to the conclusion that I need to ease up a bit. I’m not even sure that I have to really give anything up, I just need to change my perspective.
I started the original Edublogger Alliance the first of the year 2010. My goal was to create a fellowship of edubloggers who encouraged and supported one another in our blogging journeys. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I think the alliance has been an enormous success. I got to know incredible educators, librarians, and home school teachers from around the world. I feel like I know each of them well as a result of reading and commenting on their blogs, having conversations on Twitter, meeting at ISTE, and even completing bigger projects together. It truly exceeded every expectation I had for it. In March, I started a second alliance and invited new edubloggers to join in the conversation. Again, I was introduced to incredible educators from around the world and truly blessed by the connections made. Because I started the alliances, I felt an obligation to comment on each and every blog post of each and every member. I think in the 10 months it has been going, I have commented on nearly every post (even if it was weeks later) with a few exceptions. It has been an awesome exercise in learning and reflection for me. I got several more requests for additional alliance opportunities for educational bloggers and created the iLearn Technology Edublogger Alliance social network on Wackwall (now Wall FM). Between the alliances there are almost 400 members! Something I couldn’t have anticipated or expected. As a result I find myself facing around 380 posts to comment on every day. Those are not the only blogs in my reader, I read many more that are not part of the alliance. You can see why this is becoming a problem. In my N+1 fervor, I have taken on more than I can physically do in the hours of a day.
N-1
It is time for me to really prioritize. This is a stressful decision and not one that I am excited to make but, in order to keep doing other amazing things, one I have to make. I will no longer be commenting on each and every edublogger alliance post. Whew, hard just to type that…makes it real. My OCD tendencies are fighting this hard 😉 What does this mean for the edublogger alliance? Nothing really, I hope that we will continue to encourage each other in our blogging and teaching adventures. I hope that we will still comment and retweet each other’s posts like crazy. I still plan on reading each and every one of your amazing posts (I wouldn’t even know where to begin cutting down my Reader). I am just giving myself permission not to comment on EVERY post. I hope that in the last 10 months, those of you involved in one of the alliances were encouraged in your blogging. I hope that my comments caused you to want to comment on another educators blog and encourage them. I would love for everyone who reads my blog to join the edublogger alliance and commit to commenting on a blog every week. Comment when you have something to add to the conversation, comment because you want to let your favorite blogger know you appreciate them, comment when you notice no one else has. Maybe I’ll make an “I comment” badge for those of you who commit to commenting for you to post on your website 🙂
What will I do now that I have made that N-1 decision? I will join conversations on Twitter again (I feel like I have been MIA lately). I will work on and teach a virtual class on digital storytelling. I will work toward starting a school and making #Twitacad (Twitter Academy) a reality. I will blog. I will walk alongside schools as they work to integrate technology. I will publish lessons. I will offer professional development. I will read. I will cook. I will teach my puppies some new tricks. I will figure out where my next N-1 should be so that I can find a breakthrough.
Kelly,
I have enjoyed your support for the community & agree that the Edublogger’s Alliance has been a huge success! Thanks again for the fabulous organization and being a great leader! I love your comments on my posts, but will be collaborating with you on other projects and making sure to keep in contact through Twitter! I also have this OCD problem and have been going through the same issue of saying no to some N1s and crossing off others. It’s tough but probably best for our sanity and health. 🙂 Thanks for all you do!
I am really glad you’ve done this Kelly as you do so much I was concerned about your health. We all need to reassess I think as we are drowning in a wealth (and I do mean wealth, there’s some amazing information out there) of tweets, posts, etc. Life is changing and we need to reprioritise what we can humanly manage along with the other important aspects of our lives.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment in my posts, it has been very encouraging for me knowing that someone of your calibre monitors and supports my efforts.
Well I might not still be blogging if not for your comments in the beginning. It’s nice to know someone is reading! I’ll look around and adopt an edublog and help keep someone else going.
You are of course welcome to comment anytime Kelly and thanks.
I’ll certainly miss your comments, but I totally understand what you mean. We certainly need to prioritize, but I’m sure we’ll keep bumping into each other and feeding our hunger for knowledge in our PLNs
So, you’re teaching a virtual class on digital storytelling? What a coincidence! We’re just planning a 5-week free session on the topic for educators!
Good for you, Kelly! This is a huge decision for you and I support you in it 110%. I thank you for all you have done and continue to do to instruct and encourage fellow educators. You lead by example. Now be sure you don’t add 2 more to replace the 1 you’re subtracting!
Kelly, this makes tons of sense to me. I appreciate all you have done, and if I apply the n-1 to my life, I’ll have more time to devote to my blog, which I’ve been neglecting for awhile now. Thanks again for sharing your thinking, your goals, your frustrations, and your hopes for the future. I am excited to see where you lead us next!
Kelly, I have felt tremendously encouraged by the Alliance and you in particular. You have always accepted me as a blogger, despite the fact that I am not a traditional edublogger. I believe you have recognized how important literacy and life-long learning are to me and to my blog. Your thoughtful comments have added such value to my posts, and your energy and enthusiasm truly inspire me.
I feel sad, almost as if I am saying goodbye to you. I hope that isn’t the case.
Kelly,
You deserve several sashes full of badges for all of the great participation in just my blog alone, not to mention the thousands of other posts you made in just these last 10 months. Your commitment to the support of others leaves me feeling inspired, always.
Thank you for again for leading by acknowledging that N-1 is not only necessary, but wise. We will all be better because of your vision.
@Dan- Thank you, I appreciate that! Those words will help me to stick to my N-1 and not feel so guilty while doing it.
@Susan- This definitely is not goodbye. I fully intend to keep reading each and every post (I wouldn’t even know where to begin paring down my Google Reader) This just means that I won’t be commenting on each and every post that I read. You all are a source of daily inspiration and ideas. I couldn’t cut that out!
@Denise- Thank you Denise, I am hoping to have more blog time myself!
@Chris- Thanks for the support…the not adding two more will be a challenge for me, you hit that nail on the head 😉
@Clara- I will still be commenting, just not with such frequency. I will definitely still be reading! I am teaching a virtual class on digital storytelling. Would love to hear more about what you are doing for educators.
@Crudbasher- I am glad that you kept blogging, I love reading Education Stormfront. You always leave me thinking deeply about education! I will definitely still be reading every day and hope to keep commenting as often as I can. Love that you are going to adopt an edublog, great idea!
@Judith- You have been an amazing support to me, you have kept me going and encouraged me more than you will ever know. I can’t thank you enough for that! Even if I am not commenting as regularly, know that I am still reading and appreciating all that you share!
@Shelly- You are incredible, you have been a huge support to me through all of your comments, tweets and RTs. I will still be reading and hopefully commenting, it just may not be as regularly. You are a daily source of inspiration!
While I will be ever thankful that you started this alliance and truly appreciate all your comments, I’ve been wondering how in the world you do it! Good for your for making this decision and thanks for sharing. In honor of your N-1 decision I am going to make a renewed effort to comment on the posts of others in the alliance.
I’d rather be doing that than laundry anyway!
Kelly, thanks for starting up the Edublog Alliance – it has been fantastic to be a part of it and I have read many, many wonderful blogs that I would never have come across without it. I really appreciate all your comments and support in my first year of blogging. However you are absolutely right – you cannot keep taking on more and more without stopping doing some things too. We all need to find balance in our lives I wish you all the best in finding more balance in yours.
I’m always amazed by the efforts you go to in commenting. It has been much appreciated and I know you will still look in on occasion – thanks!
@Clive, you can bet you will still see comments 🙂
@Maggie, I feel the same, the alliance has introduced me to so many wonderful blogs and people. I have been blessed by it!
Thank you @Jodie, I agree, reading and commenting on blog beats laundry any day!!
Kelly, I’m amazed at all you do. Thanks for all your support. I am with you on the prioritizing. Today, I’m cleaning out Google Reader and it means unsubscribing to some feeds. I think that it’s important to set up a structure that is not too stressful.
@Damianne- sometimes it is setting up the structure that is stressful for me because it means cutting something out! Thanks for the votes of confidence!