Assessing the Experiment

Week 3 marked an interesting and pause and pivotal moment with a sign of a space to grow my persistence in my journey through the Curiosity Collective. I had built strong momentum in the first two weeks, but this was the point where I introduced a pivot—adding exercise to my daily commitment.

The Pivot: Did It Help or Hurt?

Initially, the shift felt natural, as I wanted to challenge myself beyond writing. However, I soon faced unexpected resistance: bad weather, feeling under the weather, and a return of old habits that made it easier to justify skipping a day when stressed by work, trying to figure out life in this new chapter I am living in, parenting, and feeling tired from many things. The question became: Did I pivot at the right time, or did I disrupt the momentum I had already built?

What Worked Well (Plus):

• The Curiosity Collective remained a safe space for learning and connecting with others, helping me stay engaged despite setbacks. I was actually surprised by how much I shared about my life and thinking.
• I learned that pivots are not failures, but experiments in themselves. Even if I struggled, the act of adjusting my approach was valuable. This requires some serious unlearning from life experiences and mindsets instilled in me. Even my lack of running this week is not a failure but data that can help me further figure out what is not working.
• The writing commitment from the first two weeks continued to serve as an anchor, even as I experimented with new challenges. Publishing in new spaces and working to write poetry has been very exciting(not published yet)

What Didn’t Go Well (Minus):

• The exercise commitment felt like too much too soon, and external conditions (weather, illness) gave me easy outs.
• I struggled with maintaining consistency in both areas—writing had become habitual, but exercise still felt like an uphill battle.
• I second-guessed whether the pivot was a distraction or a necessary challenge.

What’s Next?

Moving forward, I want to reintegrate the discipline from Week 2 into Week 3’s challenge—taking what worked from writing and applying it to movement. This means:

1. Identifying non-negotiable minimums (e.g., a 10-minute walk even when it’s cold, or stretching when I don’t feel like running).
2. Leveraging my strengths—writing and reflection—to hold myself accountable in movement.
3. Using my online platforms (blog, Substack, podcast) to document the next iteration of this process.

Next Up: IMPACT – What Comes After the Experiment?

As the Curiosity Collective wraps up, the final phase will focus on the long-term impact of this experience. What have I learned that I can carry forward? How do I share this journey in a way that benefits others? The final blog post will explore these questions and more.

Here is what I posted and share at the end of week 3 in CC

PERSIST & PIVOT: Getting It Done (Again)

I know my title is not as assigned but bear with me

Original Pact:

Last week, my experiment focused on rebuilding the habit of publishing my work—blog posts, reflections, and professional insights—five days a week. I wanted to reignite my confidence in sharing my thoughts and reconnect with the creative process that I had let go quiet for too long.

This week, I am both persisting in that commitment while pivoting to take on a new challenge: consistent movement and structured training through my newly developed 30-week marathon training plan.

In looking back at my old triathlon training logs, I was reminded of a mantra I created and lived by a decade ago when I was in tip top shape, driven, and competing at high levels—GETTING IT DONE. It was something I wrote, repeated, and shared so often that others began using it as well. I had forgotten about it, but now, it’s time to bring it back.

External Signals:

• Publishing Successes: I successfully posted five days a week, sharing a mix of blog posts, reflections, and AI-related content. The act of publishing has made me feel more engaged in my work and more connected to my creative identity. It also helped me to believe more passionately in what I believe in through the process of reflecting, intentional writing, and sharing with others.
• Challenges in Publishing: Some days, I wrestled with self-doubt—questioning the value of what I was sharing and also if where I was publising was the right platform. I realized I needed a dedicated space for more personal and vulnerable writing.
• Pivoting to Substack: As a result, I’ve launched a new Substack where I can publish poetry and personal reflections—things that don’t neatly fit on my website but still feel necessary to share.
• Running & Exercise: While I’ve remained active in bursts, I haven’t had a structured training plan in a long time. I attempted a running club last year and lasted about 7 weeks before injury because I just jumped right in without any base, being older, heavier, and not smart. I know movement fuels my energy, focus, and creativity, but I’ve struggled to maintain consistency and positive mindset in what I can achieve.

Internal Signals:

• Emotions Around Publishing: I feel accomplished for pushing through hesitation, but I still battle with imposter syndrome. However, showing up consistently has helped rebuild my confidence. I want to keep that going on the writing and expand to my physical movement.
• Motivation for Running: There’s resistance. A feeling of starting over. But I also know that action breeds momentum, and movement has always been an anchor for me. It clears the mind, does wonder for the soul, and is something I enjoy once I get the routine established.
• Belief Shift: In both publishing and running, showing up consistently matters more than perfection. Even small steps forward are steps in the right direction. I must give myself permission to move at a slower cadence and realize any action is better than none.

Decision:

PERSIST: I will continue publishing five days a week while embracing Substack as a space for deeper, more personal storytelling.
PIVOT: I will execute my 30-week marathon training plan each week that I created this week, as outlined in my schedule, committing to consistent movement and gradual progression.

Next Pact:

I commit to:

1. Publishing five days a week—across my website and Substack—to maintain momentum while diversifying my creative expression.
2. Following my running plan week by week, logging my training, and reflecting on how movement impacts my mindset and creativity.

Final Thought:

This isn’t just about hitting goals—it’s about reclaiming a mindset of action. I used to sign off my training logs with three simple words: GETTING IT DONE. It’s time to bring that back.

GETTING IT DONE