[logicallee]

So I disagree with this advice, because I think there is an effect that talking about something feels as good as if you've done it. I prefer to keep an accomplishment totally stealth - not write it down or mention it to anyone - until it's more than done. And then understate it, casually let it out of the bag.

This is how Apple did products in their heydey. Did Steve Jobs list all the things the nonexistent iPhone did, and then selectively publish a version that wasn't false?

No. He kept his fucking mouth shut and pushed ahead toward a vision.

[sarreph]

I think you're misunderstanding the difference between listing goals to yourself privately (be it mental or physical), and sharing it with a wider audience.

I highly doubt that Steve Jobs 'kept his fucking mouth shut' about his vision(s) for iPhone iterations. After all, if he didn't share what his goals were with his close team, then surely he would have had to have built the phone himself in order to not 'list all the things a nonexistent iPhone did' to at least a few other people.

Sorry for the refute, but I couldn't help but call-out your highly inaccurate (to your first point), and also false choice of analogy.

[themartorana]

Well, I'm sure he gave that list to the people designing the hardware, software, OS, marketing materials, etc...

[logicallee]

Actually, he didn't:

http://thenextweb.com/apple/2014/10/05/apple-skankphone-buil...

"Apple had two teams working on the iPhone in complete isolation from one another. One on the real iOS platform with fake hardware and the other on the real hardware with fake software; AKA the ‘skankphone’."

That is the closest you can get to having no such list.

[matwood]

That was mainly after Jobs had expectations put on him. Was early Apple Jobs super secretive? From my reading it doesn't seem so because he was out overhanging the market with sales and then trying to meet them.

The point of telling people about what you are going to do is to put some pressure on yourself to do it. This is similar to selling something you have not yet created. A secret plan easier to quit because no one will ask you about your venture. It becomes easier to lie to yourself about the progress or lack thereof.

Of course everyones personality is different and this particular technique may not work for you. For many people though, peer pressure is a major driving factor in their lives for better or worse.

[chrisbaglieri]

Author here. The only one who ever sees the resume I spoke about in this post is me. I'm the audience.

Different strokes. The more I stare something in the face, the more likely it becomes reality.

[logicallee]

Yes, different strokes. I still feel the opposite. I explicitly keep from staring at non-existent accomplishments in the face (even in my private papers). If I want to see it, I have to get it done. That simple.

[serve_yay]

A better example would be Jobs's philanthropy; not only did he keep his mouth shut but after his death people actively disparaged his memory for not sharing his wealth.