The Essentials | Pinnacle Newsletter #7
#7 The Essentials
Recently I've been thinking a great deal about the essentials – the most important things I need in order to be happy, productive and efficient. Items required to do my job comfortably and have some fun along the way.
The loss of my father has led to much reflection on what the important things in life truly are. Where am I wasting time, energy and money on things that don't truly matter?
When going through phases like this before in the past, my response has always been to declutter and prioritise, honing my active possessions to an ever leaner, more efficient, more considered selection. For example, where I once had a desktop computer, iPad and phone two years ago, I consolidated to a phone and a laptop, which is a better fit for me with a much lower burden of ownership.
I have too many interests and responsibilities to be a minimalist, but there is a lot to be said for giving your toolset a good shakedown every year or so.
Outdoor writers and editors need less stuff than you might think. The vast majority of my work can be done with a laptop, phone and a camera (external keyboard, pointing device and display are also essential for long sessions). I need some outdoor kit too, of course – mountain clothing, shelter, sleeping gear and so on – but most of us hoard far more of this stuff than we really need. The same goes for things like camera lenses (even camera bodies), other gadgets, books, stationery... the list goes on.
Having an excess of stuff is a good problem to have, but there are burdens of ownership: storage space, repair and maintenance, the knowledge that a poor purchasing decision was made (surely there must be a name for that nagging emotion?), the indecision when trying to choose the perfect tool for a job. These first-world but real problems can all be made to go away by simply getting rid of what you don't need.
What's the lesson here? People like me don't need as much as we think, and not buying something is easier than trying to get rid of it later. I think we could all benefit from keeping a sharp focus on knowing what our true needs are, and trying to fulfill those needs as efficiently and simply as possible. Make room for what matters in life, because it's short and time is easily wasted.
A small set of tools you know intimately is almost always better than a large, constantly changing set of tools you're still figuring out how to use.
Recently Published
The future of mountain navigation (a major digital feature for The Great Outdoors, covering the changing landscape of digital and analogue mountain navigation, with input from power users and leading brands)
The Big Spring Outdoor Gear Clearout (part of the aforementioned decluttering)
Links of interest
New outdoor books by two valued long-term clients, edited by me, are now out! I'm very proud of the work I put into these titles – it continues to be a privilege to work on material that matters to me.
High and Low by Keith Foskett
Bothy Tales: Footsteps in the Scottish hills by John D. Burns
This Photographer Uses an iPhone to Shoot Russia's Grittiest Streets (truly exceptional street photography demonstrating that gear does not matter at all – it's all about the subject and your vision
Hendrik Morkel takes a first look at the Sony A7III
From my Commonplace Book
Don't be the person who knows a thousand different tricks. Be the person who knows one trick and has practised it a thousand times.
- Anonymous
Until next time,
Alex
www.alexroddie.com