I’m not sure where to start. How do I turn this prompt into a clear, teachable walkthrough of my job without getting overwhelmed?

Start with outcomes, then work backward. 1) Define the 3–5 results your job must deliver each week. 2) List the essential routines that create those results (daily, weekly). 3) Map the critical decisions you make and the criteria you use. 4) Note common pitfalls and how you prevent them. 5) Capture the “tacit stuff” (shortcuts, norms, timing). Keep it concise: bullets over paragraphs. In Stoic, draft one section per day (Outcomes → Routines → Decisions → Pitfalls → Tacit tips) so you don’t have to do it all at once.

My job feels chaotic. How can I use this prompt to highlight what actually matters versus busywork?

Try a control/impact filter. Make two columns: • Essential: tasks that move key outcomes or reduce major risks • Support: tasks that help but aren’t critical • Noise: tasks with low impact or that you do out of habit. Then add “why it matters” next to each essential task. When teaching, focus on: outcomes, the few high-leverage tasks, and decision rules. In Stoic, write a short script someone could follow: “If X happens, do Y; otherwise skip.” This turns chaos into simple decision trees.

I’m anxious I’ll forget important details. What should I document so someone could actually do my job for a week?

Capture the minimum viable playbook: • Daily checklist (time-anchored) • Key contacts and when to involve them • Decision criteria (what good looks like; red flags) • Templates or examples of finished work • Escalation plan (what to do when stuck) • Recovery steps for common mistakes. Add a brief “first day orientation” paragraph: goals, tools, access, and a 90-minute starter routine. In Stoic, journal a quick debrief after imagining day 1: what questions did they ask? Anything confusing becomes a new bullet in your playbook.

Journaling Idea - On Examples.

Imagine that you had to teach someone to do your job for a week. What would you do to demonstrate the best ways to do your job?

Someone wants to learn to do exactly what you do, what would you show them? Why?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Apr 10, 2023

Journal in Stoic

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Zach Beauvais

Writing & User Experience

Zach helps stoic design experiences for mental and emotional wellness, creating guided meditations, mindful walks, and journaling prompts rooted in Stoic philosophy. He also serves as Marketing Director at Cornell’s ILR School, where he helps leaders clarify their purpose and turn ideas into content that engages students, faculty, and collaborators. With over 15 years of experience in storytelling, community building, and content strategy, Zach brings both creativity and clarity to his work. Outside of writing and strategy, he enjoys photography, making coffee, and carving spoons, bowls, and cups from green wood.

Imagine that you had to teach someone to do your job for a week. What would you do to demonstrate the best ways to do your job?

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