Snowflaking- more than a buzzword

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*this post from startsmart*

 

 

Some months ago I decided “snowflaking” was my word for 2008. Selfish, I know.  I first found the term in relation to novel writing and the process of taking a triangle and gradually subdividing each side until it resembled a complicated little snowflake.

 

 

Here’s what the process looks like:

 

*Source: Randy Ingermanson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php

 

As you can tell by the pretty pictures, it takes something basic (like a plot) and gradually breaks it down into ideas, scenes, subplots, characters, dialogue and then all those details that make a novel compelling. 

 

 

The next time I heard about snowflaking it was in relation to personal finance, specifically to knock out a significant level of debt.  If you’ve heard of guru Dave Ramsey you probably know the “Snowball Method” now blogger PaidTwice teaches about using snowflakes (small amounts) to form snowballs (larger amounts) and knock out debt. 

 

*Source:

http://www.paidtwice.com/2007/10/12/snowflaking-a-primer/

 

Snowflaking is the process of collecting small bits of money and storing them away until you have a big enough snowball to make a decent dent in your debt.  PaidTwice has used blogging revenue, eBay sales, refunds, rolled coins, and found money to snowflake toward debt free living.

 

It was at this time that I decided this new buzzword was a great way to describe my progress in many areas.  Reading my way through my bookshelves is snowflaking, one page at a time.  Cleaning the house is dusting on room at a time, dustflaking I might call it.  Training the dog is a continual process, snowflaking with one command at a time.  I walk my dogs and slowly regain my strength after my accident by snowflaking, one block at a time.

 

When I sit and consider my life goals it seems like I’m staring up at Mount Everest and the odds are stacked against me.  But taking it one step at a time, collecting snowflakes as small victories I can make it. 

 

 

 

 

Debt, like many goals or challenges we face, can be that insurmountable peak that mocks our lack of progress.  Eliminating thousands in credit card debt can be intimidating.  But you don’t have to come up with $100, start by collecting a $5 snowflake, a $17 snowflake, a $2 snowflake and suddenly you’re on your way.