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As busy business owners we surely can relate to this. Maybe not with writing,
but with incomplete business-building/development tasks or even clients’ work
that remains unfinished day after day (or in many cases for weeks and even
months).
Can you relate?
To be honest, I know I do – all too well unfortunately, especially if I don’t
regularly implement three key things.
What are they?
Here are the three things I shared in my workshop that for many of the workshop
attendees was a light-bulb moment. They were suddenly able to see what was
really keeping them stuck from completing tasks as well as how they could get
back on track with their writing.
I’m sure you’ll find them just as helpful as I do and the workshop participants!
1. You're suffering with the "I'm not good enough"
syndrome
How many times have we said this to ourselves?
This statement (which is driven by a lack of self-belief) can stop us from even
starting the project, or will have us checking our work, over and over again
until it is perfect.
Yes, this is otherwise known as the perfectionist syndrome.
Problem is – it’ll probably never be perfect, because the bar we set for
ourselves is just too high.
The lack of self-belief was one that many of the writers in the workshop could
relate to. In fact, one woman came up to me after the workshop to share her
epiphany. She realised that time management was not really the issue - she was
struggling with her self-belief. And this was what was causing her to do
anything and everything but write.
Another writer had been editing her manuscript for quite some time and was still
only half way through the first half. It wasn’t that she was having issues with
time management – she didn’t have the confidence or the belief that what she had
written was good enough, and therefore she was stuck on the endless cycle of
editing and re-writes.
Perfection is paralysing and will cripple your business if you let it.
Here are three things that I have found helpful in getting out of that crippling
‘perfectionist’ mode.
1.
1. There is no such thing as failure – there is only feedback.
When something doesn’t quite have the outcome that I expected, it doesn’t mean
that I have failed. It is only providing me with feedback that I should change
some things and try again so that next time I can get a better outcome.
2.
2. Go for completion – NOT perfection.
Finish the task at hand, edit it once, and then let it go. If you don’t, like
the writer I described above, you’ll get stuck in the endless cycle of editing
and re-writes and never get anything launched.
Go for completion!
3.
3. You ARE good enough. Just DO IT!
Stop doubting your skills and strengths – it’ll only continue to cripple you.
How often do we look at other people and admire their work, only to feel totally
inadequate with what we are doing?
Stop measuring yourself against other people and start measuring yourself
against your personal best!
You ARE good enough and so is your work. Get it out there into the hands of the
people you were meant to work with! Ok?!
2. You're not creating a supportive
and encouraging environment:
Ever tried working in an environment where you just couldn’t concentrate?
Perhaps the area was just too noisy. Or you could see the unwashed breakfast
dishes beckoning you, causing you to feel a little guilty or the distracting
piles of paperwork (and goodness knows what else) scattered on your desk and
throughout your office.
Unfortunately I can relate to all three scenarios, and if you can too - no
wonder we can’t concentrate and get anything completed.
It’s not our lack of time management skills, it’s our inability to set up a work
space that will enable us to concentrate and be productive.
Here are three things that I have found helpful in setting up an encouraging
environment:
1.
Clear the deck first so there are NO distractions
Clear away the filing; have the dishes done; put your phone on silent (or divert
it); and create a relaxing space where you can concentrate and get your work
done.
The world (i.e. your emails and social media connections will still be there
when you get back!)
2.
Choose a space and make it yours!
Do you have a space you can decorate with inspiring paraphernalia - a space
where you can close a door and just sit with your own thoughts?
While many of you may find this difficult, particularly if you have young
children around, one of the women (a multi-published author) commented she had
written many-a-chapter of her now published books in the toilet.
Now I’m not advocating you set up your office in the loo, however if you don’t
have a dedicated office try to find a spot in your house where you can shut away
the noise and hustle and bustle of the family.
3.
Change location if you need to
Sometimes, despite having points 1 and 2 in place, I just can’t seem to get
motivated. So I have been known to go outside and sit by the pool out in the
sun. Or even at my local library or café. It works!
3. You're lacking
structure and/or discipline:
While many of my clients love to create an environment that allows them to be
spontaneous and flexible, without structure or discipline – you’ll end up doing
a myriad of other things and NOT what you intended to do in the first place.
It’s amazing how ‘just 5 minutes’ on Twitter can turn into an hour of idle chit
chat. Or “I’ll just quickly respond to this comment of my Facebook wall” can
turn into a group conversation that extends into an hour-long (or even longer)
discussion about anything and everything other than what you were supposed to be
working on.
While relationship building is important – is chit-chatting to friends and/or
family (or even colleagues) about your weekend really going to get you closer to
your business goal?
Be honest.
Often those so-called mini interruptions turn into longer interruptions and by
the time you return to your work (or even get started) – you’ve lost your train
of thought. Or you just don’t feel motivated to do anything anymore. Therefore
the task you had intended to finish – is still incomplete.
Sound familiar?
Here are three things you can do to avoid disruptions:
-
Create a structure which includes your prioritised to-do list and a deadline
by when you are going to have this completed – and stick to it!
-
Schedule this task during the best time of day when you know you are at your
most productive
-
Turn off all your distractions including your phone, tv, email, social media
platforms and anything else that can easily distract you.
There you have it.
Important steps to get you back on track so that you can complete all of the
items on your to-do list.
Have Your Say:
What about you? Do you recognise that one (or all) of these three things is what
is stopping you from getting those tasks completed and off your to-do list?
Which step are you going to implement to help you better manage your time and
get things done? Let me know in the
COMMENT SECTION ON MY BLOG
- it’s always great to hear from you!
Till next time, stay inspired and brilliant!
Annemarie
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Annemarie Cross – Brand Specialist, Money Breakthrough & Business Coach. Want to learn simple ways to Get More Clients and finally
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