You have captured so eloquently what research is learning about procrastination! This is the stuff that entrepreneurs waste their time with. Not because they want to waste their time. It just feels that if you just tweak one thing a little more, it will be perfect and then everything else will be perfect. It can feel like you are doing something productive. Like you pointed out, it’s important to stop focusing entirely on what is not adequate. Celebrate what you’re doing well and this will enable you to choose when to trust your judgement and when something deserves a 2nd look.

You have captured so eloquently what research is learning about procrastination! This is the stuff that entrepreneurs waste their time with. Not because they want to waste their time. It just feels that if you just tweak one thing a little more, it will be perfect and then everything else will be perfect. It can feel like you are doing something productive. Like you pointed out, it’s important to stop focusing entirely on what is not adequate. Celebrate what you’re doing well and this will enable you to choose when to trust your judgement and when something deserves a 2nd look.

That’s the thing about content marketing. You have to generate the content and keep it going.

That’s the thing about content marketing. You have to generate the content and keep it going.

I’ve been working on a project for months, well, more like procrastinating for months. I haven’t even outlined the curriculum yet because I’m not sure how to frame the theoretical [or whatever it is] part, even though I could write the practical part in my sleep. And that practical part would likely be of the most value to the members.

I don’t even have a fancy logo for the project! Seeing that the big guys can launch without a logo is relief and no longer a reason not to proceed.

Ok, Monday morning is the time to outline the 12-13 lessons. Anyone want to hold me to that?

I’ve been working on a project for months, well, more like procrastinating for months. I haven’t even outlined the curriculum yet because I’m not sure how to frame the theoretical [or whatever it is] part, even though I could write the practical part in my sleep. And that practical part would likely be of the most value to the members.

I don’t even have a fancy logo for the project! Seeing that the big guys can launch without a logo is relief and no longer a reason not to proceed.

Ok, Monday morning is the time to outline the 12-13 lessons. Anyone want to hold me to that?

Great post, and one that is sorely needed. Not finishing is a major problem for creative people, and it’s a painful one. I wrote an e-book to help people finish projects – Cross the Finish Line: Overcome the Hurdles to Completion because this is such an issue with my clients and many creative types.

I particularly like your list of the voices that clamor for attention when you’re trying to finish. For me, the week before launch is a bit hellish, with all the details that must be covered plus that nagging voice making me think that if every single thing isn’t absolutely perfect, I’m going to be boiled in a vat of hot oil and then strung up before my audience to be further tortured. (One must bring some humor to this – it’s one of the ways to keep going despite that voice!)

One thing that I have found helps my clients is to get a sense of what will be different when they complete. We’re so accustomed to our self-identification with not finishing that we often can’t imagine what it will be like when we actually do complete something. Stepping over the line in our minds can give us a sense of what awaits us. The carrot rather than the stick.

I think perfection has little to do with thorough professionalism and everything to do with trying to overcome that ‘not good enough’ critic. We never seem to have a concise and specific metric for perfection, and as such it’s an ever-elusive ideal zone we’ll never get to, much less enjoy. I challenge clients to articulate their standard for excellence and then to drive toward that rather than some vague and impossible-t-meet standard of perfect.

Great post for the new year. I hope it inspires people to complete things so they get the sense of satisfaction that waits on the other side.

Great post, and one that is sorely needed. Not finishing is a major problem for creative people, and it’s a painful one. I wrote an e-book to help people finish projects – Cross the Finish Line: Overcome the Hurdles to Completion because this is such an issue with my clients and many creative types.

I particularly like your list of the voices that clamor for attention when you’re trying to finish. For me, the week before launch is a bit hellish, with all the details that must be covered plus that nagging voice making me think that if every single thing isn’t absolutely perfect, I’m going to be boiled in a vat of hot oil and then strung up before my audience to be further tortured. (One must bring some humor to this – it’s one of the ways to keep going despite that voice!)

One thing that I have found helps my clients is to get a sense of what will be different when they complete. We’re so accustomed to our self-identification with not finishing that we often can’t imagine what it will be like when we actually do complete something. Stepping over the line in our minds can give us a sense of what awaits us. The carrot rather than the stick.

I think perfection has little to do with thorough professionalism and everything to do with trying to overcome that ‘not good enough’ critic. We never seem to have a concise and specific metric for perfection, and as such it’s an ever-elusive ideal zone we’ll never get to, much less enjoy. I challenge clients to articulate their standard for excellence and then to drive toward that rather than some vague and impossible-t-meet standard of perfect.

Great post for the new year. I hope it inspires people to complete things so they get the sense of satisfaction that waits on the other side.

I really have to force myself to just stop and move on to the next project. Also, working too long on a project often times makes me very tired resulting in changes that probably would have been better left unchanged.

I really have to force myself to just stop and move on to the next project. Also, working too long on a project often times makes me very tired resulting in changes that probably would have been better left unchanged.