I’m a problem solver by trade and pretty good at digging down to the core on seemingly complicated issues to arrive at somehow simple solutions and unpack them into tiny achievable steps.
Yet, I’m my own worst enemy when it comes down to tending to my personal pile of dirt in the backyard, perfectly hidden from the eyes and judgment of the world. Idea-vomiting and creating huge lists of valuable things I could start creating, once I’m confident enough and finally ready to start.
Which is a totally wrong statement in the first place, because it implies I wouldn’t have taken the first step and my mind runs high on dreams and ideas without any substance or actual work behind them. No, somehow I wrangled up enough inertia to crawl over the first hump and get the ball rolling, just to close the door immediately, before the ball could roll out into the world … bury the idea and forget about it again.
… if actually forgetting would be easy and you didn’t start 4 times already? Hah, what a fool!
Buried deep down on a plethora of amazingly long lists of “ideas” is one task with already around 20 early drafts – and even almost finished items – posts about inspiring and thought provoking ideas, guidance on creativity, being more productive, how to actually get from ideation to finished product and many many more. Some shorter, some longer articles, but all include words that certainly could help someone out there. If not only for planting a seed in their mind, as others did to me. My bar for desired reach is pretty low, as just one inspired person is enough.
One person can change the world.
The target in achievement land
Change your world and roll balls? Dig out mounds of dirt? Sort of, but more. Writing and actually publishing some articles, juggling around topics in a scattershot approach to check out which styles and subject matters flow better and lead to more enjoyment during the process. Finding schedules I can aim for, breaking them and trying again, striving for consistency. If you boil it down, consistency and discipline are when you do it anyway. Can’t fake it.
Embarking on one singularly focused journey wouldn’t be my style. Besides all fascination towards the tech side, I have to keep my creative juices flowing. Not to understate the art of good writing, but we’re learning here after all and in my juvenile mind, writing is still more of a technical craft. I always enjoyed the act of writing and “too easy” can be an enemy “too big“, therefore this challenge in progression needs some more heft to it.
What does the modern centenarian article need to spice it up? AI generated images, fancy illustrations or sketches. Check!
Despite designing logos, websites and apps, wireframing, sketching and photoshopping away all day long, I suck at avoid more creative drawing by hand. I prefer the technical side provided by software and digital tools, the seeming perfection of accurate parallel lines, design-systems, grids, pixel-perfect spacing and what not. A kinder, more positive truth is probably along the lines of “I can improve” and “I just need a damn reason to do it regularly“.
But what if they are atrocious and really … really bad?
“If you don’t act, the lies are still too comfortable.
Someone, somewhere
Look for better reasons to convince yourself.”
Seriously, who cares, they probably act as adorning scribbles, visualizing concepts in regards to the main topic at hand and starting out, almost nobody will see them anyway. No one to alienate and nothing to lose on the external validation front. There’s even the magic of rough scribbles on a napkin delivering a concept better than your glorious artstation masterpiece in 8K – I’m shooting for the former.
And now? Stop procrastinating
So if there’s anything holding you back, look harder for good reasons to get going. The rule of improvement is, there’s inevitably a 100% chance to succeed at getting better after you’ve crossed the starting line. You just don’t notice miniscule improvements yourself as easily, only after some time and considerate introspection.
There’s this amazing thing called “bootstrapping”, in a sense starting fast and iterating upon it. The art of not being married to your ideas, allowing them to grow, to change, to let them die. Try out if stuff is even worth following in the long term, without investing too much of anything and knowing deep down you’re not perfectly ready for it … but that’s fine.
Afterall, ideas alone are worth nothing and many of them sound awesome, until you try them.
“You’ll never know without trying.”
Someone, somewhere
So, let’s start now and attack the nasty pile of dirt, because if you don’t you probably never will.
