Who, on this planet, do you have the most faith in?
…
If you said anyone other than yourself, you get to answer again.
Would you let someone else do your most important work? (If you don’t think your work is important, my apologies – you’re well on your way to becoming a miserable person.)
If you’re an entrepreneur, you trust yourself at the wheel. Maybe not at great speeds yet, and not without the occasional bump and wrong turn, but you’re doing your thing.
This way, you’ll never end up in a situation where you feel complicit in something unethical (or at least questionable). You’ll never do boring, uninspired work. You get to solve the problems you most want to solve. And, hopefully, earn enough to cover your bills, a few toys and a vacation once in a while.
It all rides on your shoulders. There’s no stronger testament to faith in yourself than to strike out on your own.
So why then do you have such a hard time doing that most important creative work – the stuff you know can have a big impact?
Because you have a doppleganger. And it’s sabotaging your creativity.
And it’s time to shut it up.
The schizophrenic in each of us
In Switch, the excellent book on how to create change (in yourself and others), Chip and Dan Heath offer some powerful observations about human behavior and what it takes to modify it.
One of the first points they make: every one of us is schizophrenic. And a particular alarm clock demonstrates this fact well.
The Clocky has the basic features of any alarm clock, except that when the Clocky “goes off” it’s tough to hit the snooze button – because the Clocky literally rolls right off the nightstand.
Then it rolls around the room making obnoxious noises and lighting up. And off you go half asleep in your underpants to stomp the thing into oblivion. Try getting back to sleep after that.
Consider RescueTime, the startup that tracks what you do all day and then tells you whether you’re being productive enough. They even provide a handy feature called FocusTime that literally blocks you from visiting “distracting” websites for as long as you set it.
I’ll happily hand $100 to the person who can name one other animal on this planet that needs to trick itself into behaving in its own best interests.
Maybe you want to get up early to get a jump start on the day, maybe go for a run or do some writing. At least, the you that sets the alarm clock for 6am wants it. This is the you who is willing to sacrifice now for better things later. This is the you who wants to do great work.
The other you, the you that wakes up to the alarm, is more like a cranky toddler. Sleep is comfy and someone took it from you, so you piss, moan, get snot on your pajamas and hit the snooze button.
This other you is also the one who decides that you haven’t done enough reading lately, or dusting, or that it’s time to rearrange your desk or reorganize your folder system.
This is insane behavior, but its common to our species. Who hasn’t procrastinated or left a project on the backburner so long that your inspiration to do it grows dry and stiff like a pot of overcooked beans?
So: how do you dispatch this internal saboteur and get more creative work done?
1. Focus on growth, not talent
Ever find yourself watching A-list bloggers and thinking, “she’s so talented – far more talented than I am. If only I could be more like her.”
Cut the crap.
Focusing on talent puts you into a fixed mindset. It leads you to think some people have what it takes and others are better suited to flipping burgers.
And that means when you try and fail, you’re proving something about your essential, unchanging self, and that’s heavy stuff. Heavy enough that the little voice in your head speaks up about how tomorrow is a better day to start and you really should go out and vacuum your car today.
The truth is, the brain is a muscle. And like a muscle, training makes it stronger. Intellect, and ability, are not static qualities. They get better as we use them.
Carol Dweck outlines this difference in understanding our brains and abilities and the proven effect it has on our lives in Mindset – a book everyone, in my opinion, should read at least once.
2. Set specific, behavior-oriented goals
The perfect way to sabotage your efforts is to set a goal like, “gain 500 new blog subscribers.”
You might as well say, “get super rich and adored by all.” That’s not the kind of goal you can act on. There’s no clear path.
When your goals don’t give you a specific action to undertake, you’ve given a free pass to the aimless, fearful side of you. A vague goal is the perfect excuse to do nothing at all.
Following the growth mindset, the only thing that matters is effort – it’s how we grow. Sure, smart effort (talent) matters, but we learn what that is over time.
If you want to be a better writer, write. That’s it. Yes, there are some techniques worth learning, but it’s far more important that you plant your ass and write.
If you want to build blog subscribers, you’ve got to hone the writing craft and get into the habit of posting regularly.
So here’s a better goal to set: 500 words a day, every day. Before breakfast (or whenever works for you). Again, the particulars don’t matter, but it should be routine-building and focused on the behavior you want to cultivate, not the end result of that behavior.
3. Put on your shoes and walk out the door
What’s the hardest part about running?
For me, the hardest part is acting on the decision to go. It’s too easy once I’ve sat down and started on something else to put it off until later in the day, and then the evening, and then the next morning.
But I run 6.5 miles, 4 days a week. Not because I’m some kind of master of will. Because I know myself well-enough to know that the hardest part is to put my running shoes on and walk out the front door. So I focus on doing that. Once I’m outside turning back isn’t an option – the voice in my head can bitch all it wants, but I’m not going back on the commitment.
What can you do to take a first step that puts you on the path of commitment? Unplug the Internet? Leave the house/office for a few hours? Lock yourself into an empty room with nothing but a pad and a pen?
The particular details of that first step don’t matter – the point is to focus on the step, not the entire project.
4. Get accountable
One of the most commonly-cited reasons for starting your own business is getting to “be your own boss.”
Nobody cracking the whip on you. You set your own schedule, do the work you want to do, when you want to do it and how you think it should be done.
When you’re working for the man that sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
Out on your own, after a while you long for the whip.
When nobody’s telling you to “get it done” it’s amazing how many reasons you can come up with to put off the important work.
- “I can’t believe I never finished reading Finnegan’s Wake. That’s just the inspiration I need to crank out some blog posts.”
- “I’d love to start on this eBook, but it looks like a few urgent emails came in I’ll have to deal with first.”
- “I never did try that recipe for rice pilaf…”
One perfect solution for the bottomless well of excuses is accountability.
Tell someone else. Make them a promise. Commit to a deadline.
Now instead of having a little secret self-beating session when you don’t do the work, you have to answer to another person. Now you’re not just letting yourself down, you’re breaking your word. And consistency is important to us.
Who should that person be? Doesn’t matter, really, so long as they’ll hold you to your word. Who do I stay accountable too? Until now, nobody – which explains my somewhat erratic posting here. I realized pride was getting in my way. I thought I should simply “be strong and productive.” Not terribly pragmatic, and totally outside the growth mindset (see above).
So I hired a life coach (hi Tim).
Tim’s job: to kick my ass when I need it. Eventually, once I’ve built a consistent routine, I won’t need the ass kicking anymore.
At least that’s the idea.
What about you?
What do you do to dispatch that fearful, whiny and distracting voice in your head who’s hell bent on keeping you from anything worth doing?
Hi.
I love you.
: )
This post rocks my socks.
Glad to be of service. ;)
I’d never heard of any of the books you mentioned Mike. I’ve got “Switch” in my Amazon wishlist now to add to my next order.
This post totally touches a nerve in that I’ve been dealing with procrastination issues big time lately. So here’s to solving the issues behind it and moving forward [raises orange juice glass up in toast].
Another rock solid post friend.
Switch is a great one.
Discipline isn’t easy to cultivate, but when the rewards aren’t insantaneous it’s a necessity. Procrastination becomes even easier when you aren’t accountable to anyone but yourself.
Thanks, as always, for your comment and kind words.
Hey mate, what are you doing inside by a computer? Oughtn’t you be out running?
I’m actually sick right now. Fighting a fever. No fun.
Ouch! Fighting a fever in the heat of Summer ain’t no way to spend a Sunday. Sorry man.
Respectfully, I could not disagree with you more. I’ve been self-employed for more than two decades and I used to think that there was something “wrong” with me. You call it your internal saboteur. I think it is something far more sinister and potentially harmful… you don’t know who you really are. Think of it this way, what you call your “internal saboteur” is really your conscience trying to get your attention to wake up and pay attention to your “inner space”! Its our “inner space” that’s the final frontier, it’s not something, someone “out there”. It’s not about spanking ourselves but loving ourselves enough to be truly content with who we are. Just say no to GTD, being more efficient, working smarter and just be a real you.
Adverse opinions always welcome, Greg.
While I can’t discount the personal discovery side of this, I think we can agree that certainly not everything we avoid or put off is an a signal of who we “truly are.”
That line of thinking sounds like an excuse not to push oneself to break bad habits and form good ones.
I’m wondering if your problem with my post is simply the “self-spanking” tone of it – certainly the four solutions I’m recommending aren’t actions of self-loathing.
I want to be the real me, so long as that real me is a me working hard to produce what I see to be valuable into the world. And so long as the real me is understood to be on a continuum of growth.
We all share the common experience of living life on our own terms. Each of us also wears a set of glasses colored with our the context of our particular life. We can walk the same path and have completely different experience. When we shift perspective we gain a new perspective. All I was attempting to communicate is some times we need to “slow down, you move to faast, got to make the morning last” as ghe song says. Have a great day!
No doubt. Fretting over this stuff too much means you’re not enjoying the experience of living. Gratitude for life > self-spanking
I dunno Greg. It sounds like you’re saying that the real me is someone who likes to put things off. And that’s NOT the real me. When motivated, I’ll work at something 12 hours a day and complain when the weekend gets here since it is cutting off my work time.
If I’m understanding you correctly, you are saying that I should just accept my procrastination phases as “me” and be content to be non-productive.
Surely you don’t mean it this way?
@goodnewscowboy Good question. No I am not suggesting that procrastination and putting things off is the real “you”. I am suggesting that the internal saboteur is simply our ego justifying its existence. I am suggesting that if you are sensing your internal saboteur rising it is a symptom of something more going on, at least it was for me. Does that make sense? If you’d like me to expand on the “something more going on” just ask and I’ll add more details.
I’m thinking my misunderstanding must just be different semantics Greg. The way I’d word it is that there is an internal saboteur in my instance and the method of sabotage is procrastination.
As far as “what” the saboteur is, THAT’S what I need help in determining. And I’m assuming that that’s what you are labeling as “something more going on”
I’ve read different theories through the years as to the “what”, but nothings presented itself as a permanent solution yet [he says while crossing his fingers and hoping the book "Switch" is able to bring home the bacon]
Actually, its not semantics but a new level of awareness. My awareness in this area is very fresh, growing and transformative, so I am just sorting out how to describe this myself! LOL I am going to provide some background and context and then try to answer your question. Over the years I have been ha on myself and a tough task master cause I was chasing “success” and had something to prove, aka insecurity. I discovered that my egos need for recognition, my emotions and thought life more resembled an ‘enemy’. Note: I credit “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle with my reawakening. Awakening? To what? That my true self resides in my conscious awareness, my ability to focus my attention within the moment. I see this as a spiritual concept (not religious in any way) that as I love and accept myself – knowing that everything I need I already have but just haven’t discovered it yet… this is a powerful idea and one a person can experience by learning to explore our “inner space and inner self”.
So does this awareness of love and acceptance keep you from procrastinating (or whatever else you were dealing with)?
Not sure if you are genuinely asking a question or what, here goes. We all deal with self acceptance and loving ourselves, everyone. Let me be clear, procrastination is a symptom not the “problem”. So procrastination, putting things off, dislike for “the work” or boredom is an indicator that there is something deeper or the cause of your dissatisfaction.
Great post Mike. A lot of good stuff here.
Next to sometimes being overwhelmed on where to start on a project, accountability is probably my biggest issue on all things entrepreneurial.
Its funny when I’m doing something for someone else (a client, my kids, friends, etc.), I actually have a pretty good reputation for getting things done on time. But I struggle when I have to do things for myself or my business that no one else will even notice if it isn’t done (redesigning my own web pages, prospecting, white papers, etc.).
I’ve even been known to hire people to do a task that requires quite a lot of my involvement, just so I know I’ll do it. They pretty much are being paid to sit there, watch me and lend a helping hand when I need it.
You should already know this, but I have a lot of respect for you and knowing you’ve teamed up with a life coach might be just the kick I need.
Thanks.
Hey Vinny, good to hear from you. Been a while.
I’ve been exactly the same way – if I’ve made a promise, or the project is for someone else, I never miss a deadline and will go through hell to beat one. But when there’s no one to let down but myself, and when the project isn’t “mandatory,” it goes on the back burner and then, eventually, gets pushed off the back of the stove and ends up rotting somewhere behind it.
For a long time I struggled with the idea that I should be able to get my own projects done without gimmicks like accountability.
Tim has helped me to realize that
Lisa Barone is a marvelously prolific blogger, and she swears by using an egg timer to keep her on task. The end result is a steady stream of remarkable writing, whatever tricks it takes to get there.
I appreciate the kind words. If you told me a year ago to hire a life coach I’d have either laughed or been insulted (maybe both). It’s been humbling and the best thing I’ve done in a long time.
If you’re looking for someone, I can’t recommend Tim strongly enough. Great guy, very sharp and keeps you laughing while you grow. And all with a British accent.
Schizophrenia is a poor metaphor here – you might as well say “your inner diabetic” – what’s the point in an intelligent debate based on an out of date cliche?
Fair enough, it’s decidedly not the best metaphor. But not the worst either.
I think many of us behave contrary to our intentions and best interests at times. I know I do.
You may think the discussion pointless, the metaphor a poor one and even landing at this blog to be a complete waste of your time.
If that’s the case, we’ll just have to live with never hearing from you again.
LOL! Mike, Mike, Mike. What are you thinking man! It’s amazing that you can even sleep at night having wasted scotsgirl’s time!
Can I suggest you guys check out what Psychoanalytic theory might have to say about this debate? I think you’ll find it illuminating. Ronald Fairbairn’s concept of the Internal Saboteur is particularly relevant here. Worth a google if nothing else…. :-)