Blog
Articles on finishing self-generated work and building expertise-based creative businesses, with the Creative Engine, Ground Truth, and Capacity frameworks.
conscious decision
What is Idea Debt? (And why it keeps your creative projects from getting finished)
If you have too many creative projects and can’t finish any, you’re living with Idea Debt. Find out what it is, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Why you can’t commit to one idea
Struggling to commit to one idea? The problem is asking one idea to do too many incompatible jobs. Here’s how to evaluate ideas more clearly.
How do you know if it’s time to quit?
You’ve worked so hard, gathered so much research, gotten really deep in…and all you feel is overwhelmed. How do you know when it’s time to quit?
“It’s like a fortune cookie” — When you surprise yourself with what you’re capable of
“I was getting closer to my creative life all year. I just didn’t realize it, because it wasn’t a step-by-step “extreme makeover” version where five weeks later I’m like, Now I’m a published author. Or, Now I can quit my day job. But all these other things happened. And now it’s been 14 weeks? And I mean, I’m rolling.”
Focus + accountability = massively improved creative productivity…now that’s math anyone can love
Coni felt like she should be making progress on all of these goals, that she should be able to hit her deadlines on five things at once.
This is on top of her job, mind you.
Now she’s actually getting things done. What’s her secret?
This is why you’re procrastinating, and how to stop
I know you’re serious about your creative work. Whether or not that work is your job, your self-generated projects are the key to your future self. Which is why it’s so crazy that when you sit down to face that work (if you even get that far), you squirm and end up on social media or watching some TV show, just wishing that you would stop procrastinating. You feel like you “need” to get stuff done on your self-generated creative project so you say no to something you actually want to do with family or friends… or you go, but then spend the whole time angry or anxious, thinking you should be off in your writing cave or whatever. Why…
Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You’re Drowning in Your Daily Life
Go from overwhelmed, anxious, and stuck, to consistent, clear, and in control of your creative life.