Are you one of those people who procrastinates? Do you wait until a deadline is way too close before kicking into high gear? How many people do you know who do the same thing?
Do you approach business that way, too?
There’s nothing like that adrenaline rush you get when your back’s against the wall, when it’s do-or-die time. That sense of urgency pushes you forward.
What if there’s no urgency? What happens to your creative practice?
If you’re making a transition from a job to a business, or from one business to another, or if you’re moonlighting, you have a cushion. Your grocery bill is taken care of.
What would you do if that income suddenly disappeared?
If you make your living with your creative practice, are you playing with fire by putting things off? Are you missing opportunities because you’re comfortable with the way things are?
Forget about deadlines for a minute. What motivates you? What really gets you into the studio? What’s keeping you out?
Possibly related posts:
Odd to say, but I sometimes wish I could procrastinate. I can drive myself nuts by my frantic need to do something the very second I think of it. I’m neurotic like my dad on this aspect.
Through various things I’ve done this week, I learned that simply trying new things can stoke the fires of motivation for several days after the activity.
Just realized it sounds like I’m talking about something else;-)
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Stacey Cornelius Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I’m good at chasing great ideas at the expense of things that really need to be done before the last minute. I believe we would call that “avoidance behaviour.” Ahem.
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Funny, the only thing about which I DON’T procrastinate is photography but, then, it’s not a business. The business aspects of it I DO procrastinate about–like financial record-keeping. I like to think it would make a difference if I had some income from it.
Lydia’s right when she says: “Simply trying new things can stoke the fires of motivation for several days after the activity.” Those “new things” can be life-changing, although it may not feel like it at the time.
[Reply]
Stacey Cornelius Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 12:06 am
Busywork isn’t much fun, but it’s not all that bad, either (compared with, say, a trip to the dentist). Put on some good music, or set up a little reward at the end. My head always feels clearer once I’ve taken care of necessary paperwork.
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[...] Have you given some serious thought about what motivates you? Would you like someone to hang out with you in your studio to get you moving? [...]
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