It’s the plight of anyone who creates.
It’s exhausting, oftentimes agonizing. Just ask anyone who’s written a book.
Sure, you love what you do. But it’s a lie to believe work you love should be easy.
Matter of fact, in order to create the best work of your life, you may need to do less shipping and more hiding.
You see, a blog post takes a couple of hours to craft. It’s relatively quick. But you also need work that your toiling over – work that energizes and drains you.
While shipping is essential, it can also drain you from your best work. If all you ever think about is finishing, you may be too stressed to create anything of real value.
So you need to create space.
Sure, publish that blog post.
Sure, finish that demo.
Yep, craft that worship set for Sunday.
But at some point you need to hide away and create something extraordinary. Something that takes time. Art that commands your full attention and engagement.
Beauty no one knows about…yet.
There’s No Shortage of Urgent
Think about it. There’s no shortage of urgent tasks.
Your boss has projects for you. Your colleagues are waiting on you. You could spend all day responding and never actually create something.
Matter of fact, look at the apps open on your computer right now. You’re probably juggling a blog reader, Twitter, Facebook, and email – all activities that keep you from creating.
It’s the difference between reactive work and intentional work.
Fireman Or Construction Worker?
Or the difference between a fireman and a construction worker. Firemen wait for an emergency. They react.
Construction workers make things.
At first, everyone hates the construction worker. It’s inconvenient to wait in traffic while a couple guys twirl their stop and slow signs. But eventually, the art begins to surface and everyone’s life is made better.
It’s the same with your art.
People may be annoyed by what you’re doing. Or they may not understand it. But eventually they’ll be grateful for your magnum opus that makes the world better.
Start Today
I enjoy Seth Godin’s blog. But his books
Spend the best part of every day with intentionality. Craft something that will change the world.
Stop hiding behind what is quick and easy. Get to work.
We need you.
Question: What is a project you’ve been procrastinating on due to the sheer difficulty of it? What will it take to finish it? Share your process in the comments!
I haven’t written a song in a long while…
with all of life and recording the album…
I haven’t had to time to just “hide” away and work…my kids will come to seek me…lol…
but…i’ve been ictching to write…so many ideas running around in my head…so many lines and melodies that need to be constructed and guided out of my head…
Dude, get there! How do you typically find quiet time like that with the busyness of family and work?
Ha! Dude you totally describe me in this post …
I’m working on a book & training course. Biggest challenge? Distraction! What will it take? A more disciplined approach to blog world.
Rob, I really want to see you finish this. I think it’ll be awesome. Have you started the process?
Yes, Thanks for the encouragement.
great post – such an encouragement to where I’m at now. but how do you know when you’ve swung too far in this direction?
how long is too long to sit on a collection of songs, getting them *just right* before you just need to release them already?!
I don’t think there’s a hard and fast rule here. Different artists are at different places. If you’ve been sitting on your work for a long time and haven’t released anything, I think it’s time; however, there are a lot of bloggers and other creatives who create and ship posts like this every day. It’s time for them to focus on something more demanding, something that takes lots of time in the shadows. Does that make sense?
Don’t be paralyzed by perfectionism.
Get some feedback as a “beta-test” – if it’s good, release the project, if people don’t get it, keep tweaking the songs.
I’ll suspect though, that they are good enough, if it’s 95% there – ship.
A key point. I’m a perfectionist by nature. If I didn’t decide to “ship” before I think something is done, I never would.
Man, Talk about timely – I use to blog (comment & participate) often – and with the recent life changes of Job and location it is HARD to get into the right mode to create again in the blog area!! Thanks for being such a consistent “creator”!! You’re a blessing to so many.
Jason, great to hear from you! I miss your comments 😉
How is the new job? Even though you may not be blogging, I’m sure you’re creating a lot there!
The job is so awesome – I pinch myself every morning. Very blessed to be doing what I’m doing, and even more blessed to have such a great leadership team. Some worship team members and I have been creating and exploring some ‘open worship’ areas, as we are calling it.. we use soundcloud.com for a lot of the choruses that come from the worship times we are getting together for. I hope to post via twitter / fb some of the tunes soon…. who knows maybe I’ll even chart out some music for the songs.
This is very inspiring! I’ve started to write again last month and slowly putting my work out in the open. It’s very scary and exciting but I’m enjoying every bit.
My first time here; I found you via Jeff Goins.
I’ve been procrastinating on finishing a book because it’s so hard compared to writing an article. Or a song. Or pretty much anything.
I know I will finish it, because I won’t be satisfied until I do. I think I’m just going to have to timetable in an hour a day and just show up until it’s done.
David,
Thank you SO MUCH for your blog. Your efforts have continued to help me grow as a musician and I think probably best help me A) relate and feel like I’m NOT the only one wrestling w/ myself w/ my craft. B) keep me from being a complete novice w/ know “head knowledge” of music and the whole thing and not feeling the “hack”. Please don’t stop this blog! May God Bless you David. Thank you so much.
Scott
Guitarist
Knightdale NC
Northside Community Church.
Thanks Scott! Glad to have you here.