We’ve all seen the productivity suggestion “Do What Matters.” Can’t argue with that one.
But if you’re a person who sees the possibilities in everything, then suddenly everything seems to matter.
Here’s a filter you might try instead: stop polishing poop.
We all do it, messing around with things that we know aren’t exactly fresh and aren’t ever going to be.
Did that make you feel relieved or just a bit anxious? If you’re relieved, then it’s probably because you instantly recognize the poop in your catalog of activities with procrastination and distraction at the top of the list. Checking email every 30 minutes or popping by Facebook every time you think about working on your blog post are both flagrantly fragrant examples.
But what if you’re working on something, polishing away, and you’re just not sure if it’s poop or not? That desire for certainty is a huge crusher for so many of the creative entrepreneurs that I know.
Here are some ways that I separate the poop from the pearls.
Create – and finish! – one big thing at a time.
This one’s hard for me, really hard, because I like to have multiple projects going at once. But when I have too many projects going on at once, they all slow done and, inevitably none of them get done. When I go months at a time without a big thing getting done, then the huge monster of self-doubt creeps in and starts to call all my little simmering pots poop, even if they really aren’t.
Have creative partners who tell you the truth.
I’m not saying that your partners will always be right but having trusted colleagues who believe in you and who will lovingly argue with you is invaluable. That mutual trust and faith in each other will liberate you to flush the poop quicker than almost anything that I know. This doesn’t mean you can stay in your Creative Lab forever, debating away the time that your project could be earning or gaining traction. Treat your creative discussions like the Supreme Court: very limited time for arguments, then make a judgment and move on.
Let the market speak.
I won’t lie: this is the hardest one of all for me. Shipping. Releasing. Putting it out there. Holding your nose and jumping in the deep end. Tipping from dreaming and creating into delivering. It feels raw, it’s scary, and it hasn’t gotten easier for me. Yes, the mechanics of production get easier with practice (hallelujah!) but the emotional part of putting my pearl on the platter and hoping it’s not poop, well, that’s just excruciating. The only way I know to make delivering easier is this: I trust my creative self. Whatever happens with the project I’m releasing now, I keep reminding myself that there is another one in the lab that is queued up next.
I’ve got more ideas but I’d love to hear yours in the comments first. How do you stop polishing poop?
By Laurie Foley
I'm Laurie Foley and I help solo professionals like you discover your natural brand so that you can get clear, get noticed and get clients. Please request your free copy of The Inner Brandifesto, my popular guidebook full of brand-building exercises.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Laurie – you really went to church on this one.
I get so interested in creating and such – that self-doubt always shows up with a neatly packaged, beautiful wrapped box of poop! Boo! Thanks for this to the point post!
Oh I love that phrase “went to church” – LOL, Kanesha. Yes, BOO! Thanks for your comment.
Oh boy, you hit the nail on the head with this one! I have my hands in so many pots right now, no doubt some of them are poop y! Self-doubt is one of my challenges to work through. I tend to be way to serious about it, but looking at it through the lens of polishing poop brings a lightness to it that pushes through a layer of self-doubt. Thank you for shedding light on the reality of what I do and giving me a good chuckle with the visual of polishing poop!
So glad you’re chuckling and not just grossed out! The self-doubt was is tough but it got easier for me when I learned that EVERYONE has it – no matter what they are working on or even how much experience they have. I might still be picking up a polishing cloth but now I know I’m not alone and, at best, I can nip it much sooner. Thanks very much for your comment, Cindy.
“the desire for certainty” is my big poop for sure….thanks for the fun of calling the kettle black this Monday morning
Thanks, Colleen! Another way to defuse the certainty bomb is to suppose certainty at the next step and ask “And then what?” Interestingly, that often leads me to realize that I seem to want yet another step of certainty! Doesn’t take long for me to realize what a game that is for my lizard brain, creatively looking for certainties vs. just taking the chance to get some real live feedback.
This one rings very true for me. I always, always have multiple things going. I want to ship and flush more. Don’t think I even care which, just get more off the plate in front of me. Constantly rotating is the key. Because if it isn’t good now…. my next baby will be.
Ding, ding, ding!! Yes! That’s the winner’s bell ringing.
And don’t you find that constantly moving things off your plate can become just as enticing as holding on and having the lizard party in your head?
Congrats on ALL your shipping, Rebecca!
This is so true. Such a great idea to post this and I really appreciate it. “the desire for certainty” is the word of the day for me. Thanks I learn a lot!
Thanks for your comment, Marielle. You’re certainly not alone in your desire for certainty!