| Taking on a new project, learning a new skill or | | | | my own sense of accomplishment to fuel a |
| trying something you've never done before often | | | | passion that carried on for years. |
| comes with it's own set of obstacles. What | | | | Another strategy is the 'Perfection Blocker' |
| happens when you actually begin something, then | | | | technique. Ignore the voice in your head that says |
| 'hit the wall' before you finish? | | | | you have to do the job perfectly. Just do it. It |
| Hitting the wall can be a painful and deflating | | | | probably doesn't have to be perfect on the first |
| process that leaves dreams in the dust. You | | | | try. Writing is a perfect example. I killed my first |
| started with enthusiasm, a sense of adventure | | | | two novel-writing attempts with ridiculously high |
| and maybe even a plan but one day, you just | | | | expectations and over-editing, but was able to |
| couldn't carry the project through to completion | | | | complete, then edit and publish my own book on |
| and gave up. If this happens repeatedly, it can | | | | positive change and creative living by going with |
| become the biggest obstacle to ever trying again | | | | the flow and saying no to the voice of perfection |
| to follow your dreams. Somehow, your | | | | along the way. Remember that you can edit, |
| subconscious decides that you won't finish | | | | revise, restructure or rebuild later. Just get it done. |
| anyway, so why bother trying? | | | | If it is a project like building a house or creating |
| One strategy that I have used to get back into | | | | something with expensive materials of course you |
| the game is to write out everything that I have | | | | want to get it right the first time, which leads to |
| accomplished and carried through to completion, | | | | the last strategy up for discussion today - |
| whether it was a project of my own or | | | | knowledge. |
| something I did at work for someone else. Then I | | | | If you hit the wall because your project is too |
| recall how good it felt to succeed despite the | | | | hard or you perceive it to be outside of your |
| struggles along the way. Reflecting on the times | | | | abilities to complete, then stop what you are |
| you were ready to throw in the towel and didn't | | | | doing and learn how to proceed or ask someone |
| gives you some insight into your own willpower | | | | who knows to help you. It's that simple. There is |
| and what drives you. My personal favorite | | | | a lot of help and free information in the online and |
| example is when I developed a series of | | | | offline world if you take the initiative to look for it. |
| marketing campaigns for a starter company on | | | | Finally, getting over the wall might require that |
| no budget and with no direction (and very little | | | | you walk away from it for a while, or maybe lean |
| support, I might add) that resulted in a 40% per | | | | against it with a hot cup of tea or a glass of wine. |
| annum increase in sales for the two years I | | | | A case of burnout is not a good reason to give |
| worked for that company. I ended up leaving in | | | | up on something you want to do. A case of |
| exhausted frustration and anger when I was told | | | | burnout is a sign that you need a break. Go on |
| that it probably would have happened anyway | | | | vacation or go out with your friends for the |
| and no, I couldn't have a raise. If I could | | | | evening. Have a good laugh. Go for a walk. Go for |
| accomplish that much in the face of that kind of | | | | many walks over many days if necessary. Once |
| adversity, I figure that I could do anything. (By | | | | you do what you need to do in order to regain |
| the way, sales dropped after I left.) | | | | your joy of living and enthusiasm, completing the |
| The following year I became a self-taught singer | | | | project will flow much more easily. |
| songwriter/guitarist and ended up with a band, | | | | Remember why you started, envision the |
| gigs and recording grants. I used the negative | | | | completion and keep on keepin' on to live the life |
| reaction from my previous employers along with | | | | of your dreams. |