Made A List – Here it is: What’s Holding You Back?
by L.
(Wisconsin USA)
I sat down earlier this week and made a list for myself. Now I see an opportunity here to share it with others:
1.) Procrastination – why? I want all my “ducks have to be in a row” before I do something. I want everything to be “perfect”.
2.) I spend too much time on the business end, which I also enjoy, and not enough on actual production.
3.) Fear of failure, self-doubt. Fear of success????
4.) Impatience.
5.) Guilt – I should be doing something else more”productive”, like having a real job.
6.) Overwhelmed by all the possibilities and techniques available.
7.) Too much time organizing things.
and a few others.
Now I am trying to work on overcoming these obstacles.
Comments:
You read my mind!
by: Nancy
Wow! Your list looks like something out of my own brain. You hit every single point. I thought it was just me making excuses but now, to know there is someone else struggling with the EXACT same issues, I’m not sure if I should be overjoyed or frightened. Either way, thanks!
You’re not alone
by: L
Nancy,
That is why I posted this list. I know there are other people out there like me. It always helps to know that you are not the only one feeling a certain way.
The thing I struggle with the most is, I know these are the problems, but WHY do I think/feel this way? Brain chemistry, circumstances, life experiences…? And how do I get around it? I’m trying to use time management tools now. We’ll see how that works.
L.
List
by: Tresa
I guess I don’t have to make a list because you did it for me. Your list is exactly my list. At least I know I am not alone. Thanks!
guilt
by: Nancy
L,
I know exactly what you mean. I cannot figure out how to fix this. I want to do everything but I can’t figure out what to do first. Once I start working on anything, I feel guilty that I’m not doing something else.
An inspiring quote
by: L
Hi All,
I just ran across this quote today. I think it fits this discussion very well.
“Aim for success not perfection… Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person.” -Dr. David Burns
Hope this helps!
L
These can be good things too!
by: Lisa
Seems from the comments that a lot of people can identify with your list – myself included! But how about turning it around and looking at your list from a different perspective? – some of the characteristics you describe can give you a really big advantage when running your business.
Perfectionism: at least you know that all the jewellery you make will be of a very high standard and finish.
Concentrating more on the business side: a lot of people would love to have this quality – your accounts, sales figures, business/marketing plans etc will all be up to date and filed appropriately, meaning you have all this important information at your fingertips (and don’t have a big headache when it comes to completing your tax return!)
Overwhelmed by possibilities and techniques: wanting to constantly learn new things means your jewellery will always be fresh and exciting.
Being super organised: bet you know exactly where you ordered particular beads if a repeat order for an item of jewellery comes in. I would also wager that any online orders are dispatched at the speed of light – leaving you with very happy customers.
Don’t always think negatively about the characteristics that you have – after all they make up the person that you are. When you view them from a different perspective, some of them can be really rather good.
Lisa
www.glassgemworkshop.co.uk
Jewellery, Mosaics & Stained Glass
To be blunt . . . .
by: Rita
I have a friend that organized herself in to total non-productive state. Then she is frustrated because she can’t get anything done. Well my rugs may need vacuuming, my windows may need shining but I am productive, my jewelry is selling, I am happy and I am very blessed.
I have another friend, in her 80’s that just got a book published, she never gets bored, you should see her flowers; she strings beads and fuses glass too! The first printof her book is just about sold out, I can tell you if people went through what she went through growing up on a sheep ranch at Steens Mountain, the high desert in Eastern Oregon, in the 20’s and 30’s nobody would want for anything.
I believe common denominators for being successful and not so successful is attitude, enthusiasm for life itself, a lot of energy, and never giving up what makes you happy. If you don’t feel the joy, how are you ever going to be happy with what you do?
Good posts
by: JEM
I can identify with your list for sure. I agree with the concept of viewing the good side of your list. It is encouraging. I have two mantras that I repeat to myself when I get stuck in a habitual rut. They are:
Perfectionism is the enemy of the good. It’s excellence that matters.
and,
goals = dreams + accountability.
I usually need to take a step back and bring some accountability and perspective into my life. My friends and family always help, and also my mentor is a key for me. Choose others who have been down this path and learn, learn, learn.
Nonproductive dilemma
by: Susan
L,
I am so delighted to have found your list with your dilemma. I thought I was the only one. I was feeling guilty about being the only one. I’ve got everything organized, all my little pretties ready to be beaded, thousands of ideas floating in my brain, and am producing nothing.
I, too, have wondered how in the world I can get out of this slump……I organize all my things, then I think of a better way to organize and can’t seem to get past doing all that to actually produce.
I’m getting the business end of things taken care of, but where’s the product to sell??????
Guilt…massive.
As another commented, I have organized myself into a totally nonproductive state. *Sigh*
Thank you so much for sharing. I feel liberated somehow.
Obstacles or Life?
by: Rita
Goals + discipline or determination = Happiness (or Joy, Success, Accomplishment, etc.)
I guess that would be my formula. Everyone is different; we all work differently, think differently and feel differently. I think we all deal with stress in a different way also, some use it as an excuse, some bring it on themselves and some just ignore it or deal with it as though it doesn’t exist.
I’ve been there too, not with my work in jewelry, but with taking care of my mother, running a large business without having enough help, not having enough money to do what I wanted to do, and having a sick husband that had needs and enormous issues. Someone asked me once “how do you do it?” I recall my reaction. I was dumb-founded; I thought what is she talking about. I just do what has to be done. I was accountable to many people who were dependent on me.
It wasn’t until mother passed, my husband passed and I sold the business that I admitted to myself “I don’t know how I did all that”; but after thinking about it I realized it is called mind over matter. Dig in and do it.
I don’t see the list as “obstacles” I see the list as life. The “List A” should be on one side and on the opposite side “List B = How I will Resolve List A” get rid of non-productive activity and thoughts (“The Battlefield of the Mind”), don’t be afraid to push yourself, forgive yourself for not being perfect, find the technique that best fits the “you” and forget the rest.
Everyone will work through their frustrations sooner or later; it is up to the person how quickly it gets done.
My best to all,
Rita
getting things done
by: Dee
This is so familiar! I think this whole series about roadblocks, motivation and inspiration has been very helpful. I, too, am glad to know I’m not the only one experiencing these things.
I’d like to share one technique that has worked for me in the past, to help me tackle things I’ve been avoiding. Whenever you have a task you REALLY don’t want to do, get a kitchen timer and set it for 30 minutes. Then tell yourself you will work on that task until the timer goes off – no stopping, no getting sidetracked with something more fun. You may not finish the task, but if you work on it 30 minutes a day you’ll make a lot of progress before you know it. I’ve used this for updating inventory, organizing my craft area, updating my website, even housecleaning. (Especially housecleaning.) You could even set the timer for 15 minutes if you need to – every little bit helps!
Wow, I thought it was just me
by: Lisa
You are talking right out of my own thoughts! I started beading a few years ago and really want to grow a business whether it’s on the internet or out of my own home. I get so overwhelmed though sometimes I end up not doing anything. I am so glad I found this website! I think with all the other beaders and some brainstorming, you, me, anyone can really get started. Good luck and just know that obviously by the responses you are not alone in this.
Lynn’s Artist Motivation Blog
by: Lynn
I started a blog last month based on the comments and responses I got to my posting. Check it out at http://www.lynnwhitejewelry.blogspot.com
can’t stop organizing!
by: Rachel
I suffer from dyslexia and add. While I take medication for my add, I still struggle with the poor organization skills from my dyslexia. I can’t seem to come up with a way that works for me to where I can see my inventory and use it without declaring it a disaster area.
One thing I have come to learn from a great therapist is that sometimes when you find yourself doing something off task like over organizing, its usually because you are trying to justify a reason not to be on task. I find that I over organize when I am feeling a lack of inspiration or creativity…”jewelry block” I like to call it. So once I find myself off task I step back and try to call myself on it. Then think about why. So I then try to find some inspiration through other things like magazines, old photos or something, whatever inspires you, and this usually gives me a creative boost to start up working again.
I’m rambling…blah lol
Rachel
Finding your best productivity times
by: Rena
I just wanted to thank everyone here for sharing your experiences and insights with this issue!
And Rachel, thanks for pointing out how things like over-organizing can secretly be an avoidance technique.
One thing that works for me is to know my best productivity / creativity times of day, and make the most of them.
For me the wee hours of the morning or when I first wake up are the best – I grab a bite of breakfast, get a cup of coffee, and I can be super-productive.
But as the day wears on I have less oomph for creativity / production, so I switch to other activities that don’t require that energy and focus.
See if you can diagnose your own highest-productivity / creativity times, and then schedule your tasks accordingly.
