The following are the two most seductive distractions that get in my way when executing an idea.
Seduction #1: Another idea
This new idea could be related to what I am doing right now, or a totally different animal. It could be an idea for a new video game, a book, or a better stopwatch.
My solution is obvious, I think: Evacuate it. My ideas are captured electronically in a system I trust. I spend a minute writing a sentence or two about what this ‘thing’ is. Then, in addition to ‘IDEA’, I put down enough keywords so I can pull it back easily with a search. This is enough to put my creative mind at ease.
My curated list right now contains 68 entries. Half of these are ideas for a new business; oh yeah, shoot me, like I need more of those.
Seduction #2: Diving for too long
This seduction is a little harder to explain and a bigger problem for me. Once I get excited, it is easy for me to execute without discipline, fueled only by creative enthusiasm or stubbornness. For me this means working an 11+ hour day, neglecting going to the gym, eating a healthy meal, or sometimes, ahem, a shower.
My solution: I have none yet. Help.
The things below seem to help a little bit.
- Ready my gym clothes before I go to bed.
- Schedule a hard stop at 11:00 AM. Although too often I blow through these.
- Work half-day from a coffee shop.
- Schedule lunch or coffee with a business acquaintance.
- And recently, I wrote on a piece of paper a reminder that I put on my desk:
“Do not forget the long game”