Some solutions are to create a group of people who help each other work toward their dreams – Barbara Sher has a workable model for that. I also use Mark Forster’s “Auto-Focus” list-making tool quite a bit. (I seem to always need to have one thing I’m procrastinating!) If you have lots of interests as I do, I agree that you need any sort of system to track your progress. But if you’ve got one passion – allow absorption-flow create timeless time.

I would have graduated high school two years early, but my parents died so it didn’t happen. There was nobody making me complete the one class of 2 years of required English. Fortunately, the teachers were happy to have me in their art, photography & ceramics studios while I cut all other classes. During those two years (in 1972) I won more than $4000. entering art competitions & scholarships on my own. Then I had a blast in art college with an insurance scholarship when I bought a house at an auction for that $4000- afterwards I became a self-employed sign painter.

IMHO, the secret is, don’t get a job – start your own business. You have to expand or die when you’re working for yourself – so you learn to use your time well and think originally.

We all need machines–some of us have them inside of us, others need to use what’s already there. I recently switched to working three days in an office and two days out. I’m finding (much to my surprise) that I’m far more driven and disciplined on the days I’m on my own, mostly because it’s now MY time, and I value that very highly.

Awesome post, Julien. :)

Also, now I’m motivated by you and Colleen to read Twyla Tharpe!

Time to get into the studio and finish that sculpture I’ve been working on for my husband’s birthday in a couple of weeks . . .

Keep up the good work!

The GREAT part is that, as self-directed createpreneurs, or whatever they’re calling us these days, WE get to build our Own Machine to give in to! Yay!

Thanks Julien, and for the Twyla Tharp recco for Colleen, too; that moves it up my list as well.

Your student,
(not that annoying one in the front),
~GirlPie

Structure + routine + social pressure.

The same has been true when I’ve had a full work load and had a writing deadline.

There’s a new scientific american mind article about the value of social groups on overall health.

You’ve just added another benefit to plugging into community.

I loved Steven Pressfield’s take on it–that creative people are slinging hammers like everyone else, and that the work comes out of you imposing structure on yourself (deadlines, artificial or not; a set schedule for input/output/rest; etc), not airy-fairy visitations by the Creativity Elves. Hugh MacLeod harps on this all the time. So did Ben Franklin (I think Twyla Tharp does, too, but she’s buried in the to-read stack. I need some three hours of reading in my structure!)

That’s pretty good company, indicating it’s a perennial issue. How’s about it, kid?

Like the post. Only question I have is, isn’t the opposite also true that structure is killing you? Isn’t success a balance between structure and freedom?

Thanks, Brian

Truth be told, I would of finished High School just because I needed to in order to get a B.A.

I find my problem has more to do with my lack of sleep. I am very unmotivated when I’m sleep deficient.

Yet, I can’t do anything to remedy it… quite furstrating.