The trick to completing creative tasks quickly
Happy Monday from Phoenix Arizona!
This is a special place for me, and I’m stoked to be spending a few days here to get some sunshine and spend time with great friends.
Plus, I get to write this while hanging outside in the 80° temperatures — which is not usually the case at the end of October!
Making Decisions with Speed
Something about travel always gets my creativity flowing
And a theme that I’ve been learning about lately is the idea of moving with speed.
Moving swiftly. Steadily. Confidently.
As a recovering perfectionist, I’m beginning to see things in a new light.
I’ve always been afraid of speed. Afraid of rushing things, resulting in a less-than-perfect outcome.
But, time ≠ quality.
In fact, the more time you spend in the “in between,” the more friction builds.
I strive to be someone with high agency – making quick decisions, moving swiftly and speedily, living with intention and trust.
Shortening the gap between idea & execution.
Instead of waiting for the perfect time, perfecting the smallest details, waiting to finish a project until another time… you finish things while the motivation, spark, and idea are there.
- Start & finish a song in one sitting
- Shoot and edit a video in one weekend
- Start & finish a painting in one session
“Waiting” to do things is often a form of perfectionistic procrastination.
I used to trick myself into believing that doing a creative task later would result in a better product – but it often resulted in the task never getting completed at all.
The Power of Right Now
You’re as good as you’ve ever been right now. Right now is the time to execute the ideas you have.
You have the idea for something right now because you’re meant to act on it right now. New ideas will always come later, when they’re ready to be acted upon.
Ideas are prompts for action.
When an idea surfaces, use it as a inspiration to act.
Even when writing this newsletter — it can be easy for me to come up with an idea, write a few notes on it, then decide to finish it later.
And while this can obviously be okay depending on the project, it’s important to decide which projects are worth dwelling on, and which ones are meant to be completed now.
Because completing a task closes the mental loop in your mind — allowing for more room mentally.
The more tasks you start and never complete, the more messy your mental whiteboard becomes.
Maybe you don’t have any ideas flowing because your mind is caught up dwelling on countless unfinished tasks. I know this has absolutely been the case for me in the past, and is exactly why perfectionism was nearly the death of my creativity.
Repetition, Not Perfection
Creativity and art are meant to be messy. You have to be bad at something first, in order to get better at it with time.
Every piece of your work doesn’t have to be your best work yet
Art is a gallery, a catalog, a galaxy of stars — not a single piece on a pedestal
It’s not about perfecting each work of art, it’s about creating enough works of art in order to get better with time.
It’s about repetition, not perfection.
Perfection is not found in working on one thing forever, it’s about working on many things until you find the RIGHT thing — that only you can do.
Ironically, this applies to every aspect of life (and business).
Make more decisions, visit more places, meet more people, try more jobs/careers/hobbies/cities and discover what lights your fire.
If you do this quickly and with intention, you’re bound to be more successful in your pursuits.
Action item –
Next time you’re stuck overthinking, ask yourself:
- Is the time & energy I’m spending on this decision worth it?
- What decision can I make right now to move the needle?
- What would happen if I just chose something and moved on with life?
Ways I plan to practice —
As a creative over thinker, I’ve been practicing starting AND finishing a project in one sitting.
- Set a 60 minute timer and knock out a task or project. When the time is up, your work is finished — however imperfect it may be.
Do you prefer moving quickly, or carefully? Let me know what works best for you – would love to hear.
Blessings! Have a great week.
–Eric