How To Get Past Writer's Block

I've had a few people ask me recently "how do you come up with ideas?""How do you become creative?"There's no cure.Just like there's no cure for "having an idea" or "starting a company."You're not going to magically come up with something brilliant.But if you just start . . .Just start writing. Just start building. Just start calling.Whatever it is you're trying to do, you'll narrow in eventually.Let it be garbage. Let it be bad.Don't throw it away. Don't delete it.Just keep going.The goal isn't perfection, the goal is momentum.Once you get over the anxiety of starting before you can see the ending, you might find that you're quite unstoppable.People (and sometimes the voices in our own heads) are very happy to tell us all the reasons something won't work.Yet, people tend to get out of the way once you're moving.That's the punchline. There is no cure. You just have to start.It's probably not going to be good, so toss out the idea that it should be perfect.The goal isn't to hit a home run in your first at-bat.

2 Minute Action:

What's something you've been putting off?

• Working out?
• Writing a book?
• Start a company?

Start right now in 2 minutes.

• Do 10 pushups.
• Write a blog post.
• Make a sales call.

I promise you can get started on any path in under 2 minutes.Practice that habit enough and you'll forget "writer's block" even existed.

Stop Missing This Major Productivity Lesson

You're not going to like this . . . but it's true.

Tell me, how often does this happen?When you read a blog post on productivity, you're tempted to download a new app, buy a new book, start a new routine, ad infinitum."The app I'm using is garbage, and I really just need to sort that out before I'll ever be productive and organized."

You know what I'm about to say, right?

It's not the app.It's not the book.It's not the routine.

It's you.

I need a new diet plan. I need the ab machine 9000. I need new gym shorts.Please recognize that the solution to the problem, whether it's a fitness plan, a standard operating procedure, or a mindset shift, is 100% YOUR responsibility.The solution is absolutely inside you. And you're the only one who can see this.Don't look past this critical ownership!

It's so easy to say:

"Oh I can't workout today because I don't have weights, a pull up bar, a yoga mat, or the THINGS I need to get in a real workout."Bull.You can go for a run, do wind-sprints, do 100 pushups, or do lunges until your legs are jelly. You can do it without the tools. You can be productive without the tools. You can be amazing without the tools.There is absolutely nothing outside of you that's a prerequisite to change your state of being, right now.No apps. No diets. No marketing strategy.No bullshit that clutters your brain.It's all inside.Stop missing the point and going straight to what's outside of you.

ACTION:

What's an excuse you've already made today? (Don't worry, I've got some too.)Is it a real excuse or are you making this one up?If you're not sure. Comment and we'll figure it out. P.S. Don't stress out about this, it doesn't help. Remember, we're making consistent, incremental, daily actions. We're not trying to lift 500 lbs. on the first rep. Stick wth me, here. This takes time and practice.