Taming the Excuse Monster

It seems that when it comes to making excuses for getting out of things we don't feel like doing, we're all masters. After all, there are a million distractions that can snatch away our attention and get us off course. The truth is, no one is going to prevent you from making and obeying your own excuses – no one, that is, except you. Just think about how many times an excuse has prevented you from a great opportunity. "Yeah, I could go to that networking event, but I’m tired, and I really don’t feel like fighting traffic." (Only to come to find out later that the director you've been wanting to get for your latest film project happened to be there.) or "Aww, I could write my blog, but that couch is looking awfully good right now, and, I mean, I have had a long week. I deserve a night in front of the TV." (Then the next morning, you go online to find out that an artist "competitor" of yours is all over the Internet, and now instead of being in the lead, you'll have to play catch up.) No one is denying that you work hard, but if you really want to achieve success, guess what...you’re going to have to be willing to make some sacrifices. Excuses just aren’t going to cut it. That's the reality you face. So, what’s it gonna be? Are you ready to tame the excuse monster and get to work? Or are you fine with settling for the status quo? If you're starting to break into a cold sweat as overwhelming visions begin to race towards you, just relax, and consider these tips:

Train Your Brain

I don’t know about you, but I tend to procrastinate on things that seem too overwhelming to my brain. I used to allow my brain to convince me that there was no way I would ever be able to make a dent in certain projects and that it would be easier to just avoid it for as long as I could. That may seem like the only way to cope at the time, but it’s only setting you up for failure (and major stress) later because, you know what...that work is still going to need to get done - whether you start on it now or later. So, instead of looking at the project in its entirety, you've got to learn to train your brain to visualize the project broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Think of it this way: A house isn’t built in a day, but rather brick by brick. Just stack one brick at a time.

Organize Your Time

The biggest time killers are disorganization and poor planning. As a "creative" type, sometimes it may be hard to wrap your head around the idea of planning, but I’ll tell you, if you don’t, you'll most likely create an even bigger mess for yourself down the road. You don’t have to plan out the next twenty years of your career – just the week ahead will do. If you can’t handle that, then just shoot for the day. Putting your goals in writing not only helps you become more efficient and makes you more accountable, but it enables you to gauge what is working, and what you may need to seek help on.

Accept Your Limitations

And that leads me to my next point: you’ve got to accept – and respect – your limitations. We all have things that we’re good at, and other things that, well, not so much. The best thing we can do is familiarize ourselves with those things, and not take on tasks that we’re either not qualified to handle, or that we simply despise doing. The problem is, because we live in a world – and work in an industry -- that is so focused on the do it yourself philosophy, it almost seems criminal to even consider consulting with other professionals for help. And while DIY is definitely a necessity these days, you don’t have to take it to extremes. The reality is, you’re just one person, and no one expects you to do everything yourself, so surround yourself with people who are good at the things that you don’t enjoy doing or you just don’t have a knack for. You’ll only make yourself look better – and you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache!

Just to Do It

Look, there’s really no other way to say this...if you want it, you’ve got to go get it. It doesn't matter if you don't have the money; resourceful people find a way to get it. (Please don't go rob a bank after reading this!) It doesn't matter if you feel you don't have the time; determined people find the time to pursue the things that mean the most. It doesn't matter if you have been rejected; successful people fail multiple times before they reach their goals. Don't be one of the ones who quits when your victory is just around the corner. Listen, I can tell you from experience that no one is going to do it for you. f you’re waiting for a "handler" to direct your every move, you might want to reconsider, 'cause I hate to tell you, but it ain’t gonna happen. I guess the clearest way to put it is: just do it.

- Lisa