It’s more than just “the system” that makes it hard for creatives; the stories we have about what it means to be a successful, productive creative person are askew. Here are some of the most common creative myths: Creatives must be solo players. Since many creative people have been outcasts or … [Read more...] about 4 Creative Myths That Are Keeping You From Your Best Work
Book Launch Roller-Coaster Part 1: Miscarriage
Content Warning: The post below mentions miscarriage and pregnancy loss. “I don’t know how to tell you this ... I’m pregnant.” The fear and uncertainty in Angela’s eyes told me everything I needed to know. In three seconds, it was no longer just another Friday afternoon. Whatever train of … [Read more...] about Book Launch Roller-Coaster Part 1: Miscarriage
4 Reasons Why Going from Idea to Done Is So Hard
For some of us, project ideas come a dime a dozen. We’re self-starters who are motivated and idea-rich. For others, we’re able to hone in on just a handful of profound ideas that mean the world to us and leave everything else off that idea list. It doesn’t matter which end of the inspiration … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons Why Going from Idea to Done Is So Hard
School Doesn’t Teach You How to Work in Project World
In the United States, we spend somewhere between 12 and 20 years going to school, but only a tiny fraction of that time is spent learning how to work. Even when skills that lead to academic success are formally taught, those skills rarely translate to the world outside of school and academia. The … [Read more...] about School Doesn’t Teach You How to Work in Project World
Why the Summer Is Surprisingly Busy — and What to Do about It
Many people find themselves surprisingly busier in the summer than they expect to be. The chief reason we’re surprised is that the summer brings new projects that we often don’t count as projects and we have to weave those projects in with the projects we set in motion in the spring. Why don’t we … [Read more...] about Why the Summer Is Surprisingly Busy — and What to Do about It
Should You Get a Job When You Have a Great Business?
One of my friends who has a great business is looking for a job. For many people, "having a great business" and "looking for a job" are incompatible. If you had a great business, you wouldn't be looking for a job, right? Wrong. They're looking for a job because they've realized that their … [Read more...] about Should You Get a Job When You Have a Great Business?
5 Ways to Have that Trust Conversation Sooner
Conversations on trust are difficult because they have moral and practical connotations. We sometimes mean trust in the practical way: I trust my car to start, the sun to rise, or my cappuccino to be good. Other times, we use trust in a moral way, as in the way I trust my neighbors not to give my … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Have that Trust Conversation Sooner
How Do You Sing in the Morning?
I was listening to the audiobook version of Mark Nepo's More Together Than Alone the other day. The following passage struck me: In an elemental way, empathy and connection are life-giving. Let’s consider how birds sing at the sign of first light. By itself this is remarkable, that light causes … [Read more...] about How Do You Sing in the Morning?
Do You Need to Get Better at Asking for and Receiving Help?
I used to suck at receiving help. I was so bad at it someone finally had to tell me ... We were sitting at a table in the sun at a retreat I was facilitating in Cancun in 2012. I had just finished my glass of tea and a retreat participant asked if she could fill it up because she was going to the … [Read more...] about Do You Need to Get Better at Asking for and Receiving Help?
How to Be Successful with Your Daily Habit Tracker
Editor’s note: The up-to-date versions of all of our planners are available on the Free Planners page. First we make our habits, then our habits make us. – Charles C. Noble Habits are powerful because they create defaults. Read that one more time: Habits are powerful because they create … [Read more...] about How to Be Successful with Your Daily Habit Tracker
What Finishing My Book Taught Me About My Demotivation to Blog
Finishing my book has taught me a lot about writing and blogging. The most important lesson is that I love writing and that my days are best when I've done some deep writing. This is partially because writing helps me get clear about what I think and settles the chaos in my own inner landscape, so I … [Read more...] about What Finishing My Book Taught Me About My Demotivation to Blog
3 Questions to Help You Prepare for a Productive Year
Yes, I know it’s almost mid-February. I also know that many people are still trying to plan so they can have a productive year — which is why I’m pushing this out now. Published beyond the onslaught of the numerous posts and articles you’ve bookmarked to come back to “soon,” this one should be … [Read more...] about 3 Questions to Help You Prepare for a Productive Year
6 Ways the Hardback Momentum Planner Can Improve Your Productivity
Recently, one of our big fans of the Digital Momentum Planner Pack, Chris Why, emailed me after buying and receiving his new hardback Momentum Planner. He wanted to know what added-value the hardback planner would give him over the digital ones he already uses. I so appreciated his question. It … [Read more...] about 6 Ways the Hardback Momentum Planner Can Improve Your Productivity