Paul Syng’s SQUAD
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Chapter Four
Not Doing It
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Read Time: 6 minutes
Hello
Welcome to Chapter Four of SQUAD. New recruits (and old alike) can access the SQUAD Locker to read old Chapters or T–S–F to download 365 open files. The Locker & T–S–F are classified and exclusive to squadron only. (Password: topgun)
Today’s Chapter almost never happened. It was Canada Day on Friday. I spent the long weekend out of it–not in my usual element.
Every time I’d stand at my desk to write, I’d wonder away–watching Youtube videos or found myself going down rabbit holes. This is so much fun
Couldn’t get focused for fifteen-fucking-seconds. Argh!
I tried to shake it off, to only come back to lip-lock frustration. I wanted to get stuff done this weekend, and regardless the excitement, three days and two nights later, nothing.
Resistance had me cornered. What the fuck am I going to write? I laid down beside my desk, with feet up on the chair, feeling anxious and sense of total failure. In the emptiness, a moment of temporary defeat, here’s what I realised.
It’s so easy to just not do it–to not write this weekly email, to not go to the gym, to not stick to a diet, to not show up, to not make an effort, to not talk to the pretty girl at the coffee shop, to not deliver a project, to not keep a promise, to not stick to the plan–to simply not do something at all.
Giving in and up, in a tough pickle, by letting negativity overcome you is the easy way out. And, we know, those days are just the–fucking–worst but those are the only days that really count.
In the end, despite all the self-inflicted resistance–not being inspired or countless distractions–just pushing through and doing it because I’m holding myself accountable.
Stop waiting for inspiration.
The secret is there is no secret–no magic formula, no key to success, no shortcut to anything worth having. If I waited for inspiration to strike, I’d get nothing done.
Creativity isn’t the end result of a process but a habit–just like fitness. Without pushing through the pain of countless reps over a sustained period of time, there’s a slim chance you’re seeing results.
On regular days, in my element, I can punch out a thousand words without breaking a sweat. Complete a book or web layout or even design a brand identity from scratch.
Here’s what I do on days that suck.
I begin with a hack my mum taught me. I clean my space, take a bath, put on fresh clothes, go for a walk–if it’s nice outside–and make myself a nice cup of coffee. I already feel tremendously better.
Next, I sit/stand at my desk, procrastinate the task at hand by completing other projects on my TO DO list. Making quick client-requested-revisions to a design, updating my WordPress plugins, cleaning up server inventory, learning a new Adobe tool, reading articles online or a chapter out of a book–tricking my brain into progress by completing trivial tasks.
And, by the way, I suck at multi-tasking.
Doing one thing at a time allows me to focus on what’s in front of me. This means closing all browser windows, social media apps and email, switching my phone to silent and placing it face first on the desk.
The difference between amateurs and professionals–is zoning out. I don’t like being connected when I’m trying to do something that I care about or needs my 70% or up attention–like writing this email.
Small victories later I come back feeling the momentum.
If the job at hand is writing, I begin by treating an empty page–putting anything and everything that comes to mind in context to the subject, including quotes.
I don’t worry too much about what it looks or reads like at this point. To me, ending the awkward–and intimidating–emptiness of a blank screen is seventy percent of the job done.
I like Louis CK’s take on this. His rule is that if you have someone or something that gets 70 percent approval, you just do it. ‘Cause here’s what happens. The fact that other options go away immediately brings your choice to 80.
Because the pain of deciding is over. And, when you get to 80 percent, you work. You apply your knowledge, and that gets you to 85 percent! And the thing itself, especially if it’s a human being, will always reveal itself—100 percent of the time!—to be more than you thought.
And that will get you to 90 percent. After that, you’re stuck at 90, but who the fuck do you think you are, a god? You got to 90 percent? It’s incredible!
By either putting grids and basic information on a page, while designing or putting words on a page, while writing, seventy percent of the work is done. You’re sitting there, focused on the task and there’s one less decision to be taken–reducing mental fatigue.
And finally, I’m not in it alone.
“Over the last year, the power of support systems has become apparent to me. The myth of the solo entrepreneur has convinced people that they have to fight daily battles, build empires and rescue princesses without any help from their troops. But in reality, a support system is essential.”
–Srinivas Rao
My SQUAD is my support system. Every time I complete and send out a chapter my endorphins kick in. I love completing stuff, getting shit done–glowing in the post-workout/creative pain. And I get my dopamine kicks when some of you take the time and effort to write back.
I will leave you with this thought, commitment means you show up every single day no matter what.
The sickest wallpaper app for iPhone–WLPPR.
PS: Updated June open files to T–S–F
One last thing before you go
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Have a happy week!
Yours truly,
Paul Syng
