“Good habits can make rational sense, but if they conflict with your identity, you will fail to put them into action.” -James Clear
Imagine that you want to be a project finisher, and these are your default thoughts about yourself:
- I get distracted super easily.
- I’m a card-carrying, life-long procrastinator.
- I never follow through on my calendar.
- Everything’s been done already; I don’t have anything new to contribute.
- I start then stall out.
- It’s so hard not to focus on all of my failures.
- I have no idea why I don’t follow through; I can’t figure it out.
- I hate when things don’t go according to plan.
- I always underestimate how long things take.
- I tend to get derailed and things just snowball out of my control.
- I need to work on the next thing ASAP, or I’ll lose momentum.
- It’s selfish to spend time on my own goals.
- I’m not sure if my projects are worth it.
These beliefs make up your self-concept, and they produce results that you don’t want. (Like an unmanageable weekly schedule and half-finished projects.)
But your self-concept is changeable, with intention and practice.
I am a proud reformed half-finisher, and the way I see myself and talk about myself is completely different than it used to be.
So let’s compare and contrast the beliefs above with my current beliefs as a project finisher:
- I get distracted super easily. –> I know how to focus on demand.
- I’m a card-carrying, life-long procrastinator. –> I don’t self-identify with labels that perpetuate a cycle that I don’t want to stay in.
- I never follow through on my calendar. –> I want to and will do everything that’s on my calendar; I sell myself on it or I remove it. Period.
- Everything’s been done already; I don’t have anything new to contribute. –> I am amazed at the brilliance that my brain can come up with when I spend time cultivating new ideas.
- I start then stall out. –> I sprint then rest.
- It’s so hard not to focus on all of my failures. –> I intentionally direct my brain to what’s working.
- I have no idea why I don’t follow through; I can’t figure it out. –> When I don’t get the result that I wanted, I know how to troubleshoot and find out why.
- I hate when things don’t go according to plan. –> I can adjust and pivot as needed.
- I always underestimate how long things take. –> I plan based on reality, not hope.
- The process is boring and tedious. –> I am committed to making the process fun, engaging, and rewarding for myself.
- It’s selfish to spend time on my own goals. –> When I am living as a confident, self-assured project finisher, it has a positive ripple effect on everyone around me.
- I’m not sure if my projects are worth it. –> Every project I finish gives me Compounding Project Interest; it’s my job to notice it.
- I need to work on the next thing ASAP, or I’ll lose momentum. –> I always have time to stop and feel proud.
You might think “That’s nice for you,” or “Those are just words,” but remember: This wasn’t always my self concept; I slowly and incrementally changed my beliefs, which changed my actions and thus, my results.
It’s available to you, too.
Our work together is to help you bridge the gap between the way you currently see yourself and how you’d like to see yourself—and then watch that shifting self-concept compel you into productive action.
Finished projects, here you come.
It’s all inside Half-Finished to Done, LIVE, the program for those who want to master a sustainable, fun, repeatable project process and start enjoying life as a project finisher.
