Don’t try to “get it right”
Is there something in your life that you struggle with getting done? You know it won’t take that long, but somehow you either can’t get started on it or can’t finish it.
Sometimes that’s the case for me with this blog. It’s my intention to post at least once a month. That seems remarkably few posts to write, given that there are people who post daily or even many times a day. But sometimes I get stuck on needing to have something “significant” to offer. This morning that got me to wondering about how leaders may struggle with getting things completed because we are stuck on needing each thing to be great.
An example of the greatness to be found in a different approach is my friend Annie Pringle. She writes a weekly blog called Annie Bites. Some weeks it’s a post somewhat like this with an insight or an idea that gives me a lot to “chew on.” And some weeks it’s simply a photograph with a question or a two minute video. But the point is every week without fail her post arrives in my inbox.
Is every single one of these profound and amazing? No, but some of them are! And the ones that are profound and amazing for me maybe different than the ones that are profound and amazing for you. The point is that as a writer or creator or leader, we just never know. We can only express what’s in our hearts and minds with the intention of our work benefiting others. With that intention guiding us, we do what feels authentic.
When we hold back, it’s often “the piggies” prevailing over our inner wisdom. (See my February post for more on this.) If we can notice this, we have more choice and that lets us have more impact.
I invite you to consider this question.
Where in your work does your desire to be sure what you do is great potentially interfere with you getting work out into the world that makes a difference?
When you see a place that might be happening, go ahead – ship it. Get your authentic expression out in the world and let it begin to make a difference while you work on the next authentic expression.