Blog
“Why am I so hateful and a perfectionist?”
In a big rush this morning due to heavy teaching load, but had to post about this. Like most blogsters, I regularly check my stats to see how much traffic I have, where it’s coming from, etc. Among other things, I see the search terms people use to wind up on my site. Last night,…
Read MoreNew Year’s Resolution: Do Less Housework!
Most people think of procrastination as a simple bad habit, but it’s often much more than that: it’s a strategy we employ when we’re afraid of the outcome of an activity or project. So, someone who hates his job might procrastinate on looking for a new one because he’s afraid of not getting any offers,…
Read MoreThe Importance of Taking Time Management and Antiperfectionism Advice to the Limit
The goal of time management and productivity work is not to move from being “deprived” to “semi-deprived” of time, but to create lavish amounts of time for your priorities.
Read MoreFrom the Seven Secrets of the Prolific: a Writer Who Resources Herself Abundantly versus One Who Doesn’t
Prolific writers resource themselves abundantly. They invest in themselves and their writing. They work on great-functioning equipment, and in the best environment they can. This not only directly aids their productivity but sends an important message to themselves and others that their writing is important. Underproductive ones, in contrast, are likely to be found working on crappy equipment in dank basements with the mold and spiders and last season’s wardrobe.
Read MoreFrom The Seven Secrets of the Prolific: The Three Approaches to Productivity
Everyone encounters obstacles to production. A’s surmount them with a minimum of effort and delay; B’s organize their life and work so that the obstacle doesn’t happen or isn’t perceived as such; C’s get derailed. Hillary Rettig’s book The Seven Secrets of the Prolific tells you how to evolve from a C to A to B.
Read MoreA Book in a Blog Post
The Seven Secrets of the Prolific are the key behaviors separating productive/prolific people from those who are underproductive: each addresses a major category of disempowering constraint.
Read MorePerfectionism is Rooted in Grandiosity
The idea that grandiosity fuels perfectionism always shocks perfectionists, who think their problem is low self-esteem. But it’s grandiosity that causes the shame and low-self esteem by constantly setting goals and conditions the writer can’t possibly live up to.
Read MoreCoping with the Many Silly / Annoying / Challenging Comments and Questions People Direct at Writers
You’d think that having people ask questions about what you do wouldn’t be such a big deal. But in a world where most people don’t have a clue what writing is about, a writer is always going to be on the defensive. Here’s how to cope.
Read More“To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete.”
“To accuse others of one’s own misfortune is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one’s education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete.” – Epictetus, a Stoic, A.D. 55 -135 (Thanks CT!)
Read MorePreview! The Seven Secrets of the Prolific Cover
Here’s the draft cover for my new book, The Seven Secrets of the Prolific: The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism and Writer’s Block. I love it! The book will be out in August.
Read More