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In the last one year, I’ve tried and failed to build 3 online stores, 1 Kickstarter project & 2 podcast shows.
If you’re thinking, “wow, that’s a lot”. Yes, it is a lot for one year.
A lot of projects that I started ended up in the trash as they crash and burn. Each project has different lessons to learn from but one thing stands out.
Thinking about the how = failure to execute
I spent so much time thinking about how the website will look like, and how much I can make if I were to do steps a, b & c. Then, I would share all these “how I’m going to do it” ideas with the people around me. As if looking for some form of validation.
What’s So Bad About Sharing?
Firstly, because I kept dwelling on how to do it, I spent less time executing what needed to be done.
We have 24 hours every day. Let’s say I spent 8 hours sleeping, 4 hours eating + showering + commute + whatever necessary actions, and 8 hours in my day job
That leaves me with 4 hours to work on my side project. Sharing my ideas and talking take away time from that precious 4 hours. So…
Less talking; More Doing
Telling Someone Your Goal Makes It Less Likely To Happen
Please please please watch this TED talk.
Here’s a short excerpt:
When you tell someone your goal and they acknowledge it, psychologists have found that it’s called a “social reality.” The mind is kind of tricked into feeling that it’s already done. And then because you’ve felt that satisfaction, you’re less motivated to do the actual hard work necessary.
It took me a while to realise that that’s what happened to me. Now, I’m not trying to push the blame or find an excuse. As I was looking back at my failures, I found the similarities.
Whenever I think of doing a new project, I’ll get excited and start planning. I’ll create the necessary steps and actions. And it all goes great until one day, I bump into an old friend and he/she asks me what I’m up to.
After sharing, I feel this joy as if I’ve accomplished something. And when my friend goes, “Oh wow! That’s so impressive” or “Congratulations” or any other compliments, my sense of satisfaction grows.
And it starts… the procrastination to continue my project.
Because in my mind, I felt as though I’ve reached a huge milestone. With less effort put into the project, it slowly dies out.
Does That Mean I Can Never Share?
Of course, you can share. However, only do that after you’ve reached a profit or have the mundane tasks on automation.
Sometimes when you share a new business idea, your closest friends might shut down your idea. You’ll end up feeling defeated and give up before you even start. So, you have to be firm with your decision and have faith in yourself.
So, What Next?
The past is the past. I’m gonna take all the failures and what I’ve learnt from them to fuel my current project.
To all of you, I urge you to stop thinking about the success and start focusing on the process in front of you. Thinking does not get you anywhere.
Stop talking and start doing.
Keep your biggest goal to yourself and hold yourself accountable.
Most importantly, don’t give up.
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This post was previously published on www.medium.com and is republished here with permission from the author.
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