Through talking to my supervisor, it became clear that my graveyard of projects was a product of self-handicapping . We avoid finishing projects because we can't stand the possibility that the finished product won't be as great or perfect as we envisioned it, which means we aren't as great as we think we are. Consider the violinist who... See more

A lot of people I know don’t bother starting projects because they know they won’t finish. What’s the point of writing a book, mastering a new skill or setting up an online business if you won’t see the end result. But there are few things more satisfying than holding a finished product in your hands after months of effort. Setting deadlines,... See more

Maintenance tasks in our life and in our projects are usually very clear-cut. They seductively offer a clear problem and a clear solution. The structure-seeking part of or brain loves this and will endlessly procrastinate important ambiguous tasks in favour of taking these on.

When we are pulled into this game we usually think: “let me just check... See more

Just as you are there to nurse the dough in the window it requires to get the result you want. You can’t do steps 1-8 of a recipe, then decide you’re tired, leave it for 2 days and come back to do steps 8-10 hoping for the same result. This sounds so ridiculous you wouldn’t even try it! Because you know it wouldn’t work. And yet this is how many of... See more

Insufficient effort creates work that’s wasted. If you do a slapdash job, then the roof leaks, the food is inedible, the car doesn’t start. Insufficient effort is a shortcut that wasn’t worth taking.