CornerScribe

Latest Distractions

I painted this evening, and no, not the artsy type of painting either. I painted a wall. Well, actually, I FINISHED painting a wall that I had started a while back. It’s amazing what I can get in to when I’m doing my writing-avoidance routine.

I did manage to post another article to Constant Content. I’ve sold over half of what I’ve posted there, so I can’t complain. At least its a few bucks for yarn money, another of my writing distractions. Besides that, there’s just something so darn FUN about it, though I’m not sure I can explain what exactly.

Here  is an interesting article on "Stretch Goals" that I found intriguing. I enjoy reading LifeHack anyway, but this one was particularly good. Here’s an excerpt…

1. Bring out your personal mission statement, or write down on a 3×5 card what matters most to you, in all the roles of your life.
   
2. Set a HUGE goal for each of those roles that matter to you. (For
   instance, if you’ve said your fitness matters, and you’ve just started
   working out two or so times a week, the HUGE goal could be “Sign up for
   a Marathon 10 months from today.”)
   
3. Set stretch goals to get there. In the example listed, the first might be to schedule a run/walk program, and start it.
   
4. Set dates for each small segment, each stretch goal. Dates matter.
   
5. COMMUNICATE the dates with someone that will help you be accountable.
   
6. Boil the goals list down into something that fits into your context/execution system (like Getting Things Done).
   
7. Execute against the plan.
   
8. Schedule goal reviews every month. Correct your course accordingly.CELEBRATE goal milestones reached.

Of course, I’d apply this to writing. I’ve got that novel trying to worm its way out of my head (now there’s an image…), and I really, really want to just get the editing finished and start trying to publish it. So, there’s my Step #2 I suppose. (I won’t torture anyone with my #1).

So.. next step is to set some goals and dates that will get me there. Oh yeah, and actually stick to them. That’ll help too.