“As Soon As I’ve Checked My Emails”Why Artists Procrastinate

Let’s start with the funniest, most accurate description of procrastination ever:

(Taken from “Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack adventure”)

Every artist in the world knows this to be true.

We’ve all been there.Every artist in the world knows this to be true.

We’ve all been there.

some of us quite frequently...

Every artist in the world knows this to be true.

The big question is:

The big question is:

Why?

How come we find these stupid excuses not to do what we’ve chosen to do?

After all, no one makes you become an artist.

In fact, you’re probably doing it in spite of skeptical friends and family.

You should love doing this thing!

And yet, here you are looking at yet another cat video on Facebook.

And yet, here you are looking at yet another cat video on Facebook.

But why?

Many procrastinators think they’re just being lazy.

But nothing can be further from the truth.

Procrastinators are prepared to work harder than anyone.

Procrastinators are prepared to work harder than anyone.

On just about anything they’re not

supposed to be doing.

They will put in endless hours managing virtual cities.

building civilizations or wiping entire squads of virtual enemies.

They will diligently search for the funniest content on the web.

They’ll watch bad films all the way to their disappointing ending.

In short, procrastinators will take on anything…

In short, procrastinators will take on anything…

As long as it’s completely unimportant.

Procrastination is not the problem.

Procrastination is not the problem.

Procrastination is a symptom.

Ironically, it’s exactly because something is important to you,

Ironically, it’s exactly because something is important to you,

That you tend to want to get away from it.

Ironically, it’s exactly because something is important to you.

You simply care too much to take the risk of doing something wrong.

That you tend to want to get away from it.

So you procrastinate.

So you procrastinate.

Which is simply another name for doing something you can’t fail at.

Procrastination is a symptom.

Procrastination is a symptom.

Fear of failure is the problem.

If this is true,

If this is true,

then a good solution for procrastination

must somehow take the sting out of

failure.

The ideal solution would make you feel unable to fail.

Or else not mind failure so much.

Such a solution exists.

Such a solution exists.

It’s called having a structured creative process.

And whether they’re aware of it or not -

All successful artists have one.

The details vary, but it always includes procedures that turn an intimidating creative challenge into a series of trivial exercises.

Each allowing failure without harming the work.

(indeed, some of them are even meant to fail).

A good creative process

builds success out of failure.

Want to know more about a creative process that works?

This short video will get you started:

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