My most productive days, the days I enjoy the most, and the ones that inspire me the most are the days where I have an extensive pre-written to-do list that encompasses every single to-do item from my head.  Through working through that list of non-urgent errands and important large projects, I accomplish a lot and feel good about doing it.

Then after a good day's work, I sit down and write a list to prepare for the next day of good work.

My daily plan is basically a brain dump.  I start with all the major projects I'm working on at the moment.  Then I write down all the things I have to do under those headings.  Just everything I can possibly think of regarding those items that are my responsibility.  Including following up with people to make sure they've done their jobs.

After I've dumped my brain, I work my way through.

At the end of the day, most of the tasks will still be there.  But for some projects that I have moved forward a lot, there will be a new set of items that need to be done.

And so the cycle continues.

People are impressed by what they can't do.

Hence I'm impressed by discipline.  Someone who can do the same action every day.  Such as swim, run, get up at 4am to row, put up a blog post everyday, work methodically towards something (i.e., write 10,000 words a day), get up every morning at the same time, or follow a routine.

I don't see myself as being very good at all that.  Which is why my New Year's resolution for the year was to post a blog post everyday.

What are you impressed by?  What goal can you set for yourself around that?

Getting myself in the mood to write can be difficult.

Sometimes, when I'm out and about, my brain comes up with one or two ideas at once, and I can't wait to write them down; but I don't have a pen.  When I get home though, I can't remember what I was thinking.

Other times when I come up with an idea, the more I think about it, the more I realise my idea wasn't that great to begin with anyway.

And in the rarest occasion, I've cleared my schedule to write, and nothing wants to come out.

I think my mind is scared I'll make a mistake and others won't like what I write.  I guess that's why Picasso said "it took me 4 years to paint like Raphael but a lifetime to paint like a child".

A young child isn't inhibited by a fear of failure, criticism and judgements.  Adults on the other hand, can vividly remember conversations of people laughing at their ideas, telling them things aren't possible, telling them they're not capable, and telling them to take the safer route.

Which is why young children can just release what's within; and that's what I'm going to try to do when I write.

When you do something, do it whole and completely so that it's done to the best of your ability, then ship.  Your attention to detail shows that you care.

Perfection is unattainable.  You're never going to get something that's perfect, done.  Not with your budget.  Not with your timeframe.  Not so that you can test it to see if that's what people really want.  Perfection is an oasis.

So don't aim for that.  Come up with a good enough that satisfies most of your perfect criteria.  That fits your budget.  That fits your timeframe.  That gets you one step closer to your ultimate goal.  Then ship!