Every single person booking a call with me says the same thing: “I have too many ideas in my head. It’s chaos. Please help!” Now I ain’t Marie Kondo, but I did once own a vintage furniture store in beautiful Scotland, and my superpower was treasure hunting. Selling vintage, what does that have to do with business coaching? And how does this skills help me fight procrastination?
Fight procrastination by knowing what to pick
Treasure hunting is a skill. You need a good eye for that. Walking around garage sales, auction houses, second-hand stores. There is so much junk. Strangers’ unwanted stuff. Most people get overwhelmed and only see the rubbish. Others see way too many things ‘with potential’. They buy lots of stuff, only to come home with it and not knowing how to give it a new lease of life. Or how to fit it into what they already have. Or they love it, but they still feel there might be something better out there. So they go back the next week, to try and look for more shiny objects.
Chasing glitter and not finishing anything
A lot of my clients chase glitter. They suddenly get an idea, and think that’s going to be the next big thing that will make them money. Or they keep signing up for online courses. But then they spot another glittery thing. And they haven’t even finished the last one. They jump from flower to flower, never bringing anything to fruition. Are you like that, too? Do you struggle to fight procrastination? Most people with a creative brain have this. I wouldn’t call it ‘a problem’, as it is also your strength. You are never short of ideas. But the important thing is to pick one thing, and finish it.
As a creative business coach, I do the same with my clients. We hunt for treasure. We sift through the junkyard and pick out the gems worth keeping. The rest gets shelved or thrown out. We prioritise. I’m good at that. I’m also very good at making people feel much better at the end of a call. The calm returns, the head is clear, the yard is tidied. They go off with an action plan, and come back with a “I finally got that sh*t done this week, Nina!”
Keep the good, ditch the average
Not all ideas are worth keeping, you know.
Not all ideas are aligned with your core values, either. You got to keep focused and throw away the junk but also ditch the distracting glittery objects (I know, it’s hard 🙈). Constantly chasing glitter will only make the journey harder and longer.
What will help you get to where you want? What gives you joy? What is viable and will bring in some easy money? What projects and jobs will make up the balance?
A head full of ideas and nothing gets finished
I bet you are – or know – one of those creative entrepreneurs with a head full of ideas and no clue what to do first. Procrastination sets in…and then nothing productive happens at all. Nothing ever gets finished. Right?
We can all keep wandering aimlessly around the junkyard picking up shiny objects in the hope it’s the holy grail (another free webinar, another project you’ve been pulled into…). Or we can start becoming more serious about our goals, and make a proper plan.
Be clear on your vision, and the rest will follow
I used to love wandering around yard sales, thrift stores and auction houses. But I was very selective. I left most of it. I stayed true to the vision for my shop, the style and quality of furniture and objects I wanted, and I knew what would sell well in the shop.
Because I was clear on my goals, I knew exactly what to say yes to.
It is no different for you as an entrepreneur.
Be clear on your goals, your audience and message, and you will feel much more in control of your business and future.
Talk to me if you need help from a professional treasure hunter. I’ve got a good eye, and a sweeping brush. 😎
Book a free call if you are curious about offers and costs (no obligation).
