Finish One, Start Another

While writing, one of the things I had to learn was to finish one chapter before starting another. When freestyling or writing without an outline, I’d often have these racing thoughts. I’d bounce from one thing to the next or develop one point in a plot that didn’t have anything to do with the chapter I was writing. Wheat I had to learn was to finish one thought or chapter before I’d start another.

That holds true many many things, not just writing a book. Over the last few weeks I’d been working on two projects at the same time. One was simple enough to complete, but it required a lot of steps. I’m talking more than thirty steps, perhaps more. I’d come across a platform that allows for automation of processes and I thought it would be a great idea to implement the automation as part of my workflow. In theory that’s a great concepts, but in practicality, it didn’t work.

For two weeks now I’ve not completed either task. Manual completion would take about a week. Automation of the process, once completed, would take less than a day but, I have to become competent in learning the automation platform. Now I’m entering week three and neither are complete. I didn’t finish one before starting another.

I’m also contemplating moving to another location. I haven’t found a new place, but I’m thinking about it and looking for places to live within my budget and other criteria. My lease isn’t over until next month, but here I am searching for new places. Now I can’t just find a new place with all my criteria in a week, but I surely don’t need upwards of six or seven weeks either. It’s a waste of time at this point.

I’m realizing now more than ever, that distractions can be insidious. It’s interesting how things can seem important and relevant, but not truly be that way at all. So today I’ll work on completing things manually. Once that’s done, I’m not moving forward with the automation learning, nor the search for another place. Afterwards, I’ll work on documenting my plan. I’ll then review it daily, probably several times per day. It seems as if I’m drifting away from what’s most important and how to accomplish that singular thing. Time is of the essence and wasting it is not acceptable.

Today, Monday, June 10, 2024, I am grateful that:

Focus and insight are returning. For years I’d bounce from one thing to the next, rarely completing either. My history doesn’t define my future and I will not let past experiences define my present.

I got a chance to watch Game Two of the Finals. It’s an acceptable deviation from my morning routine. It happens once a year and watching the games live is more entertaining than highlights. It also provides a “taste of home” even though this place is truly home, in my heart and my mind.

Herb and I got a chance to talk on Thursday as normal. I took a small break from writing Friday. He’d experienced a medical event earlier in the week and even though he’s not back to normal, he’s recovering nicely.

How many projects are you currently working on?

Which one can you finish, in the least amount of time?

Finish that one, then rinse and repeat.

Abe,

Be Greater!!!