December 17, 2024

To keep ourselves accountable, it's important to have a clear plan in mind. Too often, we have goals or visions, without a way of getting there. And without a plan, we plan to fail. That eventually leads to procrastination.

Part of the plan is having self imposed deadlines.

Losing 3 pounds per week. Reading 15 pages per day. meditating 5 minutes per day for a year. Setting a self imposed deadline keeps us on track and within it requires a great deal of discipline. It becomes a way to force ourselves into getting something done. Or, we'll just procrastinate.

The original Star Wars screen play took years to complete. George Lucas would say, "I never arrived at a degree of satisfaction where I thought the screenplay was perfect." However, he signed a deal with someone in the movie business and Lucas had to finish. A deadline was now set, no more procrastination in disguise of perfection.

"At that point it became an obligation," Lucas said. "If I hadn't been forced to shoot the film, I would doubtless still be re-writing it now."

By setting a deadline, Lucas got serious. And we will too. Its the primary difference between self-publishing or working with a publishing house, the deadlines that are imposed makes the writer stay on track.