Comments on: What Starts You Up?

By: Kristi Krass

Kristi Krass — Fri, 21 May 2010 05:21:26 +0000

Somewhat related to your suggestion #1, I change up my environment. I work from an art museum, coffee shop, park, anywhere that has wi-fi available. New ideas and energy start flowing!

By: tobias tinker

tobias tinker — Fri, 21 May 2010 01:03:58 +0000

I definitely subscribe to point #1 - I even do long runs (meaning marathon-training long runs, in the 18-20 miles or more region) without listening stimulus. I want to be in my environment, and earbuds feel like an invasion. It's a particular kind of meditation, and I've found some deep insights in the outer reaches of that space.

Liking point number 4 from where I'm standing. I am rather good at the dreaming big part of all this, but tend to succumb to overwhelm when I start listing the actionable steps. I understand the concept behind the Big Rocks theory, but I've a ways to go in terms of implementing it, so deliberately looking for something so small I can definitely do it right away strikes a chord for me.

I guess the danger there is that it's easy to slip into frittering, doing things that satisfy the need to feel that we've accomplished something, but not really dig into the things that matter. Doubtless there is a balance to be struck there. Maybe the best small step to take is to identify which small steps are important and which are busywork.

By: Mike Korner

Mike Korner — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:27:01 +0000

When I get stuck I often stop and think about the words of John Wooden (men's basketball coach for U.C.L.A. back when they were a dynasty), “Don't let what you can't do stop you from doing what you can do”. Doing that seems to help me get moving again.

By: marydemingbarber

marydemingbarber — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:10:54 +0000

Great post Sarah with some good tips that we can all use. I like to break big projects into small parts so I can see the progress I'm making along the way. It helps me get started and feel like I'm getting somewhere, even when you can't check the “finished” box.

By: Robin Scott

Robin Scott — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:32:21 +0000

I really never sat and thought about this before but that's probably because #5 is basically how I do things. I just jump in and get started and let everything else just fall into place (hopefully) !!

By: ginidietrich

ginidietrich — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:31:34 +0000

I'm trying to figure out what it is that I do to get started. I'm so goal oriented (and type A) that it doesn't take much to get me started. BUT, I do reward myself. I focus on one task at a time (I used to do three or four things at once) and I reward myself by allowing time on the social networks when I do finish it. It keeps me motivated and also helps me focus.

By: Sally G.

Sally G. — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:19:33 +0000

I've learned that I need to retreat within before I'm able to launch or start something new. I resource and information gather as best as I can, and then – I let it permeate and circulate within. Soon, I'll see something or hear lyrics to a song or something that will contain a message for me as to how and when I am best to move forward ~ and I will do so. Sarah, I love your catchphrase Escaping Mediocrity and finding you was a blessed synchronicity. I'm looking forward to the 30 Day Challenge …

By: clare_dreamunlimited

clare_dreamunlimited — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:00:56 +0000

Hey Sarah! I so LOVE what you've been up to!! I will call soon! For me, I'm the queen of “brain dumps.” I jot down anything and everything that is on my mind….without judgement. Some of it relates to getting the project or new idea off the ground…and some of it is totally unrelated, but taking up critical brain and energy space. That simple act of doing a brain dump does wonders for me!

By: giulietta

giulietta — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:55:39 +0000

Hey Sarah,

I jump into action when something gets me riled up! So, I follow the "rile" wherever it takes me. Sometimes to an op-ed piece I write for the regional paper, or an essay I may submit to a magazine, or to the beginning of an investigation into something that doesn't "smell" right.

Follow your gut ...

Giulietta, Inspirational Rebel

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:16:18 +0000

Yoga does this for me. I found even today I was “in my head” for too long and my anxiety was spiraling out of control. BREATHING-this simple task-is something I forget to do to the point that I feel I will either hyper ventilate or pass out. BUT if I can just visualize my way to the mat. Well for me, it makes a world of difference.