Why and How not to put things off... Take the first step. And the next, and the next, and don't stop till you've completed what you set out to do. It's that simple.

Artist out out showing the portfolio.

There are people who put important things off until the last moment and then pat themselves on the back for living in misery for days at a time, pulling their nuts out of the fire just adequately enough to prevent total failure. In my mind that's what people are doing when they write and re-write many drafts instead of just sitting down and writing a book. Or a script. Or a poem. Or a blog post. Re-writing endless drafts is a way to put off being finished with a project. A method for avoiding the fear of starting the next project. A project that's never complete is a project that never has to suffer failure. Why? Because chances are no one will see it.

In photography, commercial and otherwise, there is a concept called previsualization. It means that you have a visual idea of exactly how you would like an image you are attempting to create to turn out. The form, texture, colors, style, etc. When you start with the overarching idea firmly in mind you have a template to guide you through the process. You work to complete it and then, when the image is much like what you previsualized you are done and ready to move on. One has to trust their initial vision, not scout for it like a squirrel looking for nuts. 

Overthinking anything is a method of resisting getting real stuff done. Stuff like making successful career moves, starting projects, completing projects, getting paid for projects. It's the same kind of resistive thought process that keeps people "preparing" to start an exercise program but never getting around to the point of it all. Which is so simple. To exercise you get up every morning, tie your shoes and go for a run. Every morning. Every day. Every day of the week. Alternatively, you can get up and get to the pool every morning. And swim harder and further every morning. Every day of every week. If you are in piss poor shape you start by walking around the block and build from there. Every day.

Or, conversely, you can research running shoes, research the best ways to run/swim, map out prospective pathways on which to run, etc. and never get out the door to put any of it into action. It's the putting of things/plans into action that actually creates satisfaction and measurable success/results. No other way to do it. Only the work creates the results.

Want to have healthy teeth and gums? Brush at least twice every day and floss every day. No better way. And really, would you want to try the novel concept of doing all your toothbrushing just once a month for an hour or so? Do you think that's a good oral health solution? Probably not. Same with making art.

When we are young men we tend to drive fast. To take chances. To feel bulletproof. To stay up late and put things off. We delude ourselves into thinking that our innate brilliance (and luck, and privilege) will come to the fore to save us. As we get older we tend to grow more cautious. We tend to think more before leaping off the cliff or bingeing on Netflix when we have a project that needs completed. We know that putting things off compresses our safety zone dangerously. 

At my age I see two kinds of people. Those who've planned well for retirement and those who put off doing the work of preparing for retirement. The successful ones started saving decades ago and almost to a person it was the discipline of routine savings, month by month and year by year that translated into wealth (along with the power of compound interest). Enough wealth to buffer one from the shittier parts of getting old without resources. 

The team that puts everything off to the last moment, including saving, seems to find out, with growing alarm, that at a certain point in time it's nearly impossible to quickly, easily and immediately accrue anywhere near the same kind of wealth. And suddenly the future looks much bleaker.

And interestingly the ones who've planned for their futures also tend to be the ones who keep themselves in good physical shape. Pretty much using the same basic tool. Discipline.

It's the same with issues of health. The people I know who show up to the pool or the running trails every day and put in their miles, rain or shine, hot or cold, are the ones who don't have crippling sleep issues, problems maintaining optimal body weight, and have not developed the usual diseases of excess and overindulgence. Are not losing mobility. They are banking good health every day. They may not live longer than everyone else but they will live longer as healthy and engaged people than the general population. 

Depending on a diet or some regimen of supplements is no substitution. It is easier. But it's not nearly as effective. A good diet and exercise.... now that's the gold standard for longevity. 

I know a number of artists. I taught in a Fine Arts College at a big University. I worked in advertising. You meet these these kinds of people. I count as friends painters, sculptors, writers, actors, photographers and whatever other permutation of artist you might think of. The successful ones? The ones without pat excuses for their failure to thrive? The ones with art in galleries and museums? The ones who can afford to live at least as well as most other professionals? They have one thing the less successful artists lack. It's discipline. 

They tend to get up every morning. Mix paint. Chisel stone. Type for hours. Sling cameras. Print for publication or sale, memorize scripts, and, basically, show up. They do the work --- not sporadically or because a show is coming up. They do the work day in and day out because that's the only way they know how to be successful. 

When Stephen Pressfield finished writing it and sold his first book he rushed to tell his mentor. His mentor congratulated him and then told him to get up the next morning, pull out a ream of fresh paper and start writing the next one. 

No wild trips to Bali to celebrate, no week off in the Bahamas. You got the good news today and you start the next project tomorrow. No other way. A foundation of discipline.

And it's hard at first to develop the habits of always following through. Always finishing what you start. Always putting off immediate gratification for the bigger rewards that hard, diligent work engenders. 

When I talk to younger photographers about how to be successful we rarely ever bring up gear, lighting techniques, or style. We talk about the discipline to get up every day ready to market to people who can commission the work and have the money to support them. The discipline of concepting a project and following it through tenaciously. Delivering on time. Delivering early in case changes need to be made. But knuckling down and doing the work. 

Self Discipline never goes out of style. 

Please forgive my spelling errors. It's my first and only draft.

Future engineers. Working to completion.