“To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.” – Leonard Bernstein, Born Aug. 25, 1918.
I believe this so hard.
Your plan doesn't need to be immaculate, or even very detailed. I had a five year plan when I went freelance that had only one sentence per year.
It can be a sketch. An outline. Don't overplan, because it will change anyway once you start working it.
And that's part two. How to work it. Once you have a plan, however long you think it will take, do it in HALF that time and stop being a wiener about it.
What else are you doing? Nothing more important.
We are talking about your life's work, here.
We are talking about working for your own self and finding your true fans and becoming awesome with an audience.
Give yourself harsh deadlines and learn to get good at pushing out your best (given the circumstances) at a rate others can't even comprehend.
Because you PRACTICE under PRESSURE. You eventually are effortless in the pocket, juggling chainsaws with ease.
Metaphorically.
And note: I'm not saying to work harder. I'm saying work smarter. Waste less. Focus more. Pack it in. Cut unnecessary crap. Focus only on the pure gold.
And note also: I'm not saying this is the only way to work, or that you should work this way forever. This is about getting rapid, massive traction. Once you have that, you've earned the right to coast and let your masterpiece ideas marinate a little.
But unless you're already getting what you want out of your work life, your career, your business, or whatever it is – unless it's supporting you and you're making new fans every day no matter what you work on…
Time is wasting.
So… what's your plan? What do you want to do? Write it down. Give yourself a nice, comfy deadline. Then slash that deadline in half. Get to work, wiener.