Thank you for this! Motion vs. Action is such a great framework, and I really needed to read this today. I've been feeling a little stuck on a project and I ran it through the framework and was like... oh, it's because I'm not actually taking any action.
I agree. This is such an important thing for me too. When I procrastinate by spending time on motion aspects of a project, I ask myself "is what I'm doing taking me closer to my end target/goal?" When the answer is no, my next question is "what will?" And then I just take a small tiny amount of action on the answer to that question.
I think half the battle is determining what actually IS action, vs. what feels and looks like action but is motion in disguise. Even having an awareness that there’s a difference is a start.
What other procrastination tips or tools do you find helpful?
I've got loads of them lol. Depending on my situation/mood/energy levels, I deploy different techniques.
For example, on most days, I start with small mundane tasks (contrary to Eat The Frog approach) to gain momentum. Then I use that to get to bigger ones.
I use timers often to prevent myself from entertaining distractions.
I have actual discussions and dialogues with myself lol. That really helps me focus on complex problems.
I've got a lot more. We'll save those for your next post lol
Thank you for your insight, Anna! I get frustrated with my part-time job because of how much energy it sucks out of me, but then I realize how lucky I am that I have this job (it’s repetitive but pretty easy) and that I’m able to work on my side hustle while doing it.
While I’d love to have more funds in my bank account, I’m able to live a fairly simple and comfortable life with my job while having enough time and energy put into my side hustle / creative work as a painter. Gratitude is an important part of the journey, def keeps me going!
Anna, this is just brilliant advice. My day job is supporting women who run small businesses and more and more we are hearing about the side hustle vs fulltime pull - and how financial viability is one of the biggest challenges. Problem is, you can’t grow without more investment of time - hence your brilliant advice.
I’ll be sharing this piece with our community - thanks for such a great read.
The side hustle / full time pull is SO hard, but I think a lot of people look at the decision as binary: stay in my current job, quit to get another full time role, or quit and go all in. But there are definitely more options available to people. A number of people I work with have renegotiated their roles down to part time while they build on the side, and others have quit their full time job to get lucrative contract work that also allows them to spend time on their passions. I also think businesses are starting to (slowly) recognise the value of part time employees and contractors, which is exciting, especially for primary carers.
Thank you! Can you define what you mean by “productise myself”? Interestingly, I don’t see myself as having productised myself per se as I’m only selling my services (at least at the moment) rather than turning that knowledge into a product others can purchase.
It’s a good question. I’m a generalist, and have worked across almost every facet of business, which in some ways is a lot harder because my value and what I can do isn’t well defined.
There are a few things that guided my initial search for clients. I’ve worked in the beauty and to a lesser extent fashion industry for years so I approached all the beauty brands I would like to work with. I had open discovery calls with founders to understand where they need help and I realised that a lot of them needed help figuring out how to grow, through expansion to global markets or with new products or channels. With this insight, I was able to sell back my ability to help them do this (luckily I had quite a bit of experience launching global brands in Aus and Aussie brands into the US). Soon after, I started working with tech companies whose ideal customers are beauty ecomm brands. This was an entry point into working with tech startups, and has opened up my ability to work with others.
Then with my mentoring, it’s something I’ve done informally for years. I only decided to start offering paid mentoring last month, because so many people who read my newsletter reached out asking for it that I recognised the demand and I created an offer.
It’s all been quite organic, I didn’t necessarily know where I was going to land when I started out. The key is to start and figure it out as you go 😊
Can easily relate. There are moments in my day when a job comes through for me (as a copywriter) and I think, Hey go away, I’m busy. And then I remember this day job still pays the rent, lol. We have to be grateful for the stuff that funds our ‘dream’.
The four core steps to building a second brain are: C — Capture, O — Organize, D — Distill, E — Express. C →O →D →E is essentially the process of knowledge moving from fragmentation to integration.
——Building a Second Brain (written by Tiago Forte)
Love Tiago’s writing! I actually wrote a post about my creative process last year titled “Notice, Note take, Curate, Create”. It’s a similar framework to the one you mentioned:
Thanks for such a practical set of steps Anna. I’m locked in a contract that means I need to continue my full time gig for the next 12 months, but I’m hoping maybe to find a part time option after (though that’ll probably mean moving employers which is a little daunting). But in the meantime, great reminders for me to be realistic about my capacity and focus on action. I’ll get there, one step at a time! I don’t have much spare cash so it’s gonna take me at least a year anyway to build up that emergency buffer 😅 loved the audio track too, also great advice!
I actually think that it takes 12 months of preparation to get yourself ready to go out on your own, whether that’s as a full time solopreneur or having a portfolio career made up of a few different jobs or projects. It’s a perfect time for you to lay the foundation (financial and otherwise)! Exciting times 🩷
This is really helpful. Especially the decision tree part. I love how you explained everything in so much detail.
I'm a major procrastinator when it comes to making decisions (Enneagram 9. Hello there lol). This approach will help me make better decisions and make them less daunting.
You’re so welcome. Everything I wrote is very logical and analytical and I think that feeling and emotion often come into play with big decisions, but I’ve always found a decision making framework is a helpful starting point. What drives your procrastination, do you think?
No doubt. I think both gut feeling and logical decision making have to work in tandem. It's more a learned skill I suppose.
Procrastination for me is because of the fear of unknown and people pleasing big time. I can easily get stuck in "how will other perceive me if I do this"
This is an excellent resource. I with I had read this last year when I was deciding whether to stay/go. Would have saved me a lot of stress! (I ultimately left and it was a great decision but I waffled for way too long.)
Can’t tell you how much I like the voice additions. You’re a North Star.
Felt like I should say that I’ve been ruminating along with a million things since we zoom chatted earlier in the year and I feel like your writing is a weekly coach. Keep killing it (selfishly for me kthanx)
🥹 thank you so much Kate, this made me smile. I can't see myself stopping this newsletter anytime soon haha! It's exciting that you've been pondering on a few things since we spoke! How have things been going?
I’m giving myself a couple of months to have a go at what of my million ideas might be a good side hustle and start writing a bit. Leaning into the “try-hard” and portfolio, completely succumbing with not being able to answer the “what do you do” question.
Thank you for this! Motion vs. Action is such a great framework, and I really needed to read this today. I've been feeling a little stuck on a project and I ran it through the framework and was like... oh, it's because I'm not actually taking any action.
I agree. This is such an important thing for me too. When I procrastinate by spending time on motion aspects of a project, I ask myself "is what I'm doing taking me closer to my end target/goal?" When the answer is no, my next question is "what will?" And then I just take a small tiny amount of action on the answer to that question.
I think half the battle is determining what actually IS action, vs. what feels and looks like action but is motion in disguise. Even having an awareness that there’s a difference is a start.
What other procrastination tips or tools do you find helpful?
I've got loads of them lol. Depending on my situation/mood/energy levels, I deploy different techniques.
For example, on most days, I start with small mundane tasks (contrary to Eat The Frog approach) to gain momentum. Then I use that to get to bigger ones.
I use timers often to prevent myself from entertaining distractions.
I have actual discussions and dialogues with myself lol. That really helps me focus on complex problems.
I've got a lot more. We'll save those for your next post lol
Isn’t it amazing! I read James Clear’s post about 3 years ago and it totally shifted the way I work!
Thank you for your insight, Anna! I get frustrated with my part-time job because of how much energy it sucks out of me, but then I realize how lucky I am that I have this job (it’s repetitive but pretty easy) and that I’m able to work on my side hustle while doing it.
While I’d love to have more funds in my bank account, I’m able to live a fairly simple and comfortable life with my job while having enough time and energy put into my side hustle / creative work as a painter. Gratitude is an important part of the journey, def keeps me going!
Absolutely, gratitude is key. And also understanding that every situation has trade offs, and that no situation will ever be perfect 🫶🏼
Anna, this is just brilliant advice. My day job is supporting women who run small businesses and more and more we are hearing about the side hustle vs fulltime pull - and how financial viability is one of the biggest challenges. Problem is, you can’t grow without more investment of time - hence your brilliant advice.
I’ll be sharing this piece with our community - thanks for such a great read.
The side hustle / full time pull is SO hard, but I think a lot of people look at the decision as binary: stay in my current job, quit to get another full time role, or quit and go all in. But there are definitely more options available to people. A number of people I work with have renegotiated their roles down to part time while they build on the side, and others have quit their full time job to get lucrative contract work that also allows them to spend time on their passions. I also think businesses are starting to (slowly) recognise the value of part time employees and contractors, which is exciting, especially for primary carers.
Logical advice Anna, and I really liked the recording at the end. Felt like I was in a room chatting to you.
Personally, my biggest question is how did you productise yourself? How did you think "Damn, I'm good at XYZ I should make it a solo business" ?
Thank you! Can you define what you mean by “productise myself”? Interestingly, I don’t see myself as having productised myself per se as I’m only selling my services (at least at the moment) rather than turning that knowledge into a product others can purchase.
I misspoke! I meant to ask how you found the services to sell. How did you identify your strengths and want to go down that avenue?
It’s a good question. I’m a generalist, and have worked across almost every facet of business, which in some ways is a lot harder because my value and what I can do isn’t well defined.
There are a few things that guided my initial search for clients. I’ve worked in the beauty and to a lesser extent fashion industry for years so I approached all the beauty brands I would like to work with. I had open discovery calls with founders to understand where they need help and I realised that a lot of them needed help figuring out how to grow, through expansion to global markets or with new products or channels. With this insight, I was able to sell back my ability to help them do this (luckily I had quite a bit of experience launching global brands in Aus and Aussie brands into the US). Soon after, I started working with tech companies whose ideal customers are beauty ecomm brands. This was an entry point into working with tech startups, and has opened up my ability to work with others.
Then with my mentoring, it’s something I’ve done informally for years. I only decided to start offering paid mentoring last month, because so many people who read my newsletter reached out asking for it that I recognised the demand and I created an offer.
It’s all been quite organic, I didn’t necessarily know where I was going to land when I started out. The key is to start and figure it out as you go 😊
Can easily relate. There are moments in my day when a job comes through for me (as a copywriter) and I think, Hey go away, I’m busy. And then I remember this day job still pays the rent, lol. We have to be grateful for the stuff that funds our ‘dream’.
Absolutely! Something has to fund the dream until the dream can fund itself.
The four core steps to building a second brain are: C — Capture, O — Organize, D — Distill, E — Express. C →O →D →E is essentially the process of knowledge moving from fragmentation to integration.
——Building a Second Brain (written by Tiago Forte)
Love Tiago’s writing! I actually wrote a post about my creative process last year titled “Notice, Note take, Curate, Create”. It’s a similar framework to the one you mentioned:
https://open.substack.com/pub/annamackstack/p/notice-note-take-curate-create?r=2r8esr&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for such a practical set of steps Anna. I’m locked in a contract that means I need to continue my full time gig for the next 12 months, but I’m hoping maybe to find a part time option after (though that’ll probably mean moving employers which is a little daunting). But in the meantime, great reminders for me to be realistic about my capacity and focus on action. I’ll get there, one step at a time! I don’t have much spare cash so it’s gonna take me at least a year anyway to build up that emergency buffer 😅 loved the audio track too, also great advice!
I actually think that it takes 12 months of preparation to get yourself ready to go out on your own, whether that’s as a full time solopreneur or having a portfolio career made up of a few different jobs or projects. It’s a perfect time for you to lay the foundation (financial and otherwise)! Exciting times 🩷
Oh big mood right now
BIG mood
This is really helpful. Especially the decision tree part. I love how you explained everything in so much detail.
I'm a major procrastinator when it comes to making decisions (Enneagram 9. Hello there lol). This approach will help me make better decisions and make them less daunting.
Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome. Everything I wrote is very logical and analytical and I think that feeling and emotion often come into play with big decisions, but I’ve always found a decision making framework is a helpful starting point. What drives your procrastination, do you think?
No doubt. I think both gut feeling and logical decision making have to work in tandem. It's more a learned skill I suppose.
Procrastination for me is because of the fear of unknown and people pleasing big time. I can easily get stuck in "how will other perceive me if I do this"
At some point, going all into one is the answer. That’s my take!
Oo…say more?
Wow the thoroughness in which you answer this is amazing. Thanks for giving it your all, Anna.
Thanks Becky, it took a couple of passes to organise my thoughts coherently but hopefully it helps someone :)
This is an excellent resource. I with I had read this last year when I was deciding whether to stay/go. Would have saved me a lot of stress! (I ultimately left and it was a great decision but I waffled for way too long.)
It's such a hard call to leave a job, especially if you've never worked for yourself before. Good on you for taking the plunge!
Thanks Anna!
Can’t tell you how much I like the voice additions. You’re a North Star.
Felt like I should say that I’ve been ruminating along with a million things since we zoom chatted earlier in the year and I feel like your writing is a weekly coach. Keep killing it (selfishly for me kthanx)
🥹 thank you so much Kate, this made me smile. I can't see myself stopping this newsletter anytime soon haha! It's exciting that you've been pondering on a few things since we spoke! How have things been going?
Well thank you for your service!
I’m giving myself a couple of months to have a go at what of my million ideas might be a good side hustle and start writing a bit. Leaning into the “try-hard” and portfolio, completely succumbing with not being able to answer the “what do you do” question.
Love this. I’m excited to see where it goes 🩷🩷