The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

March 27Lifting the Weight

The stigma gone, Hester heaved a long, deep sigh, in which the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit. O exquisite relief! She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom!

Nathaniel Hawthorne—The Scarlet Letter (1850)

Have you ever labored under a deadline, constantly procrastinating, making excuses, checking Facebook, only to determine that right now is the perfect time to tidy up your closet?

But then, April 14th rolls around (the day before your taxes are due). You put in the work and meet the deadline only to experience an amazing feeling of relief. A rich, physical lightness of being.

The problem is we don't realize how thoroughly our subconscious runs the show at times. How much weight it applies to anything it deems painful or even slightly uncomfortable.

Faced with even greater pain—not meeting a deadline and receiving a large fine—we gather the strength to finally wrest back control.

The key, of course, is to never allow yourself to lose control in the first place. Well, yes, that would be nice, wouldn't it? The solution lies in freeing up enough space for deep work. You can't accomplish your most important, most pressing, high-payoff work unless you permit yourself and your brainpower long runways of time to think and accomplish. Block out that time, or you'll never find it.

Today, identify that one most important thing on your to-do list and don't even think about anything else until you've completed it. Feel lighter ...