Working From Home...finding what works for you

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Self-discipline is an interesting thing. What is it exactly? Cambridge Dictionary says discipline is "training that makes people more willing to obey or more able to control themselves, often in the form of rules, and punishment if these rules are broken..."

Well, that doesn't sound to appealing! So how can this apply to working for yourself? And how does this fit in with the whole creative process idea?

We all have a way or operating in the world however sadly, we don't come with a manual like that new fryer oven you just bought. It only comes from getting to know yourself and understanding as you live, you grow and change so what you thought of yourself two years ago may not apply today.

I dislike the word discipline because it implies there is some outside governing force that you must follow. A "thou shalt" sort of rule where it is the only way of doing something or getting somewhere. I don't know about you, however I have found there are many routes to get to the same destination.

I have come to realize to truly succeed and excel at something, there is no amount of self control or method of making yourself do something you truly do not want to do. It is that simple.

People SAY THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING, BUT THEN MAKE A THOUSAND EXCUSES as to why they cannot do it. I think this is a cop-out. I won't delude myself, if I want wo do something I want to do it, and it may mean making sacrifices and it may mean going on a journey or trying a good many things, however in the end, what is left will lead you to a place where you get up every day and go at it without having a schedule or rules when or where or anything else to get the job done. 

I think JK Rowlings has said it best and given a great piece of advice. She says, "Failure meant stripping away of the inessentials. I stopped pretending to myself I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged."

If you are anything like me, then you can do many things that are artistic. You paint and draw and carve and bead and on and on, however the one thing I have found is there is truth to that old saying , , "Jack of all trades but master of none."

So, after looking at the my past experiences and skills as well as life lessons I have learned about myself, I have found what works for me. 

Personally I don't want to strip so much away that I am not motivated by the variety in what I am doing and I have a need for creative control. That is just me. You need to find out what works for you.

I illustrate, write and produce my own books when I am learning to put into print and so on. I am motivated because I am a project building person. I have don't do well, the whole long haul kind of thing that requires huge amount of doing something over and over and over. Editing is my limit. 

II enjoy the learning curve and the challenges that come with being an Indie publisher of my own books. I have not made up my mind yet about the whole creating an online presence thing yet. I have material and done some reading however I have not created a master marketing plan yet. Partly because I don't have time and partly because I need to be sure I can commit to it. If I have to go make a living and all that, I cannot see myself working all day and coming home to do that. The day will come when I am in a position permanently to do this and then I will look into that more. I have started putting building blocks into place such as this website however I know at this time, I will not make promises I cannot keep.

This is where I am at, and you may find your retired or unemployed and/or simply don't need a job. I would love to be in that position however at this time, I am not. You have figure out how much time and for how long you can commit to the writing process IF that is truly what you want.

Once you do this, I am sure, the concept of self-discipline or routine will naturally form. You have a vision and go about doing whatever it takes to complete it looking at the bigger picture. When you do this, you will find the flexibility you need to motivate and keep yourself on track while at the same time, giving yourself permission to take time away to "compost" or look at other aspects of your writing process.

The bottom line is that whether you need a schedule or not will depend on what sort of person you are. Some people need the ability to be flexible while others need that rigid routine to keep them going however you won't keep going unless you really and truly want to.