Stop!!! by http://www.sxc.hu/profile/ColinBroug
The truth is, you (and I) really don’t want to get work done. I’m talking about a specific type of work. We don’t want to do the kind of work that makes us feel vulnerable, the kind of work that could seem pushy or authoritative. We allow distractions so we have an excuse for doing work that doesn’t really move us or anyone else to a different place. “Status quo” is not a goal, it is an act of surrender. These things are keeping you (and me) from doing great work. There are many more but these are the ones that involve technology.
- Phone calls
- Email programs on your desktop
- Email on your cell phone
- Text messages
- Instant messages
- Skype chats and calls
- Google voice within your email window
- Facebook chat messages
- Twitter direct messages
How much time do these steal from you doing great work? I use a program called Freedom to lock me out of the internet while I write. If you are as undisciplined as I am then let Freedom help. The number one business blogger in the world uses it so you can too.
What distracts you most often when you’re working?
What are you going to do to shut it down and get some real work done?
I’m giving away a free copy of FREEDOM to a commenter. Is that bribery? Maybe. Happy commenting
My name is Andy Traub and I help people tell their stories in a way that maximizes their impact. If you'd like to create your own custom channel to reach the world then I can help. Just 
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I definitely struggle with it. I call it ‘going down the rabbit hole’ with the REAL work I must do. That I WANT to do. But my flesh looks for distractions that are easier. Thanks for this.
@KevinMiller OK Mr. Vague. Get specific.
@andytraub I let email, facebook, a bird flying out my window…so many things…distract me from the glorious, yet hard, thoughtful work that I actually WANT to do. I’m inspired, I know it will be valuable. WHY then, would I let ANYTHING deter me? I don’t know. But I often end up exhausting every distraction…then with time limits looming…cram in the hard work. It’s retarded.
@KevinMiller And it’s also totally normal. U need that app.
In the past year I have used the excuse that I don’t have a clear picture of my goals so Look for inspiration among distraction. Sheesh. What a lame excuse!
@ChrisSutton Yeah, that’s like trying to sober up in a bar.
@andytraub @ChrisSutton Off topic, but people told me I couldn’t get sober playing music in bars, but I did. The difference was I was there to work (or play), not hang out. Interesting, maybe that is how I should handle facebook and twitter. I shouldn’t go there to play or hang out, but go to work (or serve others, etc). I just got an idea for a blog post. haha, thanks guys!
I am most distracted by email which is funny, since I check all my email using GMail and I specifically have to go check. I am getting better, devoting an hour first thing in the morning to writing where I use to check social media, share my latest posts, etc. Most of my problems stem from not having a specific thing I want to accomplish; I want to write but I don’t have a subject to write about or I need to design a product, just don’t know where to start with this one. Too many distractions…
@AlanReeves Gmail is my drug. I need help too.
Emails derail my productivity as does Facebook.
@Joe Lalonde How ya gonna fix it?
@andytraub Good question Andy. I need to setup boundaries and maintain them.
@andytraub Good question Andy. I need to setup boundaries and maintain them.
@Joe Lalonde Soooo. What are they? #accountability
@Joe Lalonde Soooo. What are they? #accountability
Emails, Facebook, and Twitter.
@MichaelMGood How ya gonna fix that?
@andytraub I have to get better at closing everything done and focussing.
@MichaelMGood Start today stud.
Email is the killer; but my business is transactional documentation, so hiding is not a solution. Customers also prevent me from getting stuff done – painfully ironic. In fact, a particularly needy one interrupted this comment!
@bifjamod So you can’t create ANY kind of buffer/space that requires people to wait? Do they really know you just got their email? Can you ween them off the immediate and give yourself a 30 minute reply window? Put it in your email signature. “I reply to emails every 60 minutes.” – Just an idea.
@andytraub Sometimes I can; I’ve actually had customers call and ask me if I got their email / documents – minutes after sending it! Part of the problem is that I got people accustomed to prompt replies: I’m a victim of excellence! I do like the idea of adding something to the sig about expecting a delay. Thanks for that.
@bifjamod If all your Jon entails is responding to customers as fast as you can I applaud you. If your job is bigger than that then I’m holding my applause and encouraging you to change your email signature tomorrow. “Expect a response within 60 minutes”. It’s up to you to set the expectation. You game?
@andytraub not only am I game Andy, but I changed my email sig to expect minimum 30 minutes. I’ll have to wean them AND me! Thanks for challenging me!
@bifjamod So you HAVE to email me tomorrow or just call 605-610-TECH and let me know how it’s going. Remind me who you are when I call or I’ll sound like a jerk and say, “Who’s this?” You can do it!
@bifjamod So you can’t create ANY kind of buffer/space that requires people to wait? Do they really know you just got their email? Can you ween them off the immediate and give yourself a 30 minute reply window? Put it in your email signature. “I reply to emails every 60 minutes.” – Just an idea.
Funny, I listened to the NoMoreMondays podcast just minetes ago where you mention this. Facebook kills me. Having my wife yell at me is usually the best way to retain focus.
@RyanUlver You let Facebook kill you. Own it bro. (Email is my drug of choice)
Funny, I listened to the NoMoreMondays podcast just minetes ago where you mention this. Facebook kills me. Having my wife yell at me is usually the best way to retain focus.
Tweetdeck for Desktop was my killer (where Twitter and Facebook are combined and new messages pop up). I somehow don’t have an issue with email. But I’ve learned to close Tweetdeck during my writing times or “do not disturb” times. Much more productive!!
@mochocki So why do you like Twitter? Looking for people mentioning you? (That’s my drug) News? Blog links? Why do you keep looking there and is there a way to organize it so you can spend less time on it? I only check two groups I made up (each have no more than 10 people in them) and my “mentions”. That’s all I check with Twitter.
@andytraub I believe I go to Twitter for all of the above. Mainly I follow many Christians who help keep me focused on what is important. I’ve thought of making groups or lists of specific people, but I never know what is going to inspire me, which is why I follow so many people. As a creative, anything can get me going. But I think Twitter is part of my job. I don’t let it control my life. I don’t let it run my life. I don’t let it interfere with important things in my life. I just let it supplement my thinking when I allow it.
@mochocki Sounds like you’ve got it under control then? You’re stronger than ME!
In the words of Andy Andrews, the “black dog” – depression, discouragement, the Resistance, the idea that what I have to offer the world is worthless. What keeps me productive is recognizing the Resistance and choosing to use it against itself by writing about that which is challenging me. Even if I don’t use it, I’ve started writing and my creative juices get flowing. Then I can write something that might be worthwhile.
@TheCallofMen You gotta get yourself on a DAILY diet of encouragement and good friends. I have one guy I talk to almost EVERY day that encourages me and I read or write something encouraging EVERY day. Otherwise I fall FAST. So who is that for you? Who can encourage you and fight the battle with you and what can you read that kicks your butt in the right way?Oh, and all that crap about you being worthless? That’s total bull$*%&. You should put that in your office somewhere. Just write “I’m awesome” and post it lots of places. It’s true. God doesn’t make mistakes. He makes us in His image.
@andytraub @TheCallofMen Fantastic, I need to follow this myself. Maybe I’ll just copy ALL of that and post it everywhere!
@RyanUlver @andytraub Me, too. Thanks, Andy! On a side note, I used my Twitter account to sign into this Livefyre thing – on Twitter it show my actual name but on Livefyre it shows my Twitter username (@TheCallofMen) – How do I get it to show my name on here?
@TheCallofMen You’ll probably need to clear your browser’s cache b/c it’s remembering you signed in under Twitter. To show your real name you may need to sign in to Livefyre using a different means (Facebook?) Hope that helps.
@andytraub @TheCallofMen Hey Scott, Dhara here from Livefyre. You can change your username from your account settings here http://www.livefyre.com/profile/edit/info/ Just input your name in the “Username” field and you should be good to go!
If you’ve any other questions, please don’t hesitate to holler at us. We’ll be happy to help!
I agree with Ryan, Facebook is my killer, email can be potentially too. Steven Pressfield does a good job of discussing and dealing with this resistance that keep us from doing our work in The War of Art. I know for me there are times I just have to choose between the work over the resistance. The Callofmen does a good job of pointing out, that you need to recognize that the resistance is present though, in order to address it.
@Peder Aadahl What’s the DRAW to Facebook Peder? Are you hyper-social like me? Why do you keep going back? Do you initiate the interactions or are you just consuming content? What draws you to go back? I obsess over email because I want to help people and I want them to need me. So why is Facebook your drug? Can you answer that honestly? (More than you bargained for but hey, you admitted it was an issue right?)
@andytraub It is an issue for me because I am obsessed with finding out what is going on in people’s lives and then trying to find a way to encourage them if i can. It is kind of like your e-mail issue. And obviously with Facebook you can start looking through pictures and the next thing you know it is an hour later? And then I have to realize that I haven’t really even achieved what I had originally came for. GRRRRRR
@andytraub It is an issue for me because I am obsessed with finding out what is going on in people’s lives and then trying to find a way to encourage them if i can. It is kind of like your e-mail issue. And obviously with Facebook you can start looking through pictures and the next thing you know it is an hour later? And then I have to realize that I haven’t really even achieved what I had originally came for. GRRRRRR
Email is a huge factor for me. I have two laptops side by side – personal and business. I switch between the two like I’m playing Hot Potato (or so it seems). The best thing I can do is shut off the personal laptop, put it in the bag and stay focused on the business email…but then I get distracted with the business email and lack focus on the things I can get the most benefit in business…Why? Avoidance of tasks that stretch me or will make me uncomfortable. Just pushing it aside to a rainy day, but by then it’s too late! Also, I think it is this “need” to grab all the info I can, be up to date on everything I can be and reply to others in a timely fashion. Foolishness I say! But I keep playing the fool!
Thanks for the Post, Andy. I’m new to your blog and enjoy the NMM show.
Let me know how you when you’re ready to send out “FREEDOM” and I’ll give you my mailing address! LOL. Have a super day!
@michaelvwright I’ll be sending out Freedom through the interwebs
Yeah, two computers is ridiculous bro. I think you should have a rule that only one is powered on a time. That’ll keep you focused.
@michaelvwright You are the winner of a free copy of “Freedom” – I’m emailing you now!
Mine is facebook and twitter. I like reading the interesting links people put on twitter and basically see what people are doing on Facebook. I need to limit myself to checking it a few times a day.
@SuttonParks What times Sutton? If you check it once an hour that’s a good start. Then space it out more from there.
Reading “The Four Hour Workweek” by @tferriss got me off of my incessant squandering of time when I would check my e-mail every 45 seconds (slight exaggeration). The hindrance to getting real work done most days for me is Facebook. @MichaelHyatt has also suggested Freedom and I’d love to be the recipient of your complimentary copy. I haven’t read too many other comments to see if others have asked so I’m wondering how akin you are to a “ask and ye shall receive” comment like mine.
Thanks for the post. A great reminder indeed. Blessings, Andy.
@charlielyons I’m pretty receptive. It’s also only $10 so if you’ve got $10 I’d get it now. You can try it for free for 30 days too I think.
@charlielyons I’m pretty receptive. It’s also only $10 so if you’ve got $10 I’d get it now. You can try it for free for 30 days too I think.
Email is my biggest culprit but more specifically it is people that like to CC everyone and their dog into every conversation regardless of relevancy. I spend way too much time reading emails that I really don’t need to read.
@AndrewJ You need to implement this – http://www.andytraub.com/no-reply-necessary/
@andytraub I like it! That is a simple solution. I’m going to try it and see how it works. Thanks Andy!
@andytraub I like it! That is a simple solution. I’m going to try it and see how it works. Thanks Andy!
I guess I’m lucky. I started my software company 19+ years ago, around 1992. I worked 16+ hours a day, every day including weekends, with my partner, building the software and marketing it, selling it, training it, supporting it, improving it. There was no Twitter, Facebook, or “Pinterest”(??) back then… HECK, there WAS NO INTERNET back then!!!! Period. There was not even Microsoft Windows. The last thing in the world I needed was a program called “FREEDOM” that blocked out any online distractions — building our software and our business was our ONLY FOCUS, and it was constant and neverending… hour after hour, YEAR after YEAR. Today, we have 70+ employees, gross $12M in revenue, and I earn well over $2M per year in personal income (about a million of that goes to Uncle Sam) — all while ENJOYING all of the online distractions — mainly articles about leadership and success that I enjoy reading or seeing links on Twitter from other successful people like Andy Traub, Andy Andrews, etc. And I enjoy all of the new technologies like smartphones and tablets as I spend time at my kids’ activities, travel, take countless vacations, etc. I personally don’t “ship”, but my partner and I lead our 70 employees to do so. They do a great job, have limited access to distractions during work hours, and we have a great company building and shipping software.