Why Daily?

I'm already feeling the pressure 3 days in. I mean, why this relentless commitment to publish something on my blog every day?

Here's why I made this decision:

1. I am a lazy person.

2. I need a deadline to finish things.

3. I want to become a better writer.

4. Writing takes practice.

First let's address issue #1. Laziness. Sometimes I call it being easily distracted. Sometimes I call it being tired. Sometimes I call it being busy. Let me just tell it like it is: I have a lazy streak. At 35 years of age, I think it's time to address it.

Here's what I've noticed though--I am quite a mover and shaker when I have a deadline (issue #2). Usually I wait until I'm up against it to start moving and shaking (sometimes I call it procrastination) but then I am a model of activity and effort.

Because of issue #3, I have decided to give myself a deadline so that I will regularly focus and diligently practice my art (#4).

I have been inspired by the book Linchpin by Seth Godin. In it he quotes Steve Jobs who said, "Real artists ship." What that means is that when working on our product, at some point we have to declare it good enough and "ship" the thing. I can't tell you how many times I have had an idea of something to write about but never sit down and do it because I don't think I'll have enough time to develop it well enough. It's that perfectionist inside saying "Anything that's worth doing is worth doing well." (so if you can't do it well don't even bother!)

So this is me "shipping." This is me staring my perfectionism in the face and saying, "Anything that's worth doing will bring me joy and satisfaction even if it is not the best I could do. Some effort is better than no effort."