Starting Where You Are: Embracing Productivity Amidst Imperfection
Starting Where You Are: Embracing Productivity Amidst Imperfection
In today's fast-paced world, where productivity is often seen as the key to success, we tend to fall into the trap of waiting for the perfect conditions to get started on our goals. We convince ourselves that we need the right mood, a well-rested body, a suitable workspace, and countless other optimal conditions to unleash our true potential. While it's true that these conditions can facilitate productivity, they should never become excuses for inaction or cruxes that we depend on.
Consider this scenario: I'm currently writing a significant portion of this blog post from my car, while waiting for my wife who is wrapping up a work meeting. It's far from an ideal working environment, and I have no access to my workhorse computer. However, I'm determined to accomplish my goal, and I'm making do with what I have.
We have access to an unprecedented amount of resources and we hold supercomputers in the palm of our hands in our smartphones. We have the ability to make audio clip recordings to capture our ideas, we have note applications to jot down simple ideas and we have the ability to do so much more compared to generations past.
This fundamental truth continues to be apparent - there's always a way to stay productive if you're committed to your objectives.
We often find ourselves entangled in the web of ideal circumstances for work. We wait for the Eureka moment, for inspiration to strike, or for the perfect moment to start. We may believe that we must be in the "right" mood, well-fed, well-rested, and ensconced in a suitable workspace. We create a laundry list of 101 conditions that must be optimal for us to produce our best work. However, sometimes, our pursuit of perfection becomes a convenient excuse for not taking action.
In reality, your best work is not always a prerequisite for progress. Sometimes, mediocre work is good enough, especially when you're in the early stages of a project or when your time is limited. The key lies in finding a way to regularly work, as this consistency can be a more powerful means of achieving large, meaty goals over time.
No one is asking you to accomplish the entirety of a goal in one single sitting. Instead, it is only through consistent work over the course of weeks/months/years that you can accomplish great things.
Those five minutes of focus that you squeeze out while sitting in your car waiting for your child’s recital practice to end is productive. Those 5 minutes of brainstorming during your 15 minute break between classes may be enough to create a framework for your next endeavour. Those 10 minutes waiting for the bus might be worthwhile in researching next steps in your application. It may not feel like much but a couple minutes here and there can set you on the right path and motivate you to keep going.
While it's true that there might be a time and place most conducive to productive work, it's equally important to acknowledge that you can remain productive when conditions are less than perfect. It is this ability to adapt and produce results despite adversity that we admire as a hallmark of successful individuals. So if we admire this character trait in other successful people, why do we not aspire to achieve the same for ourselves. They understand that waiting for optimal conditions is a luxury they can't always afford, and they forge ahead regardless. Why shouldn’t we?
Think of all the start-ups that began in the garage of a founder’s parents. If they waited for optimal conditions, they would have squandered all their time and resources into ‘good to have’ rather than ‘need to have’ things.
So, the next time you catch yourself making excuses and waiting for the perfect moment to start, remember that success often begins with simple productivity habits.
Start where you are,
with what you have,
and find a way to make progress.
Whether it's in your car, during a busy day, or in less-than-ideal circumstances, embrace the challenge, and you'll discover that productivity can flourish amidst imperfection.