I’m Going To…

Excuses.  I had so many of them.

A few years ago, I told myself that I was going to start a blog.  So, I bought a theme, got everything setup, and then proceeded to let it sit on the shelf collecting dust.  Why?  Because I didn’t have a logo.  Something that seems so insignificant now (does anyone really care about a blogger’s logo?) became a major impediment.  Between work and family life, I didn’t have time to put it together, or so I said.  Or, when I finally did have time, I didn’t like what I put together.  Producing work for yourself is somewhat similar to dating.  You could never find the perfect mate for yourself yet had no problem advising or setting up your best friend.  In the end, the blog was never started.

One of my other dreams was to start a business.  A couple of buddies and I brainstormed some ideas at work, but again, there were always excuses.  Either we couldn’t think of any good ideas, couldn’t figure out a way to make money, or our days jobs got in the way of putting in the hours on a side project.  It was always some excuse.  In the end, the business was never started.

For many of us, we live in our comfort zone, doing the same thing every day yet expecting a different result.

For me, this year will be different.  No, this isn’t just another New Year’s resolution.  While I practice the skills of being a Linchpin at work, I don’t hold myself accountable to ship in my side projects.  I’m ready to start.  And repeat.  To move the needle from ‘wantrepreneur’ to ‘entrepreneur.’

Seth Godin, one of my favorite authors (including the aforementioned Linchpin) and blogger, recently published his most recent book, What To Do When It’s Your Turn (and it’s always your turn).  In his usual style, Godin challenges you to do work that matters, and race to the top instead of the bottom.  Godin’s Special Projects Lead, Winnie Kao, decided to use her failed daily blog post as a means to rally together and practice shipping together.  Daily.  The challenge involves blogging daily for 7 days in a row.

Why am I participating?  There is nothing more amazing than a community of like-minded people.  To meet, connect, and share.  To push each other to ship.  As Godin wrote, “people like us do stuff like this.”  Care to join us?