1,000 Words a Day

I’ve been reading Mason Currey’s book, Daily Rituals – How Artists Work. At some point, I’ll do a review of the book for you. But for now, one of the takeaways is, “1,000 words a day.”

As Mason describes the daily habits of writers in his book, it becomes apparent that most – if not all – had daily writing goals.

Whether you are an artist, a writer, a musician, or a business person trying to accomplish a transformational project, there’s no doubt that you will get more done if you set an easily-achievable goal for each day – and stick with it.

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

This iconic question and answer played over and over in my mind back when production carpentry was a main source of income for me. As I set to the work of tediously cutting or nailing hundreds of little pieces of wood together before the parts went to the next stage of the production process, I thought to myself, “How in the world am I going to get through this pile of work without losing my mind?”

One bite at a time.

But when it comes to your project – especially if you are into a project that will be inspirational to, entertainment for, or helpful to others – here’s another important thought.

Don’t die with the music still in you.

I doubt it was original to him, but this phrase has been brought to popularity in recent years by Dr. Wayne Dyer.

So, if you’re going to write that book, accomplish that business project to take your company forward, make that recording – the time to do it is now.

The WAY to do it is…1000 words a day – or whatever the equivalent is in your art form.

In “Daily Rituals – How Artists Work,” Currey demonstrates that the only thing that seems to be a common thread across the spectrum of successful people is the ability to structure time to do a little important work each day.

When I say “important” I mean work that is important to you. Often, we are drawn away from doing work that is enjoyable or worthwhile to us by what Charles Hummel called (in a 1960’s business pamphlet) the “tyranny of the urgent.”

Everyone wants a piece of you – sometimes every moment of the day.

The problem?

They don’t want the pieces that you feel are valuable. They want pieces that will further their personal or business agenda, but rarely do they draw from the genius you have inside you.

But nevertheless, these energy and time vampires suck the vitality that you have available away from the projects that mean the most to you.

Stop the madness!!

If you don’t carve out some time for your art – for your genius – you will die with your music still inside you.

Louis Armstrong said, “The music ain’t worth nothin if you can’t lay it on the public.”

It’s time to “lay it on the public.”

Write your 1,000 words a day. Take the hour to pick up a paintbrush or sketchbook. Shut out everyone for 90 minutes and do that one thing that could help move your business forward this quarter.

Whatever it is…do it – today, every day – for the rest of your life.

Build a ritual around your exercise of the “one thing” that makes you feel fulfilled and a contributing member of society. Note by note, line by line, one step after another, create your masterpiece.

It doesn’t matter if, in the end, you are a commercial success or a critical failure, what matters is the process.

Until next time,

Have a happy day!