This video clip motivated me to write and finish this article. It is from a Netflix movie I just watched called “Set it up.” While the movie is so-so, this 1 min clip is funny, practical, and inspiring. It helped me get over the writer’s block I have had for a month. More importantly, it will help you get unstuck if you are feeling overwhelmed at the moment.
I have had trouble finishing any articles in the last month. Partly it’s because work has been all consuming, and partly it’s because I have been putting too much pressure on myself to write the perfect article. I have rewritten the intro to a few articles for a few weeks now. Every week I didn’t publish something just made me pressure myself more to make sure the article I finish is extra insightful and helpful. I was literally over-analyzing every sentence.
I realized now that I was trying too hard to please when in fact the reason I started writing this blog was because it is therapeutic. The reason these articles may help you is because my stories are like yours – fulls of up and downs – mistakes and learnings.
It is exhausting to try to perfect anything. it is never an inspiring goal and actually makes everything we try to do feel like WORK we never want to do. This blog is not supposed to be work for me. It is supposed to heal me and perhaps you if you can relate. So the timing of this movie clip was perfect for me.
Once you see this 1 min clip – you will understand the title of this post. Here is some context.
- Harper, the one crying in the clip, wants to become a sports journalist.
- She has been working day and night for 3 years as an executive assistant for Kirsten, the most accomplished sports writer in the industry.
- Harper wants Kirsten to help her with her writing but Harper hasn’t written a single article since she started work there.
- Now that she has time, she still cannot finish her first article
- Becka in the clip is Harper’s best friend who gives her some very sound advice to get Harper unstuck.
Here are 3 tips I took away from this clip
- The only goal is to finish – If you are anything like me, then you would understand the desire I have to have my first try to be my best try. That’s simply not possible when what we are trying to do is new to us. Harper waited 3 years to write her first article. She is literally putting her entire career dreams into writing her draft. No one can perform well under that pressure. Becka helped her realized all she need to do is finish a first draft. Having a crappy draft is so much better than never finishing at all
- We all need people in our lives (friends, colleagues, family) who can kick our butt into gear. It takes a true friend to not cuddle Harper and tell her the tough truth about what she is doing to herself. My husband is that person for me, along with a few good friends from school and work. Do you have someone like that in your life? We all need others to get us going when we are stuck on something.
- Aim low and get somewhere – This sounds counter-intuitive but it’s what overachievers like us need to hear to keep learning, try new things, and appreciate the journey. We need to lower the bar in our head so we will take more risks and say yes to new opportunities..
- Volunteer for that new assignment that we don’t know we can do
- Agree to speak at that conference although we haven’t ever spoken at one before
No matter where you are in your career, you are reading this blog because you have a growth mindset and you want to work smart using your soft skills. Building any new soft skill can be daunting. You need to proactively initiate relationships, conversations, speak up in group settings, or lead meetings or teams. Remember you don’t need to be perfect the first time or any time. All you need to do is keep taking baby steps toward your goals. You will get there!
Your comments: What do you think of this clip? What do you do when you are putting too much pressure on yourself? I look forward to your comments and questions
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Thank you for your support of this blog. I am always in your corner. Let’s learn together
Lei
p.s; As English is my second language, I likely need serious grammar help with this article. I never quite got the hang of plurals or tenses as they don’t exist in the Chinese language. If you have suggested edits, email me at lei@bemycareercoach.com. Thanks!