Stop Stalling, Start Creating

by Jeff Goins | 92 Comments | Twitter, Facebook, Google+

I heard this great piece of advice on a brilliant podcast last week when Brian Clark asked Seth Godin his best writing practices. Seth, in typical form, responded (my paraphrase):

We have this idea that if we ate the same breakfast cereal that Stephen King ate, we’d be able to write like him. It isn’t true.

What does he call our obsession with celebrities’ and famous authors’ best creative practices?

STALLING.

Phot credit: Flickr (Creative Commons)

It made me think of all the areas in my life that I am stalling to do the really hard, important work of creating.

The Stall List

If you need to be writing a book and instead write a blog post, you are stalling.

If want to live your dream and spend your day sending out resumes, you’re stalling.

If you are called to lead and wait to make a decision, you are stalling.

If you obsess over stats, you’re stalling.

If you call a meeting only to schedule another meeting, you are stalling (and killing the productivity of your entire team).

If you spend two hours having coffee to talk about creativity, you’re probably stalling.

If you go to a conference to hear something you already know, you’re stalling.

If you’re “mulling it over” or “weighing my options,” admit it: these are stall tactics.

If you begin a tough conversation with false pleasantries (e.g. “With all due respect…”), you are stalling.

If you ask for a second opinion or wait for more information, you’re most likely delaying the inevitable — doing something.

If you often say, “I dunno… what do you wanna do?” you’re still stalling. (My wife hates it when I do this.)

If you’re “just checking in” to social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), you are stalling.

If you’re taking multiple bathroom breaks in an hour, you’re stalling (or you’ve got an infection).

Stop It

I hate stalling. And I do it all the time.

It’s time to stop stalling and start creating.

Decide. Make a difference. Act now.

We don’t need you next week. We need your heart — your passion, your pathos, your love — today. We can’t afford to wait. You can’t, either.

Consider the opportunity cost of stalling. Is it really worth it?

What’s on your stall list? Add it in the comments.

*Photo credit: Flickr (Creative Commons)

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About the Author

Jeff Goins

I help people tell better stories and make a difference in the world. I live in Tennessee with my wife and dog. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

http://iamconvicted.com Brett Henley

Excellent my friend, and an absolute truth.

Amazing how thin the lines between intention and action are … guilty as charged.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

indeed. me, too.

http://chriscornwell.org Chris Cornwell

Dang. I don’t even know what to say…

I could make some excuses, but I know I would be stalling.

I wish I had to peace and security to step out on something and begin to move forward, but I am crippled by fear right now that I can’t let go.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks for being honest. fear is a nasty thing. maybe start by assuming that you WILL fail? (because you might.) now that you know you won’t succeed, think of the worst case scenario… is it really that bad?

http://veribicide.blogspot.com David Helms

Clicking to see what Jeff Goins wrote on the blog today…stalling.

Stopping to leave a comment…stalling.

Checking my word count every other sentence…stalling.

and man, oh man, do I spend to much time looking at stats.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Today I am ashamed to be a part of the resistance (but grateful at the same time!).

http://veribicide.blogspot.com David Helms

Responding to a reply by Jeff Goins…stalling

Hey man, you do good work. Keep it up! Also I try not to think of blogging or cruising other blogs as stalling as much as “getting the creative juices flowing” at least that what I’m telling myself.

http://www.flybluekite.com Laura Click

You caught me red-handed, friend. I’m definitely guilty of this. We all are. We stall out of fear (or just pure procrastination). Either way, you’re not going to get where you want to be by doing it. Thanks for the wake-up call.
Myriamf

Invest more time in starting my real estate business…….Stalling
Create a Family Mission Statement and start acting on it….stalling
Working out more consistently if for no other reason than for my health….stalling.

Yep – my intentions are right but not putting them to action.

Guilty as charged.

Myriam
http://robrash.us Rob Rash

Let’s see…

Laziness. 4 Kids under 4! Poor Time Management. Business.

Yep, all excuses.

http://thisdreamersjourney-lynne.blogspot.com/ Lynne

Whoa Rob. When my twins were born, I suddenly had 4 kids 5 and under. You have a very valid excuse. I remember doing laundry at 11:00 at night. I had very little time for anything outside of things related to home and child rearing. You have your job, children, and your wife all requiring time and attention, so don’t be too hard on yourself.

http://robrash.us Rob Rash

Thanks Lynne… the twins certainly threw us a curveball! I think my wife has the hardest job…

http://thisdreamersjourney-lynne.blogspot.com/ Lynne

It’s definitely a tough job, but one I would never change if I had a do-over. If I could offer some unsolicited advice, based on my history, it would be to keep your marriage #1. Never stop dating your wife. Long story….

Drusilla Mott

Is laughing also considered stalling? If so, I am stalling, and gulty as charged because I am here and not in the middle of my rewrite. Thanks for the post.
http://twitter.com/alexishelmrath Alexis Helmrath

Is sticking my fingers in my ears and going “la la la can’t hear you!” an acceptable reaction to this post? Because that’s how it makes me feel. It hits a little too close to home for comfort.

Of course that is just my way of saying THANK YOU for saying the things I don’t want to hear.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Yes, of course.

Anonymous

Such a perfectly timed post for me today. I’m stalling on a short story collection, several blogs, all hoping that stupid muse will get her butt in gear. But I have to show up. Great Post!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Amen. Thanks.

http://profiles.google.com/jennabcw Jenna Benton

FB is a huge stall. And reading too many blogs. In fact, I’m most productive when I don’t have internet access.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Me, too.

Mbetters

Anything that’s easy (at least in my life) is probably a form of procrastination.

Those supposed “bathroom breaks”… that’s a good one.
http://twitter.com/Ava_Jae Avalon Jaedra

Oh boy. You caught me.

I heard that podcast too, it had a lot of great advice. You really went a step further with this post about stalling, though.

I stall all the time, it’s true. I’m probably most guilty of weighing my options or mulling things over, but you’re right…it’s definitely stalling. Of course you should think decisions through before making them, but there comes a point when you really already know what the best decision is…you’re just too nervous to make it. So you stall.

Fantastic post as usual, and a great reminder. Thanks.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Thanks.

http://thisdreamersjourney-lynne.blogspot.com/ Lynne

Stalling. Big time. :-/
http://www.arnyslight.wordpress.com Arnyslight

Wow…I was just stalled by reading this….Thanks Jeff.

gotta go bye!!!!
Anonymous

Oh goodness, what isn’t on my stall list? As someone who is new to writing from home as my primary (if not most time consuming) occupation, it’s so hard not to get distracted! Just a few: tidying the house, running errands, reading blogs, checking email and Facebook and Twitter, getting stuck in the Thesaurus….
http://www.tnealtarver.wordpress.com TNeal

Reading other people’s blogs. ;-D

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Ditto

http://www.tamaraoutloud.com/ Tamara Out Loud

I so appreciate how you tailor posts just for me. We both know I need to write a darn book. Now just tell me how to get from recognizing that I’m stalling to actually doing something about it. Next post, maybe.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Nope. I refuse.

http://lifeallin.net Jacob Musselman

Stop writing posts like this. I’m comfortable in my procrastination and my delusions that I’m actually accomplishing something. If I read posts like this, I have to work harder at not moving toward anything. Please stop challenging and inspiring me.

http://www.moonchild11.wordpress.com Sarah Moon

I second this comment
http://therisingpage.com/blog TRP

Thank you!!

Exactly what he said.
http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

I could’ve written this comment.

MichaelDPerkins

On my personal stall list:

My book.

My diet.

But other than those two things, not too much.
Charlie Chang

Thanks for the reminder. I needed it.
http://www.storywrought.wordpress.com Lizzie

Wow, you never fail to shake things up. I plan on making a stall list as soon as I get home from work tonight. I stall all day long, and I climb into bed every night feeling disappointed that I didn’t get more done (or that I failed to actually start anything). No more. Thanks for this!
Padma Ayyagari

Wow!! that’s a smack in the face post – a wake up call. A truth that cannot be denied or covered. I stall big time – instead of writing, I read how to write. The resistance is enormous and I know it will go once I start and yet I stall…….big time.

Well, now that I know that I am stalling, I cannot any more, Can I?

Thank you very much for an inspiring and motivating post.

Padma Ayyagari

http://www.areyouchanging.wordpress.com
http://about.me/ryanjriehl Ryan J Riehl

Reading (books, blog posts, news, etc)
Snack breaks
Video games
Thinking too hard
Talking with people in the house
Second-guessing myself

There’s probably more.
http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

My biggest stall tactic is: Waiting on God to make it clear.

Granted, sometimes that is a legitimate season of waiting, but I’ve found that I tend to use waiting on God as an excuse not to push forward in things I should be moving forward in.

Great post Jeff! I don’t want to stall anymore either!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

I like Nehemiah’s approach to life — prayerful and active. Not either/or. He also did the “go until your hear ‘no’” method.

http://joyfulmothering.net Christin

Unfortunately, I found myself nodding at some of these {and laughing out loud at the last one…so much that my kids had to ask me what was so funny.}

Thanks again Jeff.
http://talesofwork.com kimanzi constable

Dan Miller says the danger for us as Christians is what he calls “sanctified ignorance” where we say “Lord please show me” and we sit around and wait and do nothing. It’s a stall tactic and the Lord doesn’t honor that!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Well put

http://talesofwork.com kimanzi constable

I sent this post to some friends that want to move forward but keep saying “their doing the research”. They’ve been saying this for a long time now

http://twitter.com/SusieLindau Susie Lindau

If I am reading your blog post does that count as stalling????? Hahaha!
So true…..busted!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

No. This blog is the exception.

http://KatieAx.blogspot.com Katie Axelson

I had four hours to sit at Starbucks and write this afternoon. I stalled the first one, worked for awhile, and then found this post on Twitter and felt the need to comment. I’m stalling again. Gotta go!

Katie
http://twitter.com/beldebois Kenley Bel

Nice post. You made me laugh. No more excuses now. My excuse was that I didn’t like the word “procrastination”. I’ll post “Will you stop stalling already, Kenley?” on a wall in my computer room.

Thank you!
http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

Just checking in.
http://thomasmarkzuniga.com TMZ

YouTube and Facebook are my big stallers. I’m probably better off if I just flip my wireless switch to off. But this post helped me realize that I undoubtedly stall way more often than I realize.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Any good videos I should watch?

http://thomasmarkzuniga.com TMZ

Tyler Tarver’s latest on Simon Says made me laugh at several junctures: http://youtu.be/QNf_UXw1cU4

Brandon Weldy

As I read through your list of different ways we stall I was tempted to say “Now wait a minute! That’s not stalling!” But then I had to stop myself each time as I realized the truth of each statement (that and I didn’t want to sound like a fool to the preacher across the hall). I keep telling myself that there is more I need to read, or I need to gather more information before taking action, but the truth is, it is well passed time to start. So I am going to stop stalling now and get to work… really.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Awesome

http://www.stephenmelancon.com/ Stephen Melancon

Alright… So it all started when I felt a connection with “obsessing over stats”, but I could live with that. When you hit on the “false pleasantries” you got me. I never would have considered that stalling. After reading your post, I must concede… false pleasantries are definitely stalling. Great post. It was entertainment combined with a sharp reality check. Thanks!
http://peterpaluska.com Peter Paluska

If you are watching football you probably need to be writing a blog post. ;p
http://twitter.com/justashcraft Justin Ashcraft

I need to stop stalling. I have been doing it way too long. Today was post number 1 on my blog, tomorrow will be post number 2 in a row. I am making progress.

Find me at: http://www.justashcraft.com
http://tdhurst.com tdhurst

I read motivational blogs instead of writing the books I want to write.
http://somewiseguy.com ThatGuyKC

Dude, you suck. Stop calling me out like this. I stall all the time. Jerk.

Seriously though I need to hear (or read, whatever) this because I have a big problem with stalling and distraction. I know what needs to be done and that I am actually capable of doing it and instead I do something else that has near zero added value.
Anonymous

If you begin a tough conversation with false pleasantries (e.g. “With all due respect…”), you are stalling.
You nailed mine.

I know that God has put me in the middle of a ministry that is changing the world and yet so often I find it hard to even ask my closest relatives to buy into the vision that God has given.

I can not wait any longer for, “buy in” and “ownership” to happen in the people around me.

I have to make “big asks” apologetically knowing that what I’m doing matters!

Thanks for the encouragement Jeff.
Erin Wilson

Nice one, Jeff. I often find that I even stall on getting real rest, messing around with things that don’t matter instead of recharging.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

That’s good.

http://www.facebook.com/cjwunsch Cassandra Wunsch

I’m following and taking part in a challenge called #SHINEonline on twitter, which is about making a commitment with each other to post meaningful content a particular number of times a week (the reccommended is 2). It brough to my attention that the 23rd of this months marks 100 days until the end of the year!

That being the case, I decided to do a 100 day challenge for myself (and anyone else who might want to tilt the windmill until the end of the year), to accomplish something every single day. It doesn’t have to be huge, but it does have to be meaningful, it must be ‘on track’ to some over-arching goal.

On my list of appropriate things to achieve is completing my dance class, at full energy (hey, YOU bounce as hard as you can for an hour, trust me it’s an achievement), completing sections of the THREEE (yes 3) novels that are plotted and arranged on my hard drive and just need actualy WRITING, blog posts that are useful (not just ‘what I had for breakfast’ or ‘hey look what I found’), plus some home improvement goals I’ve set for myself.

I actually came up with the idea from one of your previous posts, ‘what would you do if you couldnt fail’? No failure for 100 days. If anyone else would like to join me BTW, I’d love the company! http://10percentinspired.com

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

cool!

Mike Zserdin

This post is about as good as it gets…and the comments. Thanks for the thoughtful kick in the pants.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate that.

http://www.freelancewritingblog.com Ruth Zive

Okay….be 100% honest….is writing a blog post on stalling, stalling?
My cynicism notwithstanding, loved the post!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Yep.

Sarah Brubaker

Wow, I never would have thought of obsessing over stats as stalling…but I’ve had a project on my whiteboard for two days that I haven’t started writing because I’ve been reading the same stats about it over and over.

Constantly checking my calendar to see if there’s a meeting coming up (in other words, deciding if I have time to start a new task before the next thing) is also a big stall tactic for me.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Wow. I do that, too, with the stats, Sarah.

Kamsin

On my stall list? All the books about writing and books by authors I admire and want to emulate which I HAVE to read before I can possibly start to write anything.
Sponder1

Thank you for this post……. challenging, honest and REAL. I’m a new “follower”… found you from Jon Acuff’s guest blog.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Cool. Glad you came on over! Appreciate the comment.

http://stephenalynch.tumblr.com Stephen Lynch

If you like planning and not executing, you’re stalling.
If your to-do list looks the same for 3 days, you’re stalling.
If you were a Russian leader in the 30′s, you’re Stalin…eh?

I don’t have time to read blogs, but I don’t have time not to read yours. Keep shootin’ it straight, we need more of it.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

I like the first one. A lot.

Anonymous

Obviously stalling is a very common human trait and I am no exception; indeed, I think I may be stalling right now. I’ve learned to allow myself some stalling but know when the time has come to just do the work, whatever it may be. And Twitter I try to do while a passenger in the car, waiting for an appointment, taking a break from working. I don’t always succeed. Twitter on my desktop is so much more compelling than my iPhone. Nevertheless, I just do the best I can. It’s all any of us can do. Did really appreciate your thoughts on the subject, though.
brittany girle

loved this, “We don’t need you next week. We need your heart — your passion, your pathos, your love —today. We can’t afford to wait. You can’t, either.” thanks for inspiring me while i was stalling!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

you’re welcome, brittany!

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Marylou Wakefield

Brutal…and true. I copied this post to my desktop so I’ll be forced to read it everyday.

Is “thinking” stalling too? cuz I think a lot about things I could write about and then …don’t. I read Ryan Vanderbilt’s piece called “Thinking was Ruining my Life” in End Malaria and it stopped me dead in my tracks. He was actually talking about me!

Note to self - Think less. Write more.

Thanks for the boot Jeff.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

it can be. depends on what you do when you’re done. here’s my thought: if you have all the information you NEED to make a decision and you need to think about it, you’re stalling. if nothing actually changes as a result of your thinking about something, then you were just wasting time because you were afraid to make a choice. i know this, because i do it all the time.
appreciate your reading this.

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http://profiles.google.com/lialondon.g Lia London

You’re freaking me out. You have surveillance cameras in my house, don’t you? Too many of those are dead on. Seriously creepy.

AND WHY DO YOU ALWAYS PULL ARTICLES FROM THE ARCHIVES JUST IN TIME TO KICK ME IN THE PATOOKUS WITH THEM?!

….I think I saw this on an episode of The Twilight Zone…..

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

doodoodoodoo…

http://twitter.com/robbinsbrandon Brandon Robbins

Great thoughts. Sometimes I trick myself into thinking the very things that are keeping me from actually doing anything creative are helping me PREPARE to be creative. They’re not. Thanks for the reminder, Jeff!
http://winsomebella.wordpress.com winsomebella

I will be brief and to the point ‘lest I stall. Good one.
Jason Stauffer

…by reading blog post, after blog post from your blog.
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http://twitter.com/PatWooldridge Patricia Wooldridge

So, Jeff, if I wear inspiring socks like the ones in the photo above (and are they Stephen’s, or are they yours?) will I be able to write like either one of you?
Seriously, I really like this piece. Right now I’m stalling myself from finishing 3 projects (that WILL be done today, but I wanted them done EARLY—and I can see right now, just how uncommitted I am to EARLY). The longer I write this, the more I stall; but, it was either write it now or not at all. Now, on to the next event, to keep those project-promises I made to myself. The day is still almost young enough!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

yes. that is EXACTLY the point of this post.

http://www.facebook.com/freehighfives Kendra Wright

I’m
seriously falling in love with your blog. If there were options to
marry someone’s intellect, you’d have me down on one knee. Can’t…stop…..reading…your work!