How To Get The Tough Sh*t Done

Many of us are in the midst of creating something new for ourselves:

a new relationship, a new pillar in our business, a new exercise routine, a new career move, etc…

Exciting, right?

But what happens when you get stuck? What do you do when you feel resistance?

How do you get out of inaction and back into action?

“If you do what you have always done, you get what you have always got.” - Mark Twain

A lot of clients I speak with have never-ending to-do lists and they ask me how I can help them get it done. In the same overwhelming breath, they share that there are one or two tasks they can’t manage to find joy in or complete at all. These tasks are draining them, and leave them wondering how they will ever get through it. They are the type of tasks that can’t be eliminated from the list as the consequences would go against their commitments to themselves, their business, their clients, as well as their desire for what they want in their lives… Can you relate? Me too.

This roadblock is all too familiar - we dread the work ahead but tell ourselves we have no other choice (which in fact, isn’t true, but that’s a topic for another day). We get ourselves worked up into associating the work with negative emotions finding ourselves feeling frustrated and depleted by the end of it. There is no doubt that taking action is a requirement of manifestation - it is critical to getting to the next step on your journey. So how then, can we get the job done?

How can we find more joy in the work?

After all, it’s easier when we’re having fun.

It could be time to weed your garden.

In other words, remove and re-prioritize. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the tasks ahead, it could be a result of overgrown weeds. Take a look at your to-do list and consider what items need to be done versus what you think you should be doing. Are there any items that keep getting recycled onto the new list but always find their way to the bottom? Why is that? It could be time to remove them completely. Keeping the weeds out will help you to identify what is most important and should be prioritized.

And then do it first.

Add the thing you dislike the most to the top of your list and take it on first thing at the beginning of your day. This may sound counterintuitive as we work towards finding joy in our work and start with something we hate, but it’s proven to be a very effective habit. Test, try, and experiment with this one - start small and commit to it.

“First you make your habits, and then your habits make you. Make your habits positive by doing what you dislike first, and then your habits will make you more successful.” - Marisa Peer

Who knows, you might start enjoying it. The very thing you dislike could be what you start to enjoy as you the results of your commitment unfold.

Further, it will continue to remind you and keep you aligned to the bigger picture:

What is your vision for yourself, your career, your business?

Take a moment and reframe the task in context of where you are going, rather than where you are. Ask yourself:

How does what I’m working on now serve where I want to go?

How does this serve who I want to be?

I often remind myself of these questions when I sit down to write. Writing requires an amount of effort and discipline unlike anything else in my work, but I know that the writer in me serves my coaching and my clients. Further, it allows me to explore and be open to what comes next…

When we fight through the work we close off our receptors, we shut ourselves out from receiving, from being open to what’s possible. We’re missing out on the magic, the new ideas and inspiration that are out there looking for us.

I had a client who was focused on growing her training and development services, and saw an opportunity to offer it to clients going through the job hunting process. What she wasn’t ready for was a candidate who shared his passion for training and his interest in pursuing a career in it. Not only did his passion and enthusiasm get her attention, she uncovered a whole new possibility for her business: expanding her portfolio to include training in an area of expertise she lacked but he had. A whole new opportunity had unfolded in front of her because she was open to it.

Developing your business, your career, your life, is a process.

We are always evolving, improving, failing, and starting again.

It’s the gardens that are tended to with love, kindness, and awareness that continue to grow - they are the ones that blossom and bloom regardless of the season.

Kirsten Schmidtke is a professional coach, creator, and lover of lake life. She works with leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs to help them up-level their careers, businesses, and lives. Are you ready to explore what’s possible for you? Contact Kirsten to start the conversation!