Time To Refocus In 2017

First things first … HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! I know a lot of us were ready to show 2016 the door, given the proliferation of celebrities and other notable figures who left us, many of whom, younger than we would have expected. We’re not even gonna talk about the presidential election … Still, I want to be thankful for my professional accomplishments, as it is still a joy to be still be working full-time in a field where I had to learn a lot on my own, and relied on the support of a chosen few who kept giving me the opportunities to utilize the skills I was acquiring. 

Looking ahead, there’s a lot I want to do in 2017, but I can only say so much about projects I want to do if I’m not putting forth the action. One thing I was reminded of in 2016 is that a lot of people can talk a good game, but few can actually back up their words. It’s great to have an idea, but if there’s no concrete plan beyond that initial half-baked pitch, none of us can be bothered to wait around for that oven timer to go off. And don’t think for a second I haven’t been one of these types of people in the past. Part of me still is, and I have to constantly remind myself to take that next step, once I have “the idea”. 

Writing things down helps, and whether you have a pen and notebook, an app on your smartphone, or GoogleDocs on your computer, there are ways for you to tangibly contain your thoughts. If you have to start with a rough outline/treatment, DO IT! It’s better than rambling stuff off when you’re ready to bring your vision to life, until you have a “Bill O’Reilly circa early 90s Inside Edition” meltdown and just demand to “DO IT LIVE!”  

Identify the people you’d like to collaborate with and stick with them when you can. Obvious exceptions to the “stop talking to everyone about every idea you have” rule, include frequent/previous collaborators. Folks who have worked with you even just once or twice … HAVE WORKED WITH YOU ONCE OR TWICE!!! This is to say that they’ve seen you take an idea and follow through with it. They’re more inclined to listen, and more forgiving if your ideas don’t immediately sound fully formed. The good ones will give you the advice and support to help you take those ideas and make them stronger. 

Give yourself time to relax. Devoting more time to personal projects doesn’t have to mean you shouldn’t have a break every now and then. Schedule time just for that purpose, where you let yourself rest, or go see a movie, or catch up on A FEW episodes of whatever series you discovered on Netflix. DO NOT binge watch an entire season of a show after you get home from work! Maximize social engagements with large numbers of friends within a single group when you can, instead of trying to go to every event you get invited to. I can’t stress enough how high the likelihood is of wasting time when you commit to anything and everything just to be social. 

I’m sure most of this sounds obvious or familiar, but it doesn’t hurt to reiterate and reinforce it. Lord knows I still need to hear it myself every once in a while!