When you find your self dealing with a challenge along the road to getting to your goal or you’re a coach or therapist helping a client through a challenge toward a goal —> there are 3 questions the must be asked.
The 3 questions are as follows…
#1 – What is the GOAL? —> What do you want to accomplish with this project?
#2 – What is the biggest OBSTACLE? —> What’s getting in the way of accomplishing this?
#3 – What’s most important to you? —> What do you value the most when it comes to a project like this?
Quick Examples of the 3 Questions…
#1 What Is The Goal? —>
If you’re writing a story, you’ll beat writers block by having a very strong ending in mind.
Having an overall theme for your story BEFORE you start is vital.
In fact, if you’re a writer who is or wants to sell your manuscripts to production companies, you’ll have a tough time selling your writing based on characters alone.
Individual battles are one thing, but if the world you create has clearly defined rules and challenges you will know your audience. If you know your audience you can sell to them.
The same is true with visual arts like painting, collage and sculpting and such. If you have an idea of what you want your work to look like at the end you won’t get so bogged down during the process.
Having an overall theme that you want to explore helps to define the outcome.
Just like writing, if you have a strong theme, you will have a defined audience. And when you know your audience you can sell to them.
#2 What is the Biggest Obstacle —>
This can go 2 ways. Either internal or external obstacles.
If it’s internal, it will be a type of resistance based on fear. This is extremely common among all artists of any kind. Including entrepreneurs.
When life is more predictable – say working at a law office as an accountant or assistant – you know you have a pay check and there is not much variation in the work.
There may be resistance to boredom, but not creation.
With the artist, there is always a step into the unknown.
With each new project and all the way along, it’s mostly blind and unknowable until you make a decision and commit.
Then respond to the outcome and repeat.
This is an inner battle that is ongoing.
NEXT…
If it’s an external obstacle then it must be identified specifically. Name it so it can be dealt with.
For example, if it’s money you need to finish a project how much and what specifically is it for? Exactly how necessary are the things you need to buy?
Can you borrow or make something that will do even if it’s not perfect?
Is there a time limit to finishing this project?
If so, define that and get specific about how much time the process of each step of your project really needs.
Can you skip a step or two and still have a similar result?
These are the type of questions to ask when you’re examining the biggest obstacles to finishing your project.
#3 What Is Most Important To YOU? —>
This has everything thing to do with your values. Why do you create or write in the first place?
Whatever the answer is make that a top priority.
Make that the thing that leads the answers to all the other questions you have to making your current project the best it can be.
