Most people are responsible. They make commitments and keep them, even when it is not convenient or pleasant to do so. We often say that someone who does that “has character.”
“Character is doing the right thing even when nobody is looking,” said JC Watts.
What has this to do with writing your book? Well, many ostensibly aspiring authors say that they want to write a book. They say they want to get it done by some date or some event. They even say they’ve committed to doing it.
But then they don’t.
The problem with allowing yourself to break commitments, especially commitments to yourself, is that it gets easier, the more you do it. Eventually you allow yourself to break commitments to others. As the cliche says, it’s a slippery slope.
You’d be much better off not to make a commitment, then to make one and ignore it. I’m focusing on book-writing, but this holds for everything in life.
One thing you can do to help you stick to commitments you make to yourself: Make them public. Let everyone know that your outline is going to be done by a certain date. That your book will be ready for editing by a certain date. And so on.
Another thing you can do: Work with a coach. A coach is a perfect accountability partner. The fact that you are paying them will help you keep your commitment, because you don’t want to have wasted your investment in the coaching.
If you are already working with a coach, your book belongs on the list of goals that the coach helps you prioritize. If you’re not working with a coach, and feel stuck in your business or your life, find one; just use your search engine and enter “coach” plus your area of interest.
If you want to focus on your book, get a book coach. (I’m a book coach; click here to set up a free strategy call with me.)
