6 traps that are keeping you from doing great work

So, you have got this dream.

It could be:

• writing a novel
• building up a popular YouTube channel
• getting 6 pack abs, etc.

You might know people who reached these goals, and their journey was just a long walk on the warm sand. And here you are, dancing on thorns for a long time without getting anywhere.

You feel like a hamster running inside the wheel to get the carrot hung outside.

Chances are that you might have fallen into one, or more, of these 6 traps.

1. The ‘Learn-More’ Trap

The information business has fear-fueled you into believing that you’ll be doomed if you stop consuming their incessant content.

In fact, the above introduction of this post is an instance of such a fear-based tactic.

That doesn’t mean the information provided is useless, it is just that Tiger Woods didn’t become Tiger Woods by reading ‘7 mistakes you should never commit on the golf field.’

Learning from others' experiences only works when you can match it with your own experience of doing things.

You are not caught in this trap, yet you don’t seem to reach anywhere? Maybe, the next trap is your wheel.

2. The ‘Work-Hard’ Trap

This is the reverse of people who are only learning and not doing enough.

Such people work hard to boosts their egos even if it doesn't boost your journey. As a result, they exhaust themselves before the actual struggle even begins.

Delegate and automate your works as often as possible.

• Instead of learning how to code a website, install WordPress and start blogging.
• Get a maid to do your chores so that work on your side hustle.

Declutter your mind to focus on high-impact things and do smart work.

But if you become too obsessed with trying to be smart, you might fall into the next trap.

3. The ‘Better-Idea’ Trap

After days of researching and brainstorming, you finally come up with a really nice idea for executing your dream project. You take a weekend off, and when you are back, you find that you are blooming with new, better ideas of doing it.

It is good if this happens once or twice. But if you get into this trap, it starts recurring so often that you become indecisive about your plans, strategies, and methods.

It is like picking up the best rose from a 200-acre rose plantation.

Thus, you end up never really ship anything.

You need to learn to make intelligent compromises. You need to know how to strive for perfection and when to settle for 'good enough.'

Are you stuck in the ‘idea phase’ even after finalizing a good enough idea? You might be trapped here…

4. The ‘Think-Big’ Trap

Popular culture has sold us the idea of thinking BIG.

You aren't a podcaster if you don't have the fanciest equipment.

You aren't an entrepreneur if you don't have $1M seed funding and 'I'm CEO, bitch' card.

The only cure for this trap is to think small.

• Record your 1st podcast episode on your smartphone
• Work on your business idea on weekends while keeping your day job

Mountains are moved by carrying away small stones.

Think about the smallest step in the right direction and take it today.

But you, my friend, can do everything right and still not get the results. Here is why…

6. The ‘Think-Ahead’ Trap

You are expected to:

• anticipate the future
• focus on the end results and get there as soon as possible.

Being too future-focused steals the joy of doing something.

And enjoying the work is crucial to being able to persevere despite all the hardships.

You may not have the answer to everything, but you must have a song to sing along.