What I've Learned Staying Committed to a Single Project for 4 Years

December 21st 2021 marks the official beginning of Target of Opportunity.

Up until then, I had been trying to write stories since I was 6 years old and it only turned serious in high school (or at least I wanted to be serious). Through college and a career, I continually started projects and dreamed of becoming a published author.

My problem was that I couldn't finish anything.

I was on fire for an idea, writing at times even over a hundred words, outlining, creating music playlists, researching—

Then I quit.

Whether distracted by a shiny new idea or the stress of a career and life, the projects always ended the same way: Unfinished.

In 2021 when inspiration struck for Target of Opportunity, nothing much in this "start-stop" routine had changed. I had fun with the idea of this story being finished, writing the beginning chapters, scraping it and doing it all over again. But did I truly believe this would be the story that would be the first to be finished?

Nope.

Until Christmas of 2022. 'Twas cold and miserable outside as usual and I was behind my desk at work eyeballing people coming in and out of the front door letting all the freezing air inside. Secret Santa had just concluded and a co-worker gave me something I didn't even ask for on my wish list. It was something I didn't know I needed and she didn't either. It was just a simple gesture, likely a last minute "this might be nice" kind of purchase.

At my desk was a monthly planner and a package of gel pens… Cool, whatever.

I never been a big list person or planned out my tasks. My mom had always told me to write down my goals and when I actually listened to her that one time and tried, I thought, welp, this is stupid.

As an avid listener to the Jocko Willink Podcast, one word that he said about accomplishing your goals stood out to me: Execute. And as people were talking about new year's resolutions, I really wanted to make a change and not just for a few weeks then quit.

I opened that planner and discovered that if I broke down everything I needed to finish and gave myself a deadline to finish each chapter, I could actually finish the first draft of a story for once. Like, DUH, right?

I set an end date for when I had to get it done and seeing that date in writing was the revelation I needed to commit. I shared this discovery that wasn't really a discovery with my friends. "Look! If you plan out your goals and set deadlines, there's so much you can get done!"

They smiled at me and thought that was pretty funny, but to me it was everything.

Point is…

Discipline creates progress. It's tiny microdoses of an action that eventually accumulate to something worth being proud of. Sometimes it takes only months and other years. It's the trust in this sometimes arduous and tedious process that helps get you through it even when you want to quit.

The Takeaway: Demystification

A monthly planner simplified the process and took the mystery out of it. It doesn't mean a planner will work for everyone, but something out there can. If you're having trouble finishing or starting a project whether it's physical, creative, business, or otherwise, the wisdom to make it happen is out there and it might be less complicated than you think.

You'll feel it when it clicks.

"Bohemian Monthly Planner" from Amazon in case you're wondering. Target of Opportunity shorthanded to: A&D, something that will not make sense until book 2. Homework & other future planning is listed as well and apparently my wake up time… oof.