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I’m gonna get in Big Trouble with the Passion Patrol.
You know, the folks preaching “Follow Your Passion!!!” Where if you aren’t passionate about what you’re doing, you’re somehow defective.
But there’s no help for it:
my passion is taking an extended vacation.
I’m sure my passion will return. It doesn’t have any place else to go. I just don’t know when it will be back. It’s like I’ve hit the blogging “wall” head first
When you hit the wall
Getting over the wall means doing it when you don’t feel like doing it.
I read in Surfer Magazine once about being a pro surfer on the tour.
Sometimes, you just don’t feel like surfing.
Sometimes, it’s really ugly out there.
But the people paid their money, they don’t care how you feel, you have to go do your thing.
It’s your job!
Here’s my job: I’m writing on a Sunday afternoon. I would much rather be surfing. The swell is very large, almost big enough to make Mavericks contest size.
Instead, I’m doing battle with myself to finish up the Website In A Weekend ecourse: Sunday Homestretch.
It’s boring, and I have a structural problem in the curriculum. I’m going to have to revise articles which are out of date. WordPress has changed in small but important ways over the last 9 months. This requires tedious fact checking.
Not only that, I forgot to write a critical lesson on social bookmarking. I’ll have to write that sometime this week, probably Tuesday or Wednesday, because I’m going to relaunch the course next weekend.
This is flat out work!
It’s not any fun at all.
But fun doesn’t matter. Passion is irrelevant. This eCourse material has to be written, and it has to be written well. My feelings are completely unimportant. What’s important is delivering the same high-quality content – day in and day out – that Website In A Weekend Readers expect. And that, I can do.
So when your blogging road starts throwing you some serious curves, and your motivation is flagging, don’t worry about it. It’s normal. Pretend you’re Emerson Fittipaldi (or Danica Patrick hubba!):
Downshift and accelerate!
If that sounds like too much work, you can do worse than fishing in the rain.
For me it’s playing a rock show. It doesn’t matter if I only got 2 hours sleep last night and went to work at 6am…these people came to see me rock, so hand me another glass of scotch (or PBR if it’s free for the band) cause I’m on in 5 and it’s time to rock!
Dave, you’re an inspiration. I’ve been following you for all of 2 weeks and I am so impressed. You have a great site, a great ethic, and a great personality. 2 thumbs way up!
.-= Carlos Velez´s last blog ..Direction, Not Perfection: The Truth In Movement =-.
I rolled in about 8 this morning from staying up all night at a friend’s pajama party. It’s a little after 1.
We used to have this saying in Ranger training: “Sleep is for the dead.”
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Search Your Blog Network With Google Custom Search =-.
Argh I hit this point recently and it was hard to get through. The good thing is when you do actually have the readers who you know will miss you. When you’re running a blog that doesn’t seem to get read, that ‘wall’ is the point at which many bloggers give up (unfortunately).
But you’re right, everyone feels it sometimes. The important thing is how you handle it, whether you keep on going (like you would at a J.O.B) or you just decide you don’t care about getting fired. But of course, just like a J.O.B. you are allowed a few personal days off sometimes :D
.-= Ruth – Web Career Girl´s last blog ..The Benefits of Fixed Working Hours in Your Web Career =-.
What!? What!?
What are these “personal days off” you write of?
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Help Haiti Blog Challenge: I’m Yours… All Weekend =-.
Hi David,
This isn’t something I’ve heard before but you’re right of course. If we were all to delay writing until we had the perfect topic or the ideal analogy things would always wait until tomorrow. In a bid to take the charity forward, I’ve set myself the goal of adding fresh content daily. To read that it’s OK to press through when you’d rather be watching an episode of Life On Mars is refreshing.
Thank you :)
.-= Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..God Bless Technology =-.
Eleanor,
Sometimes, what I hear rattling around the blogging “Echo Chamber” makes me want to scream.
But I don’t, usually.
I do have a very tiny little list called “Insiders” who get that earful once in a while.
Adding fresh content daily can be fairly easy, sometimes it’s getting everything else done that’s hard.
I really like you Dr. Doolin
You tell it straight without no foolin’
Your grit alone makes you a cool ‘un
I ‘m glad I found you Dr. Doolin,
Speechless.
Ok not quite: Thank you, Shirls, you’ve made my day!
I think that what all those “follow your passion” people really should be saying is, “when you stop working your butt off for a minute, are you happy with what you accomplished?”
Irrational drive is much more important than passion.
.-= Deacon´s last blog ..DayJob v ArtJob, Round 1 goes to DayJob =-.
“Irrational drive.”
I like that a lot.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Search Your Blog Network With Google Custom Search =-.
Alright Dave, let me put it like this: Yes you have a job to do, but if you are losing your passion for it, take a day off! I write nearly seven days a week too, have 2 websites of my own, consult on several others, plus I just started writing on a collaboration site where I am trying to add 2-3 articles a week on. When I am burning out, I take a day or 2 off, post a youtube video (like I did today just for some humor, and I do on most Sunday’s).
Ultimately, while it may not want to be what you want to hear, if the passion is not there, it will show and the readers will see it.
Don’t sweat it man, go catch some waves ( I miss surfing, grew up in Florida) or something else relaxing and take your mind off of it, you will be glad you did, and I for one, will still be here when you get back…
Oh yeah: Pajama Party? Do tell….:-)
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Sunday Funnies – 1-17-10 =-.
Keith, I never kiss and tell. ;)
Taking a day off… so here’s the thing: I’ve started to build some real momentum here, which is frustrating and ironic.
On the one hand, I have opportunity exploding.
On the other hand, it feels like it’s exploding “in my face.” Which doesn’t feel pleasant.
I’ll get over it.
In the meantime, anyone else out there feeling burnt and frustrated, Keith’s advice is good. Take a day or three off, we’ll all be here when you get back.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Website In A Weekend: Friday Evening – Off to the Races =-.
Hi Dave,
It’s cool that you’re using your will to get things done. I also feel that some days I don’t want to be sitting in front of the computer either, but life never promised us to be easy. To help you this week, my guest post will be in your email box by the time you wake up. :)
.-= Gordie´s last blog ..How To Stop People From Driving You Crazy. =-.
Gordie, got it! Thanks. I’ll be emailing details shortly on when it will run.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Website In A Weekend: Sunday – Dominating the Homestretch =-.
Man! I can totally relate.
I wrote up several articles and went on a holiday for a month, only to return to find my passion had gone *pop*.
For me, it was time to refactor. I realised I’d been feeling this way for a while, but the constant “pressing on” made it hard to see what was happening to me and my blog.
After I had that time to reflect on my holiday everything just sort of snapped into place and I’ve found the little spot that I want to carve out as my own (exactly what I’ve been searching for all this time I think).
Keep pluggin’ mate, your passion is there. I think we can all see it ;)
.-= Josh´s last blog ..The Blogging Desire =-.
Josh, I pretty sure this is all natural and to be expected. Let’s continue our discussion out of band and see what leverage we can produce between our various sites.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Website In A Weekend: Saturday – Accelerating on the Backstretch =-.
Hey Dave!
It’s really amusing to read this post.
Don’t misunderstand that sentiment. I say ‘amusing’ in a laugh out loud sense because of all the bloggers I’ve ever been influenced by since I started reading, well, blogs, you’re in the top 20.
You create fascinating content; everything you’ve written on this site, I’ve at least read – if not acted on. And you have a style that is at once unique, educational and funny.
So it strikes me as hilarious that you could possibly be having writer’s block. Your mind is enormous and your talents rich and varied.
I assume you have some kind of motivational document that you head to when you encounter situations like this? Maybe an Evernote file with all the things you’ve come across that stoked you, or a mood board defining everything you stand for, everything you want to achieve?
I just have a Google doc with blog story ideas by the bagful I can revert to if something doesn’t move me that particular day.
I know this is a temporary blip for you, and everything will continue to be produced at the lofty standard we’ve frankly come to expect.
If you ever want to bounce ideas around, you only need ask.
Namaste.
.-= Dave Thackeray´s last blog ..10 ways to be the perfect partner =-.
Hi Dave. It’s not really writer’s block. It’s more boredom I think than anything else. I have 70 some posts in my draft queue, probably 50 of them are viable, including a couple on mistakes bloggers make.
Damn.
You know, I haven’t read a “mistakes bloggers make” article in 6 months. Last year such articles swarmed the blogospheres…
Time to go retro…
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Blogging Katamari Style (I’m gonna roll you up!) =-.
I can certainly relate to this. Working when the passion ebbs is frustrating but necessary.
I’ve worked many jobs in my early years where the enthusiasm disappeared after the first few months but the need for an income kept me going.
However, I feel I’m in a good place now where my passion pays the bills. On the days when my passion disappears I do what Keith says, get away from it all for a day or so and come back feeling reinvigorated and rearing to go.
Regards,
Karl
.-= Karl Foxley´s last blog ..15 Free Tools To Add To Your Online Business Toolbox =-.
Karl, it’s temporary I’m sure.
I have some other irons in the fire which aren’t being appropriately serviced, that’s part of my beef.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Lurkers, Saboteurs & Gauntlets… it’s Two Weeks in Review! =-.
Ah, to fish in the rain in my little john boat. Hmm, to fish anytime in my little john boat. Sad to think I own one yet don’t have a means to get it to the water [no little ball thingy on my Jeep]. Yeah, I just said thingy. I’m technical like that.
Passion, now that’s a horse of a different color! I have lots of passion. Passion to write. Passion to express. Too bad it usually comes to me in the shower or when I’m driving down the road.
Push through the pain. Just like anything else, it’ll be worth it. Until the next time, that is.
.-= Anne´s last blog ..How to Rid Yourself of Negativity and Let the Happiness Inside =-.
We had a john boat when I was a kid. Kept it out on the Lake in northern Mississippi.
It had a “back seat” right on the transom, necessary for sculling.
Last time I went fishing with my dad, we rented a john boat (with a back seat of course) and tooled out on Lake Monroe outside of Bloomington, Indiana. I recall coming around a little cove, where he said “See that split stump sticking out of the water? There’s a lunker in there.”
He dropped a popper right smack in the middle of the split… the water exploding with 2-3 lb black bass the instant the lure hit the water.
My 15 year old self found that terribly impressive.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..DIY WordPress: 7 “How to” Procedures You Need to Know for Running WordPress =-.
Hang in there, Dave! Perhaps fine-tuning that post schedule of yours would help a bit. I’m certainly enjoy the extra time I have just by going from 5 to 3 per week.
.-= Gabe | freebloghelp.com´s last blog ..Read Gabe Young’s interview at SpeakBindas =-.
Gabe, I’m making a sincere effort at writing shorter articles as well. I’m building up a bank of them to draw from.
I do have to get more time. I have some really great articles in queue which are going to take several hours to finish. Technical stuff. Good for long term traffic.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Lurkers, Saboteurs & Gauntlets… it’s Two Weeks in Review! =-.
Great authors such as Ernest Hemingway, have (had) a schedule of so many hours or writing per day. They are all passionate about their chosen career – some days they write a chapter, sometimes a sentence and even that may stink.
The point I am trying to make is that passion like the ocean has its ebs and tides but it is still an ocean and it is powerful.
Love your passion, love your dedication. I learn so much here.
best………….valentina
.-= Valentina´s last blog ..Golden Nuggets for Your Blog Income =-.
Yep, I work on products 60 minutes every morning M- Sat. Will extend to 90 minutes in Feb,. and add another hour of something else.
Building habits 1 at a time.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Search Your Blog Network With Google Custom Search =-.
I want Shirls to come by and rap on my comments! That was really fun to read.
I’m with you, buddy, on passion and getting things done. :-)
I’ve hit that wall all of the sudden too…I need to break my “list” into smaller steps so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Additionally I’ve cut back my computer time by about 20 hours per week (trying to stay at no more than 60 hours per week). This is causing me to re-focus and figure out where I “waste” time. Cut the fat, so to speak! I’m not sure where the fat is yet because at the end of every day I look at my billable hours and I think – what? I’ve only billed out five hours today but was at my computer for 12? Where did the other 7 go? I know I wasn’t goofing off!
And quoting Valentina’s comment above: The point I am trying to make is that passion like the ocean has its ebs and tides but it is still an ocean and it is powerful.
My tide will come back in!
.-= Michelle @ Your Virtual Assistant´s last blog ..2010 Goals for Your Virtual Assistant =-.
I know that feeling: where did the day go?
One way to handle it is to clock ALL of your hours, even overhead.
Commenting on other blogs comes under “business development.” Responding to comments and emails: “customer relations.”
Clock that stuff and see what happens.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..MasterMind Power I: How 5 Boys Achieved Unparalled Success =-.
I have mine in the same categories! Yep, was all over your site the other night. I may have been absent for awhile but I made up for it!
I can relate bro, today is one of those days that I am trying to just push through and get things done regardless of how much I hate whatever it is that I am doing at the moment.
Would rather be playing Call of Duty or in Aruba.
It’s the irrational drive that keeps us going.
Seriously, I know what you are saying about working when your mind is wandering other directions. But I feel that much of it is about your mental focus.
If you have a goal and you are dedicated to the goal then many times you will feel as passionate about your work. By thinking about what is coming at the end of the work continuously, you build excitement.
This is the substance that gives us hope. The way you may feel about surfing? This feeling can be transfer to anyone’s work environment with the right attitude. I had to learn this when I was younger and it has helped.