Greetings Programs... or based on my google analytics, Program! And I think I might be the program in question. That's the way it goes though right? No interesting content, no eyeballs, no brains, no input. I just spent the last hour discussing with my my colleague regarding the pros and cons of getting things done, motivation, accountability, the universe and everything.
The final analysis: Not finishing anything diminishes overall performance, much like a SSD or unburned fuel in your engine. Garbage management is very important. Starting a project even with the best of reasons, will become nothing but an anchor if it isn't finished and put away.
I was reading an excellent article yesterday by the very fine Mr. Jake Parker over at Agent44 regarding a talk on creativity. In the discussion he makes the point that he requires 2 things to stay creative: 1) Constraints or limits and 2) Accountability. And honestly, that's missing from my cache of weapons.
Take this image for example:
The Sideshow Monsters Club
This self-initiated project is fun and interesting to me, but despite a page full of thumbnails, a logo and these four illustrations, I don't have any goal or direction for this. So, I'll let it hang on and swirl and distract me until it finally slips from memory enough times that it doesn't come back. That will take years, until then, it will constantly bay at me to do something with it. That's the problem with 10 good ideas and no great ones, they all dilute the pool of creativity.
So, Will Wardy and I made a deal. I'll make a list of 5 currently ongoing projects that I can finish. With a goal, with a deadline, with a set of milestones that I can measure. He'll do the same and we'll hold one another accountable. Please please please stick to this, I have got to get past this funk. Creatively, I am slipping backwards and failing to gain ground. Without projects, I have no resume, no portfolio, no future.