Thread: Motivation

Its easy. I think about it, decide, ponder, go back to bed, take another look, not enough time to start right now, but I have to do this first, Oh another phone call, well not right now, I think I have changed my mind, etc, etc, etc, now all I have to do is get up from this computer and start the job, but it is cold out side, it is too wet, maybe later..............

But you see every day for the last couple of months I have spent at least an hour on it, usually more. As soon as I knocked off, I would walk out there and do some work on it. When I wasn't physically working on it, I'd be thinking about the next step and how to do it. Now I've got to the point where the carcase is finished and the doors are glued up. All I have to do is trim the doors, fit them, apply the finish to them and I'm done!

I think I need to pick shorter projects so that my natural abhorrence towards finishing things doesn't have a chance to catch up before I finish.

I go through the same thing on big projects....the only way I get a largish job gets done start to finish, is if there is some pressing dead line, like its a present for someone for their birthday.

Otherwise Im always "taking a break" then coming back to it a a later date...I find motivation does return eventually .

Even midway through doing something and its starting to PMO I will stop and do something else less frustrating, like turn a bowl or God forbid turn another bloody pen . I always find satisfaction from getting something done quick, then I can return to the real work.

Maybe you should take up pen turning as a way to recharge

cheers
BD

thats me to a tee!! procrastination is thy friend right? yep me... thats why I have 101 semi started nearly finished halfway through jobs out there and why it takes me sooooooooo flamin long to finish something that when its finally done I JUST GOTTA SHOW SOMEONE!!

usual day at the office

Hi Darren,

When you find the answer, could you please arrange to bottle it, pasteurise to preserve, and post me a sample!!

My last project started more than 2 years ago,: 2 X bedside tables, and a turned headboard for our bedroom. Tables were completed quite quickly, except for the drawers, (was short of timber for fronts), but finished at least 18 months ago. Headboard took somewhat longer, but done soon after. Got timber for drawers, cut components, fitted, marked out d'tails, cut first set, ....................................................

Pieces have sat on workbench for about a year, smirking at me. Always find good reason to fix stuff around house, watch tv, read, anything but finish them. Have picked up and put down numerous times. Convinced myself that I needed bandsaw to resaw timber for bases, (got that now) etc. etc. etc.

Even when I do go the the shed to START, I seem to be drawn to put something on the lathe, try a bandsawn box, or design and start the next project. Anything except..............

Perhaps I should put by good lady in touch with yours, and see if they can come up with something!!!!

Anyway, this weekend I am going to..........

cheers

I hear ya SC...I'm the same. It's interesting that in this last 20% push for the finish often 80% of the percieved quality will be created. If you have lost interest you won't spend that extra time sanding etc.

Completer / finishers tend to be people more interested in the detail, more anal if you like. Visionaries are the ones that have difficulty with the last 20%.

HH.

Having said that when people usually unable to finish something do finish it and are happy it is as good as it can be the satisfaction is enormous. Unfortunately if they finish it and feel they've rushed just to get it done they are never satisfied with the end result.

HH.

Originally Posted by silentC

So what about you? Do you have problems motivating yourself to finish things you started? How do you deal with it? This is serious!!

No, none at all. It might take me a bit to get started, but when I do, I keep at it until it is completely finished.

Peter.

Which would explain why you have a working drum sander and I have a useless stand gathering dust beside my tablesaw

Once I started a project I must have it finished. I love to see my own work being developed for different stages. In fact I am working on 3 projects at the same time.

I find woodworking really relaxing. I really enjoy working in the shop on Friday night and Saturday morning. On Friday night I will work in the shop and watch the football matches. On Saturday morning, the wife takes the girls to the gym with her. So I continue my work in the shop and listen to the Dead Set Legends on MMM.

You're all a bunch of useless procrastinators!

If you don't have the gumption to see a project through to the end then don't bloodywell start it!

Am I being too harsh?

Actually, I agree with Mr Wong.

Well, yeah it can be relaxing, although I prefer to listen to Radio National. That's not the point. It's getting bored with a project and wanting to do something different that's the problem. I'm very enthusiastic about it for a period of time. Unfortunately that period of time is more often than not shorter than the project elapsed time. This is a different affliction to procrastination. I suffer from that too, but this is more like a fear of or aversion to finishing anything. I don't sit around thinking that I should be finishing the job, I'm actually off doing something else and pretending it doesn't exist!

I have been meaning to add to this thread for a while now

Originally Posted by silentC

but this is more like a fear of or aversion to finishing anything.

That's a classic description of the root of procrastination mate.