If I know a lot about a topic and am comfortable with it, I feel no pressure to but sometimes work is work.
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Heat is On.” “Do you thrive under pressure or crumble at the thought of it? Does your best stuff surface as the deadline approaches or do you need to iterate, day after day to achieve something you’re proud of? Tell us how you work best.”
When it comes to projects at work or in my personal life, I follow the phrase “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” Another one that applies is “When you have a why, you’ll make it happen with any how.” I’m a believer in good stress. When I am under the gun on a project, it often forces me to do some of my most creative and innovative work. We like in a stressful world and much of it can be toxic but we shouldn’t forget that stress compels us to find solutions sometimes we were never able to see in a relaxed state.
I watched a documentary the other day about movie making and the set manager was bragging about how the studio forced him to create a set in record time. He might just as well be thankful for that time constraint because the movie went on to be a huge success. I am also a firm opponent to toxic stress. For example, I discovered last year I have been grinding my teeth. My research into this malady called “bruxism” has told me it is most often due to stress. I’ve actually had to start wearing a mouth guard at night to save my teeth. All that stress and I’m only 46! This has been another wake-up call to not take everything so seriously and to practice relaxation techniques. I share that to show that stress can also be toxic as well and productive.
I heard a song recently that really summarizes what I’m saying here in this post. The words went something like, it was a new song to me so I can’t recall the name, “If you have to think about it, it isn’t for you.” What a refreshing thought. If you have to consider something, it isn’t worth doing. It isn’t for you. Wouldn’t life be awesome if we could live it this way? In conclusion, I’ seeing two concerts this weekend. Tonight it’s Willie Nelson and Saturday Imagine Dragons. The Dragons are in their twenties and making decisions on projects based on a long term goal. They have to think, it’s clear from reading their interviews. I think they got too famous too soon for their own good but I sure love their music. On the other hand, Willie is just doing his thing. Now in his 80’s, I assume, he just plays to play. There’s no need for a fancy show or sets etc. Less stress I think too. We should all hope to achieve a place one day where we can “just be” the good old Willie. Until then it’s about doing the stuff we know and going easy on ourselves as we prepare to create and innovate projects about stuff we’re still learning about. In between it all, pay attention to the stove of stress before it’s hot. In the end it’s a;; about balance and knowing ones own limits.
