Motivation

[silentC]

Does anyone else suffer from lack of motivation?

This is one of the reasons I would never try to take up furniture making as a career. The other is that I'm not particularly good at it, but let's assume that would improve with practice.

I know that everyone has been following my WIP thread on that cupboard and you are probably eagerly awaiting the next instalment. Oh, you're not? Oh well, never mind.

The thing is, since I last posted, I haven't done a thing to it. I'm nearly finished the damned thing and now I'm finding a million excuses to do something else. The weather is improving and I'm starting to look around for some jobs to do outside. I've got some concreting to do, a bit of landscaping. Have to build a woodshed and a garden shed. A bit of decking. Driveway to do. I'm itching to get out there and get stuck into some of those and I'll probably spend this weekend on them rather than the cupboard. Another weekend would probably knock it over, but I've completely lost enthusiasm for it. Probably the only thing that will motivate me to finish it is to get the damned thing out of my shed.

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

[DavidG]

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..............:doh:

[silentC]

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.

[Brown Dog]

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 :rolleyes: .

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 :o . 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 :p :D

cheers
BD:2tsup:

[Wild Dingo]

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 :;

[Alastair]

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

[HappyHammer]

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%.:U

HH.

[HappyHammer]

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.:C

HH.

[Sturdee]

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.

[silentC]

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

[Wongo]

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.

[craigb]

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? :D

Actually, I agree with Mr Wong.

[silentC]

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!

[Ashore]

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

[craigb]

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

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

[silentC]

Well, yeah I suppose so. Although I normally think of procrastination as a fear of starting something - you know, you sit around thinking about it but never do it.

With me, it's like for so many days or weeks it's all you think about, and then as suddenly as it all started, it's old news and other things become more attractive. I'm sure there's a name for the condition. Maybe it's related to procrastination. Bi-polar attention-deficit obsessive-compulsive disorder or something.

[bitingmidge]

It's got nothing to do with procrastination, motivation, or even laziness.

I feel sorry for some people, you know the types who have no more than say three :D projects on the go at any time.

Where's the incessant learning curve, the need to find out more and learn more skills? I'd hate to count the number of things that are on the go in the home of the bitingmidge, but if you've been to the PDRacer.info pages lately you'll see there's another project that "appears" to be in some sort of doldrum.

The fantastic thing about having Brazillions of projects underway, is that inevitably, you'll feel like doing some work on one of them, even if it's only as an excuse not to work on another. Eventually, you do so much work on each project that completion becomes inevitable.

I'd prefer to see it as the product of a fertile mind rather than that of an unmotivated wretch!

Cheers,

P
:D :D

[Andy Mac]

I'm with you Silent... don't mind getting a job started, but the excitement seems to drain away quickly, then other things pop up that somehow become more important.:-
I don't really enjoy the fiddly-farty bit at the end: dry-fitting, pare away a bit there and refit, then endless sanding and spraying etc.
Deadlines are the only thing that seem to get the juices flowing enough to actually bowl it over, and with artwork for an exhibition its often finished at 2 or 3 in the morning before installation!:oo: Aarghh the stress, and once again I promise to get on top of things before the last minute...

Cheers,

[silentC]

I feel sorry for some people, you know the types who have no more than say three projects on the go at any time.
You're right, I need to step back and look at the big picture. I was told in a personality test (one of those horrible 2 hour things with all the squiggly lines and number sequences) that I can see both the wood and the trees, whatever the hell that means. Maybe I'm standing too close to one of the trees.

[Steps back a few paces]

Ahh, yes, that's better. It's all a part of the big plan, the great tapestry of life. I haven't lost interest in Rory's cupboard, I'm merely moving on to other things temporarily because I have learned the lessons that needed to be learned from that and now I can apply what I have learned to...

Building a sand filter for the recycled effluent!

It all makes perfect sense.

[craigb]

It's got nothing to do with procrastination, motivation, or even laziness.

I feel sorry for some people, you know the types who have no more than say three :D projects on the go at any time.

Where's the incessant learning curve, the need to find out more and learn more skills? I'd hate to count the number of things that are on the go in the home of the bitingmidge, but if you've been to the PDRacer.info pages lately you'll see there's another project that "appears" to be in some sort of doldrum.

The fantastic thing about having Brazillions of projects underway, is that inevitably, you'll feel like doing some work on one of them, even if it's only as an excuse not to work on another. Eventually, you do so much work on each project that completion becomes inevitable.

I'd prefer to see it as the product of a fertile mind rather than that of an unmotivated wretch!

Cheers,

P
:D :D

Nice piece of justification there Midgie. 3 and a half stars from me. :D :D

[silentC]

Deadlines are the only thing that seems to get the juices flowing enough to actually bowl it over..
Didn't work for me, although SWMBO's deadlines tend to be soft - she prefers not to be disappointed :-

[Wongo]

Its OK silent.:console: Uncle Craig isn't being too harsh. He is just honest.

Maybe you should practise using the jointer a bit more. Once you have mastered it (like me :cool2:) you might enjoy it a bit more.

:D

[craigb]

Well, yeah I suppose so. Although I normally think of procrastination as a fear of starting something - you know, you sit around thinking about it but never do it.



Two sides of the same coin mate.

[Wongo]

Midge, from memory. You were working 50 projects at the same time. Have you managed to finish one of them yet?

:yuk: its getting dusty here.

:D

[silentC]

Once you have mastered it
I love these people who come out with this stuff on how "my way is best and yours is rubbish" and then when you ask them for details, they disappear! Stand and fight, that's what I say :D

[Wongo]

You need help.

Obviously.

:U

[silentC]

Funny thing is I hardly ever argue with people in person. I'm very quiet and unassuming and I just listen to what people say and smile and nod. It's this internet thing, brings out the worst in people.

:p

[Bleedin Thumb]

Well, yeah I suppose so. Although I normally think of procrastination as a fear of starting something - you know, you sit around thinking about it but never do it.




I suffer both ways I really find it hard to actually start especially designing however once I do I'm fine and the process becomes all consuming to the point that I dream about what I will be doing tomorrow.

Once I get to 90% completion of a building project (for myself) I sort of loose interest and it then just turns into a perpetual WIP. I don't think I have actually really finished anything since 1983:D

I'd go as far as saying 100% completion of an home building project may violate The Code and if it doesn't it should.

[Driver]

Well ..... I'm with you, Mr C.

On the floor of our bedroom is a small stack of jarrah boards. Several of them have been jointed, edge-joined and planed smooth. They will form the top of a small table. The remainder of the stack is a group of former roof rafters. The entire stack is acclimatising to the interior of the house - which is where the finished articles will eventually reside.

At a conservative estimate, these boards have been providing a tripping obstacle in the bedroom for nearly two years.

Now .... what else was I going to say?

Stuff it ...... I think I'll do something else instead.

Col

[silentC]

Yep I was pretty sure I wasn't the only one. After all, we have discussed this problem before.

Anyway, I'm all fired up now and when I knock off today I'm going to cut the horns off those doors and trim them to fit the opening. Then I'm going to see if I've got any hinges. If not, I'm going to order some nice ones from Goods and Chattels. That should delay things until late next week!!

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I've a variation of that problem: when I start a project I usually have it firmly visualised in my head, along with the required steps it needs to get there. I can happily work from go to whoa, even if the job should take several weeks.

But as soon as someone comes along when I'm part-way through and suggests a change - usually the customer having a whinge'n'bitch, :rolleyes: but sometimes a 3rd-party with a damned good idea... well... work stops while I mull it over.

And stays stopped. :-

For some reason, once that mindset is interrupted, it's like it's already finished & done with - I just cannot get back into the build. From that moment it's a "stop/start/I'd rather be doing something else" scenario. :shrug: Sometimes I think it'd be quicker if I simply started a second version of the same item... except who wants half-finished jobs laying around that will never be finished?

Right now I've got a desk and a table taking up so much of my workshop that I've been avoiding doing anything else out there 'cos it's so bloody cramped... but I haven't done any work on them for months! Fortunately, from one point of view, the customer knows he'll get 'em when he gets 'em so hasn't hassled me. He's dealt with me before. :D

[Wongo]

Thats more like it Silent.:;

[Wongo]

Just one minor point. Some people finish before it started.


:U

[bitingmidge]

I was told in a personality test (one of those horrible 2 hour things with all the squiggly lines and number sequences) \
Would it surprise you to know that from an early age I formed the habit of lying in those things?

I try not to read the question, and simply answer at random, or match the question with the answers three rows down. I've only been told on one occasion that my results were "unusual", and I got the job! :D

It may also explain why the executives of the large Franchise in which I once had an interest, never visited me without a couple of security guards in tow.:p

Speaking of unhinged.

That's where you and I differ Mr C. You'll order the hinges from G&C, then procrastinate for a fortnight.

I'd order the hinges from G&C, by the time they arrived the reason for their being would have been obscured under half a dozen newer projects, so I'd put them aside till I could think up a project that'd really set them off.

Cheers,

P
:D :D :D

[wheelinround]

:(:( almost a week in doors to cold to go into shed not well either bloody flu's.
1st day even out there and all I did was tidy up.

A busy weekend will see me not:no: get near the shed till about Tuesday........unless I stay home Sunday then its all down to the weather, but LOML has exhibition this whole weekend.

:-:- Here in lies I believe the problem winter brings on the dorldrums along with all the reasons we can't get out and finish it of.

Procrastination has nothing to do with it as soon as warmer wearther is around we will all be out there an the chips will be flying again.

[Wongo]

Midge, I was talking about assembling a piece of furniture from IKEA. :doh:

[silentC]

Would it surprise you to know ...No, it would not!


the reason for their being would have been obscured under half a dozen newer projectsNow I really must protest against this attempted one-upmanship, BM. You have the advantage over me in years, but I'll have you know I'm every bit as haphazard as you! In fact, I have in my possession an Airfix model hovercraft that I received as a gift when I was about 12 years old which I have yet to stick the decals to. So there!!

[HappyHammer]

:-:- Here in lies I believe the problem winter brings on the dorldrums along with all the reasons we can't get out and finish it of.
Only in Mexico....:U

HH.

[silentC]

BTW even if I do finish this cupboard this weekend, I believe my reputation will be intact, because it is in fact a dresser-style and I still have to build the hutch. :p

[wheelinround]

Only in Mexico....:U

HH.

ah yes south of the boader

must be left over syndrome from my last trip through in 2004:D

[Rocker]

Silent,

Have you stuck those scales on your morticing jig yet? I mean the ones I sent you about three years ago.

Rocker

[craigb]

No, it would not!

Now I really must protest against this attempted one-upmanship, BM. You have the advantage over me in years, but I'll have you know I'm every bit as haphazard as you! In fact, I have in my possession an Airfix model hovercraft that I received as a gift when I was about 12 years old which I have yet to stick the decals to. So there!!

A peeing contest between two procrastinators. :rolleyes:

Now I really have seen everything. :wink:

[Honorary Bloke]

Could I interest anyone in three (or is it four?) scale model cars started 5 years ago and in varying stages of incompletion? I'd just toss 'em but then I couldn't tell myself that I'll get back on them one day soon. :- The lot includes a small airbrush paint spray compressor that has never yet been fired in anger. :)

[craigb]

Could I interest anyone in three (or is it four?) scale model cars started 5 years ago and in varying stages of incompletion? I'd just toss 'em but then I couldn't tell myself that I'll get back on them one day soon. :- The lot includes a small airbrush paint spray compressor that has never yet been fired in anger. :)

Nup

[Colin Howkins]

It gets to me too. In fact I have decided to become a member of the A.P.S [Australian Procratination Society]

Hmmmmmmmm..........better get the cheque away and fill out the form

Colin Howkins
Graceville Qld:no:

[Justin]

Here's a great motivational picture, for times like this.

[echnidna]

It's got nothing to do with procrastination, motivation, or even laziness.

I feel sorry for some people, you know the types who have no more than say three :D projects on the go at any time.

Where's the incessant learning curve, the need to find out more and learn more skills? I'd hate to count the number of things that are on the go in the home of the bitingmidge, but if you've been to the PDRacer.info pages lately you'll see there's another project that "appears" to be in some sort of doldrum.

The fantastic thing about having Brazillions of projects underway, is that inevitably, you'll feel like doing some work on one of them, even if it's only as an excuse not to work on another. Eventually, you do so much work on each project that completion becomes inevitable.

I'd prefer to see it as the product of a fertile mind rather than that of an unmotivated wretch!

Cheers,

P
:D :D

I agree with all of your sentiments though I think motivation goes far beyond a fertile mind. I'm inclined to think individual personality profiles may indeed be more of an influence.

As far as setting things aside I suppose I'll have to finish off that project I started somewhere about 1992 one day. It's just that other interesting projects and natural tangents pop up from time to time.:D :D

[Lignum]

Just have a beer and think about it:wink:

[wheelinround]

Could I interest anyone in three (or is it four?) scale model cars started 5 years ago and in varying stages of incompletion? I'd just toss 'em but then I couldn't tell myself that I'll get back on them one day soon. :- The lot includes a small airbrush paint spray compressor that has never yet been fired in anger. :)

Don't:no::no: toss em
Same here bought in my erl 20's still haven't touched the Bentley finished the Roll's repaired the fire engine damaged in 3 moves and a few others.

What have you got HB

Ray

[weisyboy]

i get distracted verry easily i usualy have 2 or 3 projects going at a time as well as my veggie garden and i have landscaping on the go to. so when i get sick of doing one thing of sompthing gose rong i simply switch to another project to avoid having peices of wood flying accros the room.

[Cliff Rogers]

I'm with Midge on this, I have far more projects on the go that I will ever EVER finish in this life time. :D

I also have far more hobbies than room &/or time to store them all but, I'm getting a container to store some more wood in just the same. :rolleyes:

It makes you a little more interesting to talk to. ( My excuse. :D )

Anyway, back to SC. Allow me to draw your attention to Sections 7 & 8 of the Code of Practice.... they cover it fairly well I think. :2tsup:

[Driver]

Anyway, back to SC. Allow me to draw your attention to Sections 7 & 8 of the Code of Practice.... they cover it fairly well I think. :2tsup:

Which is entirely appropriate since the said Mr C was a major contributor to both of the sections in question. :wink:

[silentC]

Yes, as the great Frank Zappa said: you are what you is, and that's all it is.

[Krazee]

You may have early onset of this:

Recently, I was diagnosed with : A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.

As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my cheque book off the table, and see that there is only 1 cheque left. My extra cheques are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my cheques, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
The Coke is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye --they need water.

I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realise that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day:

the car isn't washed

the bills aren't paid

there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter

the flowers don't have enough water,

there is still only 1 cheque in my cheque book,

I can't find the remote,

I can't find my glasses,

and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day, and I'm really tired. I realise this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Do me a favour. Forward this message to everyone you know, because I
don't remember who the hell I've sent it to.

Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!

[Zed]

I try to work on stuff without a break in shed routine (family permitting) until such time it is time to sand the bastard. then work stops... i hate that.. the sanding not the stopping...

I aslo get easily distrac.........

[silentC]

I generally scrape/sand and finish as I go, so I spread that joy out a bit.

It's not that I find anything about finishing a job particularly onerous. It's more like I have a certain amount of enthusiasm for a job and once it runs out, it's gone. Sometimes it doesn't run out before I finish, so the job is finished before I get sick of it. Other times, it runs out before I get there.