Creator’s Curse: The Rules

ModSquad August 29, 2014

I have this problem of starting creative projects at home and then… never finishing them. It’s actually kind of shameful.

“I have a great idea,” I declare to my family, then dive in like gangbusters, working on a very lengthy project. After a couple of weeks pass, I will have already discarded my project and moved onto the next best thing.

I have disgraceful collections of half-knitted pillows, afghans, drawings, paintings, and jewelry. I call this the Creator’s Curse, and it comes from fast-paced excitement over creativity but with a penchant for easy distraction. The results (or lack thereof) with the Creator’s Curse inevitably lead to feelings of shame, guilt, bitterness, and lack of creative fulfillment (which can be detrimental if you are a self-proclaimed artsy person, like I am).

I’ve attempted to combat this problem by only working on small projects, but my creative ambition wants me to do something bigger! Which, again, I fail to finish, and I’m back to what I referenced before – project incompletion.

The only way that I can combat this Creator’s Curse is to organize my ambition and fuel motivation. I have to set rules for myself, create deadlines, avoid the TV like the plague, and utilize the genius of digital and social media.

The Rules

Here is where you have to be extremely honest with yourself, and understand your commitment level (which can be a bit of a challenge).

How busy are you, really?
Are you willing to commit to your project and set it as a priority?
Are you already overwhelmed with tasks and goals?

Here are my personal rules about committing to projects in general:

Thin the herd.
If you have an overwhelming amount of things to do (you know, the important stuff that impacts your day/life), take care of those first. Create a task list in order and check off each task as you complete them. Set deadline dates and/or times for each task. I arrange my list from easiest task to hardest task for the sake of motivation. Accomplishing small items and moving down the list can make you feel productive, and won’t overwhelm you or make you feel anxious. It can be as easy as returning that Netflix DVD that you watched 3 weeks ago, to painting your cabinets. Whatever tasks you need to complete, be like Nike and Just Do It.
Turn on some jams!
If you are feeling like a lazy bag of bones, turn off the TV and turn on some upbeat music. Music is super motivating. Get your body moving! If you’ve ever taken an aerobics class at the gym, upbeat and high impact music is as it motivates you to workout faster, harder, and stronger. So turn on that music and start accomplishing those tasks. Clear the clutter! Need help finding music to get you moving? Dig up your inner Club MTV Downtown Julie Brown and check out my 90s Dance Jams mix on Spotify.
Pick one project.
I don’t know about you, but I like to plan ahead and line up my projects. This is a bad idea when you have the Creator’s Curse. Lining up projects can make you anxious to move on to the next. Instead, find one project and refrain from looking for others until you have completed the one you’re working on. Believe me, the next project is not going anywhere.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
There will be times when you have to press pause on your project, but you really should make sure the pause is very temporary and short-lived. Your projects should have some form of priority in your life. Literally schedule in time for them. If your life really does get overwhelming and you need to put your work on the back-burner, don’t discard it when you return. Don’t start another project. Improve it if necessary, but finish what you started.

Next up, the dreaded deadlines! Stay tuned for Part Two. In the meantime, feel free to add your tips in the comments.

Dwan McClendon
Project Manager

This entry was posted in Best Practices, Offbeat, Social Media and tagged creativity, distraction, life hacks, lifehacks, organization, tips by ModSquad. Bookmark the permalink.

Digital Organization and How It Makes You Invaluable, part 2

ModSquad August 8, 2014

Part two of Digital Organization and How It Makes You Invaluable!

The Fine Art of E-Mail Labeling

While there are different strokes for different folks (and I am unable to identify a single flawless labeling system), I will state that I have email labels built into my email inbox filtration system that are based on:

Client names,
Shift reports (teams),
Development teams,
Company emails from Metaverse Mod Squad,
And more….

My personal favorite is the “To Do” label. The “To Do” label isn’t applied by a filter (like the list above), but by me. At the beginning of my day (or shift), I go through all of my messages and identify which require further action/investigation. At that point, I apply the “To Do” label. When I’m ready (after I’ve gone through and managed things that need priority), I can hit the “To Do” label and see everything I need to address. This method has been the most successful for me, personally, and it took me a lot of trial and error to find the right path for me. I highly suggest trying out different labeling methods and seeing what works for you!

Another suggestion, to help with prioritization, is to decide how you want to handle the view of incoming messages. The question becomes: Conversation View or not to Conversation View… I am not an advocate for the option. I suggest getting rid and having your email system automatically move all unread emails to a separate list at the top of your interface.

Removing Conversation View quantifies the popularity of a topic, and makes it easier to identify the most updated response. Separating unread emails ensures that nothing becomes buried in the inbox pages. I plan on extending the use of Inbox Sections for further organization of emails in the future as this seems to be an equally useful tool. For Gmail users, this can be done through Settings > General > Conversation View and Settings > Inbox > Inbox Sections.

Use Macros for Gaming? Use Them for Work Too!

Honestly, the concept of using macros outside of gaming is still new to me. It was kindly introduced to me by one of the mods on my team. The idea is appealing: designating keys on the keyboard (for example: a Ctrl/Command key + [other key]) to create shortcuts for pulling up particular tools and browsers, without having the extra menu steps. Simple. Fast. Direct.

Using a macro recorder helps you record actions you would normally complete manually, such as opening a browser, or program, or a specific website (or tons of them) and set those actions to a simpler set of keys. As this is the newest tool in my digital organization arsenal, I’ll simply recommend searching the internet for easy macro recording guides. They are really simple to set up!

Be Ready to Work from Anywhere, at Any Time. Store Your Passwords and Websites

Keeping your personal life and your professional life separate is so vital to the security and success of a project!! However, there are times when your client needs immediate assistance or an emergency has arisen, and you need to access all your usual browsers and tools. What happens if you’re not at your work computer, and you do not have your work passwords available? We work for companies 24/7, and have 100% dedication to the success of our clients. Handling emergencies smartly and smoothly, on behalf of our clients, is our gig.

Using a password storage tool can help eradicate the possibility of this situation. I use KeePass to store all of the websites and tools that I need to work using a highly secure password.

KeePass is a simple program that stores usernames, passwords and the website URLs they’re associated with (here’s more information on KeePass as a safe, secure method). It is also pretty nifty in that you can drag and drop login info into the appropriate fields, and information is in one secure place. Storing the KeePass file in a personal, private cloud-storage (using another highly secure password, of course) makes all the information easily retrievable from any location, during any emergency situation. But, as always, remember to LOG OUT of all programs once you’re through!

Why Digital Organization Not Only Benefits You, But The Client As Well

Not going to lie, digital organization is a really big personal benefit, but it is going to spread to other aspects of your professional world. In my own experience, I’ve found that organizing piles of tasks makes them easier and quicker to complete. Who better to benefit from your efficiency than your project client?

Having tasks, tools, and information presented neatly and efficiently helps me breeze through requests, while still giving room to breathe when unexpected issues pop-up throughout a day of work; additionally, from an outside view it showcases how reliable, competent, efficient and professional in a client’s eyes, which will not go unnoticed! And in the end, everyone wins!

Katie Carson
Assistant Project Manager

This entry was posted in Best Practices, Digital Engagement, Mods, Offbeat and tagged advice, assistance, efficiency, keepass, life hacks, lifehacks, management, manager, managing, organization, organizing, practice, tips by ModSquad. Bookmark the permalink.

Creator’s Curse: The Rules

Digital Organization and How It Makes You Invaluable, part 2

Life Hacks: Dare to address the small things!