The Next Obvious Move

The secret to getting things done isn’t in the doing of the thing.

It’s getting yourself into a position where doing the thing becomes unavoidable.

Writers talk about the pain of writing. But the real challenge is sitting in your chair with a blank document open. Once you’re there, fingers on the keys, the words eventually show up.

People who run before work don’t just rely on discipline. They lay their shoes and clothes out the night before, often where they'll trip over them in the morning. They wake up, get dressed and walk outside. By the time that happens, running is the default.

Someone trying to build a side hustle doesn’t wait for the perfect evening. They open their laptop during lunch. They create a folder. They sketch a single idea. Once the project exists in a small way, it pulls them forward.

You don’t need willpower or inspiration. You need to arrange your environment so the next step is easier than backing out.

Put yourself into a position where the thing that needs doing becomes the next obvious move.