Block

I have the attention span of a gnat today. I know what the problem is - I am my own road block. I have amassed 55 files filled with untold amounts of information for my analysis project. Other than confirming some details with my client, I am ready to begin writing my final document.

And yet, as much as I love writing, I find it to be incredibly painful. Always have. As I mentioned to K the other day - this exact situation - where I have a brain-full of stuff that needs to be manipulated, organized and formatted into a communication of information for the benefit of others - is the most difficult thing I do. (Well almost - losing daily in a battle of wills to a 7 year old can be tougher, but I manage.)

It's a shame it's what people pay me to do. I'm sure it's not obvious given my blatherings here, but some folks think I'm actually good at analytical writing, and are willing to fund my retirement account in order to be on the receiving end of it. They are expecting some good, concise information about their current organizational state any day now, and it will likely take me the rest of February and all of March to deliver. It would probably be a good idea for me to get started.

But then I remember I want to post this on Twitter for a bunch of people who could care less about me:

Then I see some offending dirt that needs to be vacuumed up. I grab the Dyson, spending another 15 minutes looking for stray stinkbugs. Then I check Facebook because someone commented on my post regarding comfort foods. And THEN I return to my document, containing still only one sad introductory paragraph. I review a supporting document to get my direction and momentum going, then JBL comes in to ask a question about something not related to work.

Next thing I know, it's 4:45 - time to sign off for the day. Tomorrow morning, however, I will return. I have until 11am (conference call) to get some words on paper. And I will tell myself what I told K last week as she struggled with a school writing assignment: the hardest part is getting started. Just get started, and it will all flow out onto the page.

Here's hoping....