The power of routine

So many books have touched on the subject of creativity and innovation. So many magazines have churned out articles on how to come up with creative ideas. Podcasts are an increasing source of “creative work and ideas”, offering tips and techniques on how to come up with such things. However, despite having a wealth of creative ideas, and an intense desire to execute and accomplish, we don’t really get around to doing them.

There’s that book I’ve always wanted to write.

There’s that wonderful vacation resort I’ve always wanted to bring my family to for some bonding time.

There’s that music class I’ve always wanted to try out.

There’s that article I’ve always wanted to write.

But we never get around to doing it.

Idea generation, therefore, isn’t the problem. Execution or actually working on the ideas is.

Some people are waiting for inspiration to strike. I recall an author telling me that when he wants to write a book, he needs to get out of the city, go to a remote mountainside, listen to the humming of the birds and the trickling of water from a nearby falls, so he can muster up inspiration and rev up the engine to write his book. He then asked me how I was able to come up with so many books over the years. My response: “I write!” (period)

We’ve probably been convinced by Hollywood that doing creative work requires a great inspiring environment. We start doing our work when that special, magical, inspirational spell hits us. I beg to differ. I think that’s another form of spiritual possession from which one may need some form of exorcism after.

You may not believe it, you may not agree, but what works for many creative people is actually routine. Routine simply means creating a framework for inspiration to happen rather than waiting for inspiration to strike. Even Ernest Hemmingway does the routine of writing 500 words every day!

Every morning, after doing my quiet time, I post something positive in all of my social platforms (Facebook, Blog, Twitter). I think about the post the night before so I have a ready peg to work on. I listen to podcasts while I take a shower and dress up. This has become such a habit that it seems like I can no longer take a shower or dress up without having a podcast in the background. I take breakfast with the Ilocana while listening to the news. For me, this is a routine that creates a framework for me to work on ideas.

Routine puts you in control of your environment. It rescues you from being at the mercy of gadgets and technology.

The first hour of your work day should be spent on creative work, not on reactive work. Answering emails and trying to empty your inbox, responding to Facebook messages, and sending SMS all over the place – those are reactive work done in response to the demands of other people. When we spend the start of the day in those, our energy gets drained, our brain gets tired, and by noon, when we slow down, the important creative work we want to do get shelved. Then we say, “I suppose I’ll just get around to doing it tomorrow or by Friday…” But we never do.

Some people view routine as boring. What they don’t know is that routine is a disciplined approach to creating a platform for executing the ideas we have. And when we do execute ideas, believe me, the inspiration would begin to flow out. Don’t forget Thomas Edison’s famous quote: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

(Leadership skills are life skills. Spend two whole days with Francis Kong discovering the beauty of both on September 12-13 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire at 09158055910, or call 632-6310912 for details.)