OMG. I want to share with you something of a success I had this past month. Not to boast (ok, maybe a little). Not to even garner any woohoos (though woohoos would be nice). But to say to you that sometimes you just have to LOCK IT IN, manage that deadline and jump!

I hosted my first Instagram for Business workshop in my hometown. Why? Well, I said I would run a workshop and I did. WOOHOO. I’ve spoken at workshops and blogger days before and even co-hosted an event in Brisbane with Danielle the wonderful. But this was the first time I booked a date, organised all the things and relied solely on myself to make it happen. I even committed 2 and a half hours to content I wasn’t sure I knew how to fill.

And you know what, it totally did happen. And it was great!

And what did I learn?

I learnt that sometimes you just have to go for it even though the idea seems a little bit crazy and you’re not sure how you’re going to pull it off. Sometimes you have to, as the old saying goes, let go and let God. Or in my case, let go and let goodness happen. Because it does, but not without some hustle.

This past month has been one of the busiest in the history of either of my blogs, between challenges, sponsored content and personal commitments I have been running around with a to-do list stapled to my forehead. But somehow, somewhere in that madness, I made the time to write, plan, schedule, promote and finally deliver, this workshop. And do you know what I think the secret to that was?

A deadline.

A hard and fast, people had put their money on the line, deadline. I had to make it happen because I said I would and people were counting on me. I had to be ready and have all my ducks in the row otherwise people would leave disappointed and never return. Or worse, want their money back. Money that was long gone to ASOS, but that’s another story.

Having a deadline, with people counting on you to deliver, is a motivating thing. I don’t know about you, but often I say I’ll do something, and it doesn’t quite work out. I don’t hit the mark, or it goes by the wayside. It’s a frustrating habit most of us have. Over time this knowing yourself as someone who doesn’t finish the thing, which lets the deadline slide past, who didn’t make it because a loop about who you are.

You need to nip that in the bud. In the butt too. Find a way to keep yourself accountable. Put something on the line. Hang yourself from the cliff with one arm and make it impossible for you to get out of there without moving forward. Find your why. When I booked that workshop my why was crystal clear. I wanted something so badly that I didn’t consider the consequences of failing, I just did it. A strong reason why will do that to a person.

That said, it didn’t mean in months that followed my proclamation that there wasn’t a hundred and one times that I could have bailed. There was. I’d booked the original date on the Monday of a long weekend. I’d set a price that people were happy to tell me was too high (pfft). I had a venue not work out and another turn out to be too expensive versus the size of the group. I really, really, really didn’t want to finalise the workbook or my key talking points.

The urge to quit is strong in this one.

But I didn’t quit. I really wanted to. But I didn’t. And then it happened, I said I would run a workshop and I did. Go me. And in the end the why, got me there. Having a firm deadline with something riding on it, got me there. Not wanting to look like a total wanker, got me there. And it will get you there too.

That’s the point of this rather boastful, look at me type post. I want to encourage you to take on something today that you’ve meant to do for weeks, months or even years. I want you to put your bum on the line. Set a deadline that scares you a little and go for it.

Melissa Walker Horn

Hi! I’m Melissa Walker Horn. Around here, they call me Suger. I’m the Chief Blogger and doer of all the things here at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; I love a casual ootd, taking photos, and writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet over at Chalkboard Digital. You know, living the sweet life.