Summary TL;DR

Are you struggling to build your first digital product because you are knee deep in a creative block?

Here are 10 techniques to get you past the block:

1. Embrace Mindfulness

2. Clear Your Mind of Resentments

3. Break It Down

4. Find Inspiration

5. Embrace Failure

6. Surround Yourself With Supportive People

7. Set Realistic Deadlines

8. Experiment and Iterate

9. Embrace Self-Care

10. Celebrate Your Achievements

92% of people won’t finish. You aren’t one of those people.

Pick one of the above and take action now.

A Week In My Life

I have been hammering away at Bubble struggling to bring my idea of a digital journal to life.

I have a good design and have articulated my vision.

I’m clear on the problem the product will help users solve.

Yet, the work of bringing the design to life is a struggle.

Don’t Panic

If you've found yourself staring at a blinking cursor or struggling to bring your ideas to life, fear not.

Overcome creative blocks and successfully launch your first digital product by leveraging these 10 techniques:

1. Embrace Mindfulness: Start by cultivating a mindful approach to your creative process. Take a moment to center yourself, breathe and let go of distractions.

   How do you remove distractions from your head full of chaos?

   Go for a walk, go for a run, hit the gym. Move your body for 30 min.

   Meditation and journaling are two non-physical ways to let go of distractions.

   By practicing mindfulness, you'll gain clarity on what’s blocking you. Move beyond it and tap into your creative flow.

2. Clear Your Mind of Resentments: You might be angry or afraid (or both) and not even recognize it. Sometimes these emotions show up in creative work and we don’t recognize them for what they are.

   Here is my process based on Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way:

   • List out all the anger and resentments you have about project. Don’t hold back. Don’t worry about sounding like a toddler. This isn’t a time for maturity, this is a time for getting all your emotion out of your head and body. List it all out.

   • List out all your fears about the project and anyone or anything connected to it. Again, don’t judge, dump.

   • Check in with yourself on the two above activities. Are you done or is there more? If the answer is more, keep going.

   • Write down what you gain by not doing the work?

   • Make yourself a deal. If I do X, I get Y. This can also look like a prayer. Write it down on a Post-It. Stick it in plain sight of where you do your work. I know this sounds like kindergarten but we are simple creatures who need reminding. We don’t manage what we can’t see.

3. Break It Down: Sometimes, the scope of a project can be overwhelming. Break it down into smaller, manageable tasks. Create a roadmap with achievable milestones. Celebrate your progress along the way. Greatness will follow.

   Leverage digital Kanban boards in Notion or Trello or a whiteboard and/or Post-It notes on a wall.

4. Find Inspiration: Seek inspiration from various sources. Explore social media. Read books, listen to podcasts, watch videos on YouTube. Engage in conversations with like-minded individuals. Embracing diverse perspectives will fuel your fire.

   Make this activity time bound so you don’t fall into a consumption trap.

   As an example. Give yourself 1 hr to consume experience with X and then be gangster and start the work.

5. Embrace Failure: Don't fear failure; embrace it as a valuable learning experience. Understand that setbacks are a natural part of the process. Use them as stepping stones to iterate and improve your digital product.

6. Surround Yourself with Supportive People: Build a network of supportive individuals who believe in your vision. Collaborate with like-minded creatives, join communities, and seek mentors who can guide you on your journey. Surrounding yourself with positive influences will help you stay motivated and inspired.

7. Set Realistic Deadlines: Hold yourself accountable by setting realistic deadlines for each stage of your product development. A well-structured timeline will provide a sense of urgency and prevent procrastination. Break tasks into smaller chunks and divide time for research, ideation, design, development, and testing.

8. Experiment and Iterate: Building thrives in an environment of experimentation. Be open to trying new approaches, testing ideas, and gathering feedback. Iterate based on the insights you gain, and remember that the path to success is rarely a straight line.

9. Embrace Self-Care: Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Engage in activities that help you relax and recharge. Exercise, get enough sleep, and nourish your body with healthy food. A balanced and energized mind is more likely to produce brilliant ideas.

10. Celebrate Your Achievements: Don't forget to celebrate your achievements, both big and small. Recognize the effort you put into your digital product and the growth you've experienced along the way. Rewarding yourself reinforces a positive mindset and encourages future build endeavors.

Remember, overcoming creative blocks is a journey unique to each individual. Be patient with yourself, stay persistent, and keep your enthusiasm alive.

Only 8% of people finish. You are the 8%. You’ve got this.

Take action. Grab one of the techniques above. Pick the one that speaks loudest to you. Do the work.

With these techniques in your toolkit, you're on your way to launching your first digital product.