Stop asking “Can I do this?”

9Apr2009 Filed under: Uncategorized Author: John

I see a pattern in people who are yet to create the life they want - people trapped in jobs for instance.

They spend a lot of time asking and exploring whether they can do something. Is it possible for them have a career in X? Is it crazy to start a business in Y? Could they ever write a book?

Entrepreneurs and Creative Mavericks don’t ask “Can I do this?”. They ask “How can I do this?”.

And that doesn’t mean spending 4 hours searching for an answer online, because it’s followed quickly by the next question “Who can tell me how?” Someone will have done something similar to what you want to do. Go ask them how they did it.

Stop asking for permission from others to do what you want to do - whether it’s starting a business, writing a book or creating an event. Decide that you will have it in some form even if the exact shape of it changes and evolves as you pursue it.

Decide now to make something happen - and do whatever it takes to do so. Then you’ve become a real Creative Maverick.

Listen to free recording of 4 Creative Mavericks speaking at April Scanners Night here

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2 Responses to “Stop asking “Can I do this?””

Catriona Campbell
April 10th, 2009 at 2:02 PM

Hello John
Thank you for this post and I thought I would write now as what you say about waiting for permission really strikes a chord. Until very recently I was deliberating about whether to start another business - I have worked for myself for over 10 years as a marketing consultant and business coach, specialising in the tourism industry, and have been lucky enough to strike a good work life balance doing something I really enjoy. What I identified was holding me back from going forward with my new business was the fact that I was actually afraid of success as much as failure as I really enjoy my life now and was worrying that I would become completely consumed by work -something that I have not allowed to happen since leaving a senior role in a large organisation and becoming self employed.

Two events happened recently that have really focussed my sense of purpose and direction. The first was in February when a friend’s beautiful daughter died suddenly at the age of 26 and the more recent event is the earthquake in L’Aquila where another good friend’s sister has lost everything apart from her life.

I have always been pretty good at living in the moment, counting my blessings and know that life is short and that if I want to achieve something the only person holding me back is me! So thanks again for your writing – it will really spur me on to achieve some goals I’ve set myself! I hope to be able to come along to one of your events in the near future – it looks like you have some excellent speakers and everyone also has great fun!
Chris Wild
April 14th, 2009 at 9:22 AM

This is a great post, John. The (a) turning point for me came when I was sacked by a director I had little respect for, from a job I didn’t want. I realised there was no evidence at all that my view was not the definitive one - for me. Since then, as soon as I have an idea I take action on it. I don’t bother wondering about whether it will work, or what might happen. I just have a go, and when I’ve got as far as I can, or when my interest wanes, I move on to the next idea. Before I know it I’ve got a long way with a lot of projects.

about this blog

This is the personal blog of John Williams, author of "Screw work, let's play: How to do what you love & get paid for it" to be published by Pearson in June 2010.

Join my mission to play all day and get paid - to do whatever creative, fun stuff we feel like doing and make a good living out of it.