#FindTheHour: How to Get Started

Download the sheet. It's magic. 

Today is day 52 of my #FindTheHour streak. Join me in reclaiming your existence. 

I decided 52 days ago to commit one hour a day, every day, to writing. I was going to see how long I could keep the streak alive, inspired by Jerry Seinfeld, and as I started to gain momentum I thought I'd share some of what I've learned. 

My advice is very simple: find the one thing you love to do, and do it an hour a day. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? You'd be surprised at the enemies, real and imagine, standing in your way.

But here's 5 ways you can get started:

1. Decide What Do You Want to Do - Maybe it's playing music with your kids, or gardening more, or writing, interior design, drawing. Don't worry about outcomes, just pick the one thing that floats your boat. I don't want to minimize how hard this can be, but noone else can figure that out but you. 
2. Pick a Day to Start - I want you to look at your calendar and commit. Maybe this is today, maybe it's next Monday. Then I want you to outline how the perfect week looks to you - and where the hour fits in. Then plan it out. On most days, my hour is 7:30AM - 8:30AM, but sometimes when I know my better half is working late, I move this to the evening. But it has to be planned in advance, or the resistance will win. Guaranteed. PROTIP: Let the people closest to you know what you're doing. Say you would appreciate their support. Better yet, invite them in.  
3. Download this Sheet - See the picture above. This is my streak. Jerry Seinfeld was once asked how he created so much, and he said he NEVER broke the streak. He wrote jokes every day. No exceptions. This has done pretty well by him. 
4. The magic of 'Yes, and...' versus 'Yes, but...' This is an old improv trick. Open yourself to the universe, and instead of saying 'Yes, but...' (which implies resistance to all things good) you can say 'Yes, and..." to build on ideas and provide bigger solutions. And it also implies less internal judgment (I'm still working on this one). Internal judgment might be your biggest roadblock. 
5. Go. You don't need permission to make it happen. Just start. Pick up the pencil or the guitar and create something. Don't judge, just do. Put the 'Yes, and...' into action. Write a poem to yourself. 

A lot of people have talked about the power of INTENTION. That's all this is, I'm no mastermind. But since I've been dialing in on #FindTheHour a lot of great things have happened. Awards, films coming together, a novel that is wrapping up, a lot of pieces that would not otherwise exist. And that is what this is all about, existence.

Go.

If you need anything, let me know. I don't have many of the answers and you probably have some great ideas too. Share them. I want to #FindTheHour along with you. Who knows what kind of cool shit could happen?

Next Post: Killing the Beast that is Resistance. 

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 52 days.
#FindTheHour

Music to write by: New LCD Soundsystem, yo! 

Most Frequented Writing Haunt: My house (spooky)

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

SATURDAY EDITION: DAY 48 - The Top Ten Things I've Learned from #FindTheHour

I've just completed by 48th straight day of #findthehour, where I work for at least an hour on my novel Devil's Candy. You can be working on anything you want, as long as it brings you joy. 

I won't kid you and say every one of those hours was quality, but I was there. I was doing the work. Some of it sucked, some of it didn't. 

And I've learned a shit ton. Here's a quick list:

• 1 - Learning is not as important as doing. Too many people are afraid to start because they don't think they know enough. Or aren't good enough yet. That's an illusion. Start now. The pile of 'how-to' books on your bedside table isn't going to get you there. 
• 2- The first two hours of your day go by the fastest. If you fill that with good work, rather than dicking around trying to get warmed up, you'll see exponential results. Get to work as fast as possible. PROTIP: This Monday morning (yes, even on Labor Day), just do an audit of what you do in the first two hours after you wake up. You might be surprised at how little actually gets done. Optimize. 
• 3 - People are going to hate you. Making #findthehhour a priority comes at the expense of time with others, or recreation, or entertainment. And people don't like it when you prioritize your goals above everything else, like a good time. Minimize this by asking them to help you first. By saying, hey, I want to try this - is that cool? The people who love you will say 'yes' and empower you. The others you can ignore...
• 4 - It's damn hard. 
• 5 - Self-doubt is a bitch. Fear carries a big stick. The resistance that is in all of us speaks loudly. You're going to have to stop complaining and kill the beast. 
• 6 - #FindTheHour actually adds more hours to your day. It's counter-intuitive, but doing what you love for an hour actually opens everything else up. Try it.
• 7 - One week of #FindTheHour isn't going to do it. Talk to me after two weeks. Three weeks. Four weeks. When it starts to become a habit, when you can't imagine a day without it, that's when the magic (and better work) starts to happen. Trust me.
• 8 - You need this sheet to track your days. Thanks, Jerry. 
• 9 - I can't stop. Resetting to ZERO DAYS after all this work petrifies me. Eventually it will happen but not without a crazy fight, perhaps to the death. 
• 10 - You're probably not 90 years old yet. When you're 90, how are you going to look back at things? Don't let regret be part of that future existence. 

The biggest thing I've learned is to stop complaining. Nobody cares. If you aren't doing what you want to be doing, now's the time. 

Next Post on Tuesday: How to GET STARTED. 

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 48 days.
#FindtheHour

Music to write by: Radiohead Live in Milan. 

Most Frequented Writing Haunt: The Black Drop. 

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

Day 39: The Eclipse and Missed Opportunity

I was pretty lame when it came to the eclipse. I'm not sure what I wasn't quite understanding: if I drove a few short hours South I'd be able to see a potentially once in a lifetime event.

Totality. 

My mind wasn't big enough to understand that, and on Sunday I finally started to get my act together, went on Craigslist and bought a pair of eclipse glasses for $25 (which was money well spent). But in the end I settled for the 90%. 

And the 90% was pretty damn amazing. Inspiring. Brilliant. I did feel the awe and the glory. 

But it's a shame that the other 10% was right there to be had, with just a little imagination and foresight. With just a bit of work, I could have pointed myself south and been there. 100% could have been achieved. 

Life rarely tees success up for us like that. In a way I let inquisition and imagination down. Let that be a lesson. 

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 39 days.
#FindtheHour

Music to write by: Radiohead Live in Milan. 

Most Frequented Writing Haunt: Back to Camber. 

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

DAY 37: Are You Accountable to Your Art?

It's easy to talk a Big Game. We all do it. 

In LA, this is called 'Cocktail Producing'. 

And though there is something to be said for faking it until you make it, at some point your verbal aspirations have to actually intersect with doing the work. Sitting down and making it happen. 

This isn't cursory. We can sometimes kid ourselves into believing that the first pass is enough. Or that we'll be able to accomplish it in an hour. 

Chances are, we are going to have to dig deeper. Do more homework. Stay up the extra hours, forego hanging with the bros. 

Have you ever done a time audit to REALLY see how you spend your day? Are you protecting your most productive hours? Are you saying 'No' and 'Yes' to the right things?

When you wake up tomorrow, measure how much sand slips right through your fingers. You might be surprised. 

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 37 days.
#FindtheHour

Soundtrack to write by: Social Network. 

Most Frequented Writing Haunt: My bed. 

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

Day 30: Being Camera Ready...

...Is a state of mind.

In the film business, being Camera Ready is when an actor is ready to make it happen. To turn it on. To make some magic. When the set is locked in and all systems are a go. 

The green light. 

It's all in the preparation. 

There are people I know who are always camera ready. Sure, this might have to do with looking good, but it's more about being prepared to deliver. To make a first impression. To kill the interview. To close the deal. To help someone who needs it.

Being camera ready is about being open and receptive to the world and proactive around opportunity. It's one very powerful approach to getting out of bed every morning. 

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 30 days.
#FindtheHour

Soundtrack to write by: Social Network. 

Most Frequented Writing Haunt: My bed. 

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

Day 25: Hitting the Export Button

Hit the button. Photo courtesy of @RightonBrotherFilms

Yesterday we delivered a short film to the Banff Ski Festival. And the director, Sam Giffin of @RightonBrotherFilms, lit a candle before we hit the export button. This was a tradition, he said, his mentor taught him. 

So we lit the candle and watched the file export. We knew we could have made more changes. We know there's more changes to be made. Bolts can always, always, be tightened. 

Many years ago, I told myself all my ducks would have to be in a row before I got married. 

Then I told myself the same thing before I had kids. 

I tell myself that before each project: once things are in order I can start. 

But we all know the truth: there is no order. Ducks are never in a row. It's about Progress, not Perfection. It's about delivery of something really really good, not stuck in the maw of over-analysis and the search for something that doesn't exist. 

Hit the button. 

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 25 days.
#FindtheHour

Soundtrack to write by: Midnight Express (classic use if Midi)

Most Frequented Writing Haunt: Woods, Boulevard Park. 

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

Day 22: This Calendar Will Jumpstart Your Creativity

Want to create some cool stuff? Of course you do. Watch the video to learn how:

Here are the steps that will jumpstart your creativity - guaranteed:

• Download this cool calendar, where you can mark off your daily progress. This was inspired by Jerry Seinfeld, who forced himself to #FindtheHour and write comedy everyday. Thanks Jerry. 
• Have some fun. This isn't a chore. This is you. If you break the streak, so what? Just start again. 

So do you want to commit to do this with me?  The first person who comments below - and who is in - will get some #FindtheHour swag and some other coolness down the line. I'll also be posting at least 3-4 times a week letting you know how to make it easier - and will look to you for ideas as well. Let's make it happen. 

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 22 days.
#FindtheHour

Soundtrack to write by: Chocolat. 

Most Frequented Writing Haunt: Starbucks. 

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

Day 20: It's Easy to Critique. It's Hard to Create.

Lost for a moment in the ripped from the headline news, you'd believe we're all screwed. That people everywhere are stepping on the third rail. 

And maybe it's true and maybe it isn't, but I'm reminded how much easier it is to create dust around an issue than actually work on the issue itself. How some of us, when it comes right down to it, sidestep the deep thinking it will take to actually make something. Why make that hard choice when there's a 24 hour mainline media fix, just the click of a button away?

Which reminds me in an odd way of Selena Gomez. Who at first blush we might all be tempted to relegate to tabloid fodder, but truth be told is creating some really interesting work. You may not love - or even understand - it, but it's different. It's risky. It's taking chances. It took a strong vision and a deep seated commitment. The heavy work was lifted. 

So maybe next time we're so fast to comment on something, we should just put our head down and do our own work instead. Critics aren't remembered. We might be.  

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 20 days.
#FindtheHour

Soundtrack to write by: Chocolat. 

Most Frequented Writing Haunt: Camber.

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

Day 16: AMRAP the Fuck out of It

Sarcophagus found in the middle of France. Summer 2017. 

AMRAP is one of those crazy acronyms I have fun blurting out in the middle of meetings. It confuses the hell out of people, and then I can just nod, say 'That's right' and back out of the room gracefully and get back to work. Like, you're either on the inside or on the outside. 

In the CrossFit world, this means As Many Reps As Possible. Which in a nutshell should be what each day is about. 

Just one more. 

A minute longer. 

Just a little more weight. 

Lift that bitch. 

Write another word. Make another call. One more meeting. Another kiss. This is it, no use waiting for tomorrow (which is a myth anyway). 

One of my favorite sayings: the days are long but the years are short. AMRAP the fuck out of it, and you won't live in regret. Time will be as long as it's supposed to be. 

AMRAP. Say it with me. 

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count of writing ONE HOUR A DAY: 16 days.
#FindtheHour

Favorite New Writing Haunt: Camber.

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

One Way to Get Unstuck

One way to get unstuck is to imitate your favorite artists. It was Elvis Costello who said 'All artists are magpies and thieves.'

So steal from your favorites. 

If you'e stuck writing movies, read.

Here's a great resource. 

http://nofilmschool.com/2016/08/read-screenplays-online

LOG-IN ENTRY:

Streak Count: 13 days.
#FindtheHour

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

Lighting the Blowtorch

Self doubt is a bitch. 

We've all been there. The engine's are humming and creativity is flowing like cheap wine. You're drunk on the power of creating. You. Are. A. God.

Then someone you don't even know looks at you sideways Or maybe that one part of the story, the one edit, the blank page, comes to a screeching halt because... what?

Because we let the monster in. The wondering of 'Am I good enough?'. And its talons, small and almost cute at first, grow into life threatening thrashers. 

You have to Sigourney Weaver that shit. Put on the kevlar, light the blowtorch, and blow it up. Remind yourself of who you are. Affirm your place. 

Scott Adams says to write down your Big Hairy Audacious Goal 15 times each morning. Bake it into your DNA. Self-affirmation again and again and again. Be ruthless about the monsters you kill. 

Blow it up. 

Log-in entry:
Listening To: Dunkirk soundtrack. Amaze-balls. 
I wrote in some cool spots: The Woods, Boulevard Park in Bellingham, gets the nod.  
Streak Count: 9 days. 

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

The Fine Art of Making Excuses

Life is always going to throw you a curve at the plate. Wednesday night, for example, is when our house got robbed.  Actually, our house got burglarized, which has the fine and very important distinction of meaning we weren't home at the time. But when we got home, everything was in disarray: drawers emptied out onto floors, papers everywhere, things scattered across the false narrative of having security. 

Then the police came and we stayed up late counting what was missing, which fortunately could have been a lot worse than it was. Passports, my drone, some cash, a little jewelry, a hell of a lot of pride. 

And what did I do? I used this as an excuse to break my routine and wake up a little late the next day. Yeah, I did get my writing done finally, but it was much later than usual and had the odd affect of slipping into the next day as well. Which reminds me of this:

Momentum is too easily lost. Streaks too easily broken. Just like that. 

I managed to hit the curve allright, it dropped in for a single and all runner's are safe. But boy, you let your guard down for an instant, and the excuses start to pile up. The resistance, it finds just the toehold it needs to get under your skin. And then you got to fight back all that much harder the next time, just to get back on track. Lesson learned? Maybe. 

Log-in entry:

7/21: 1 hour   4:30pm - 5:30pm

Location: The back of a speeding van. 
Listening To: Before the Flood soundtrack

Streak Count: 4 days. 

Stay frosty. 

#POV. 

What I'm Working On

I'm one of those guys who can not stand half-finished projects. But that's where I am right now - at least a half dozen half-finished projects that are in various stages of disarray. Some are in the outline stage, some have wrapped a first draft, others are 99% there.

So what I'm doing is going through and focusing solely on each one until they are wrapped. So as of this exact moment, I'm editing the novel I'm working on called Devil's Candy. Devil's Candy is about a screenwriter in Hollywood who gets framed for the murder of a famous producer.

What we could all use is a little more focus, I bet. It's a simple trick, but setting the alarm on my phone for one hour, then diving in with little distraction, has been the ticket so far. I'll keep you posted on my progress. 

Log-in entry:

7/18: 1 hour   7:30am - 8:30am
7/19: 1 hour   6:45am - 7:45am

Primer Coffeehouse: Double Machiatto ****
Listening To: Before the Flood soundtrack

#POV. 

New Writing Experiment: Finding the Hour

I've talked a bit about 'finding the hour' to pursue your passion. But lately, I've been seeing that hour slip away and my projects get further and further behind. 

So, starting this week, I'm back in the saddle. My new plan is to write from 7:00 - 8:00 AM each day, and then log my success here. If you want to follow and see how I'm doing, this is the place. I'll discuss strategies about finding time, inspiration, and happiness - and hopefully you can apply some of this to your own day to day to make your own stuff happen. 

Either way, your life isn't going to happen without you. Or maybe it will, and you'll just be along for the ride. 

Here's my first log-in entry:

7/17: 1 hour
Writing Soundtrack: The Martian (so good)

Onward. 

You are Worth what the Market Pays You

A Basquiat painting just sold for $110 million. 

The house down the street just sold for $100,000 more than your's did (and they looked just about the same). 

You pay .99 cents for a new song that someone spent months writing. 

A book that costs ten bucks changes your life. 

Values are all over the place. Maybe you think your job doesn't pay you enough (you might be right) or that you deserved more from your last effort. Or maybe you're one of those people who say "God, I can't believe I get paid this much doing what I love."

The market can be a harsh mistress. It tends to equalize things, and has a habit of racing to the bottom. And if you're in the creative space especially (like a writer, an artist, or a filmmaker), you feel that pressure pushing on you everyday. I can find someone cheaper is often our greatest fear.

Then there's Basquiat. To remind us that no one wants to hear our excuses. Our complaints. 

So it's hard, so what? 

The sooner we embrace that, the sooner we stop devaluing ourselves. To paraphrase Eleanor Roosevelt, nobody can make us feel inferior without our consent - and this extends to the market as well. If we think we're worth more, fight back. Prove it. Play the long game and grind and grind and grind some more. Go out there and make it happen. 

That's about the only thing that markets, and other people, respond to.