3 ms·

1) Have a blog 2) write something (do not finish!) 3) release it (minimally, stick it on github or something similar) 4) blog about it (and post the blog ent

1) Have a blog 2) write something (do not finish!) 3) release it (minimally, stick it on github or something similar) 4) blog about it (and post the blog entry somewhere where people will see it, aka here) 5) guilt will drive you to make it better 6) work on the project and blog more about it 7) Either people will get interested, you'll start getting links or it won't go anywhere 8) decide whether to continue it or start the cycle over again at step one with a new project If you do this a few times, I guarantee that you'll have a blog with readership and a better idea of what people want/wnat to work on.

xtho 17y ago
Oh come on. A blog is a highway to eternal procrastination.
- llimllib 17y ago
  I think you underestimate the differences between people; that has definitely not been the case for me.
  - nico 17y ago
    You are also underestimating the differences between people, because if it's worked for you, it doesn't mean it will work for the OP. I did what you suggest, wrote some code, started a blog where I wrote 2 tutorials and now, in spite of getting comments of people saying the want the 3rd tutorial, I can't get myself to do it, don't ask me why, I just can't, I'm a professional procrastinator!
    - llimllib 17y ago
      I'm just presenting a method that's worked for me, not saying it'll work for him. (I know that feeling of being an impressive procrastinator though. I think I fuel on guilt due to my catholic upbringing, that's why it works for me :)
gometro33 17y ago
While I think you may be right that guilt can motivate, I prefer the idea of being able to finish a project because I want to (rather needing to). My advice, as others have mentioned, is to start small ("Hello, World!" if you will).
- llimllib 17y ago
  Some things work for some, others for others. I can promise you guilt works for me.
shill 17y ago
There is some evidence that announcing your goals to the world reduces your probability of completing them. http://mindoversports.com/2009/09/07/why-you-should-never-go-public-with-your-goals-and-intentions/ http://mindoversports.com/2009/09/07/why-you-should-never-go...

xtho 17y ago

Oh come on. A blog is a highway to eternal procrastination.

llimllib 17y ago
I think you underestimate the differences between people; that has definitely not been the case for me.
- nico 17y ago
  You are also underestimating the differences between people, because if it's worked for you, it doesn't mean it will work for the OP. I did what you suggest, wrote some code, started a blog where I wrote 2 tutorials and now, in spite of getting comments of people saying the want the 3rd tutorial, I can't get myself to do it, don't ask me why, I just can't, I'm a professional procrastinator!
  - llimllib 17y ago
    I'm just presenting a method that's worked for me, not saying it'll work for him. (I know that feeling of being an impressive procrastinator though. I think I fuel on guilt due to my catholic upbringing, that's why it works for me :)

gometro33 17y ago

While I think you may be right that guilt can motivate, I prefer the idea of being able to finish a project because I want to (rather needing to). My advice, as others have mentioned, is to start small ("Hello, World!" if you will).

llimllib 17y ago
Some things work for some, others for others. I can promise you guilt works for me.

shill 17y ago

There is some evidence that announcing your goals to the world reduces your probability of completing them. http://mindoversports.com/2009/09/07/why-you-should-never-go-public-with-your-goals-and-intentions/ http://mindoversports.com/2009/09/07/why-you-should-never-go...