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>I have everything already set, I bought my domain, I bought a VPS, S3 This is your problem. By taking these preliminary, preparatory steps, you are satiating

>I have everything already set, I bought my domain, I bought a VPS, S3 This is your problem. By taking these preliminary, preparatory steps, you are satiating your brain's motivational desire for action without taking any actual constructive steps. Thus you do not have the will or urge left to write the code. Stuff like buying a VPS or setting up S3 is easy and quick, therefore your reptile brain makes it easy for you to do such things first, as it prefers instant gratification. This unfortunately depletes the motivational neurotransmitters that signal you to take action, because as far as your brain is concerned, action has been taken. The answer is to do that stuff last. Or, in a business setting, get someone else to be responsible for it. This is an extension of some ideas from the great Derek Silvers, which he relates in this TED talk, which you should definitely watch: http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself.html http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_you...

dolinsky 16y ago
Ian Ayre (and others) have challenged the study that Derek Sivers based his 'keep your goals to yourself' talk on - http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/are-public-commitments-counterproductive/ http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/are-public-... I think the OPs problem is primarily about fear [http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2185833 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2185833], not instant gratification. It's necessary when building a website to get a VPS and S3 account (or equivalent) to host the site/files on. I completely understand what you're getting at by suggesting that putting easy things ahead of hard things gives a false sense of accomplishment, and I tend to agree. I just think there's something different at play here for the OP to focus on. On a related note, I know that Derek frequents this board often and I've had the pleasure of learning from some of his insights along the way. I'd love to hear his reaction to the above article or a link to such a post from the HN crowd.
- JonnieCache 16y ago
  Very true. An important idea, not often acknowledged, is the fear of success rather than the fear of failure. "Oh God, how long before they figure out I'm faking it?" See the following article: http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/08/the_worst_thing_that_can_happe.html http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/08/the_worst_thing_that_... Note: while I am linking this article for its ideas, this is IN NO WAY an endorsement of the author's somewhat antagonistic and disjointed writing style. Please persevere with it.

dolinsky 16y ago

Ian Ayre (and others) have challenged the study that Derek Sivers based his 'keep your goals to yourself' talk on - http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/are-public-commitments-counterproductive/ http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/are-public-... I think the OPs problem is primarily about fear [http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2185833 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2185833], not instant gratification. It's necessary when building a website to get a VPS and S3 account (or equivalent) to host the site/files on. I completely understand what you're getting at by suggesting that putting easy things ahead of hard things gives a false sense of accomplishment, and I tend to agree. I just think there's something different at play here for the OP to focus on. On a related note, I know that Derek frequents this board often and I've had the pleasure of learning from some of his insights along the way. I'd love to hear his reaction to the above article or a link to such a post from the HN crowd.

JonnieCache 16y ago
Very true. An important idea, not often acknowledged, is the fear of success rather than the fear of failure. "Oh God, how long before they figure out I'm faking it?" See the following article: http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/08/the_worst_thing_that_can_happe.html http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/08/the_worst_thing_that_... Note: while I am linking this article for its ideas, this is IN NO WAY an endorsement of the author's somewhat antagonistic and disjointed writing style. Please persevere with it.