June 25, 2026

It’s a challenge to write your second book because you’re constantly measuring it against the first. That can be said about anything you’ve previously accomplished. After spending so much time comparing your accomplishments to the first book or to other people, doubt sets in and you remain in a perpetual downfall.

I’m in that trap.

And I’m struggling to crawl out of the hole.

In order to see above ground again, I’ve boobytrapped my psyche by announcing in my monthly newsletter that I’m working on this fantastic novel I hope to get to my editor by the end of the holiday season … Christmas holiday season, in case you’re wondering.

Will I do it?

You bet I will. My pride is on the line. Besides, I hate leaving things unfinished.

Life is full of traps, isn’t it? Unfortunately, we set most of them. We have this tendency to work against the grain toward a perilous end.

It’s because we aren’t prepared. Or to say it in a more formal way, “We don’t prepare well.”

It’s a lot like your New Year’s resolutions. How many of you kept them? How many false starts did you have? How many of you just said, “The heck with it,” and threw in the towel?

It’s six months until a new year begins. Have you ever thought about forging ahead and making good on your promise to yourself? Looking at this premise is a lot like seeing a glass half-full. Instead of dwelling on the negative—that you’ve spent half the year with your goals unfulfilled—you can view this as having six months left to change your mindset.

Change my mindset?

Of course!

Sit still long enough to decide if you even want to attain your goal. If you’re like me and don’t like unfinished business, the thing you crave most is to end the year with some accomplishments under your belt.

Sounds like you need a plan.

A plan?

Yes, that’s right … a plan. I’m not particular how you go about it … write it down … break your goal into incremental steps … set calendar reminders … find an accountability partner. How you go about it is up to you.

For me, I internalize my goals. I don’t necessarily need outside forces or accountability partners to hammer away at me as a reminder of what I need to achieve. I’m a self-motivator. I’m also a visionary. I can see myself sitting at my computer writing the last line of my novel, sitting back and folding my arms and grinning as I write “The End.” I can actually feel my face get tighter and tighter from all the grinning and self-pride swelling inside me. I can even feel the coolness from the tears forming and streaming from my eyes.

Why?

Because I’ve just done something I didn’t think I’d ever accomplish.

I’ve reached my goal.

There is no better feeling. And no one can take that away from you. You were in full control. You were clear about your vision, gave yourself a time limit, and you worked all hours of the day and night to accomplish what you set out to do.

Aaah, that’s an awesome feeling.

So, I have one question for you.

What’s keeping you?

Why haven’t you gotten started?

Life is short. Time moves swiftly and you haven’t wisely used an ounce of it.

You’re still breathing, so you still have time.

Today is the day. Yesterday is already gone. It’s lost. Dead in the water. But today is now … in the present … and the clocking is ticking away. You’ve made the mistake of putting things off once before.

Not anymore.

Get up!

Let’s get moving. We have a world to conquer.

And I have a book I must finish by the end of the year. After all, I hate leaving things unfinished. 

https://www.amazon.com/author/donnabcomeaux