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I’m curious to know: which flywheels are you laboring to get going in your own life? And which ones are currently spinning free of resistance?

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You know how much I love my WaterRower. I do it on the days I need a quick workout. The first 10 minutes drag and I don't think I'll make the full 30. The next 10 are easy and the last 10 go so quick. I'm one who listens to my body, but I also have come to understand my innate resistance to doing something good for myself (it all seems to float around this worry of phantom failure...like, how can I fail at a rowing machine, FFS?). If I'm 15-20 mins in and am not feeling it, something is off/my body is trying to tell me something. If I get past minute 10 and minute 11 is easier, I know it's my personal BS at play. The flywheel is a great analogy, Maddie. I'm still trying to figure out self-sabotage (even mild versions) and why we do it when we know we will be better off doing that thing we set out to do. xo

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When you figure out the self-sabotage thing, please report back—I think a lot of us could use that wisdom!

And it's lovely to know I'm not the only one who has a complex bargaining protocol with myself on the getting-through-a-rowing-workout front. 🙈

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Maddie, when I figure that out, I'll be a gazillionaire. I will bottle it and sell it on the cheap and will just rake that money in, and we'll hang out on my yacht's yacht's yacht. (Kidding. That's gross. But, we'll have a nice time in Capri.) And I've been bargaining with myself just about every time I walk into the gym, onto my yoga mat, up a hill for an urban hike or roll out my rower. WTF? Humans are so weird. LOL. xo

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Holding you to this Capri yacht situation, my friend...!! 😜

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Jan 19Liked by Maddie Burton

What a brilliant metaphor! I have a lot of projects that feel like they're in the beginning stages right now — it is so helpful to think of these efforts in terms of the flywheel. I just need to set things in motion, however slowly!

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Matt, I'm so happy to hear that this resonated with you! As someone who very much enjoys the fruits of your musical labors, I'm selfishly glad that this strategy might produce more beautiful stuff for the world to enjoy. 🤗

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Jan 26Liked by Maddie Burton

Well, that is very kind of you, Maddie!

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Jan 19Liked by Maddie Burton

Oh, this speaks to me this morning 🌞 I want to start a monthly newsletter to help encourage people to visit and patronize a small library on my small town. It's not the content that is intimidating me, it is setting it up, creating the sign up links ect. I *know* it won't be as hard as I think but I have been blocked for months! Ok, this is the month - I will get that flywheel moving 😀

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You can do it Susannah! That sounds like a wonderful newsletter. Check out Substack - it's so easy to set up a newsletter. Good luck!

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^ One of the biggest reasons I chose this platform! Totally agreed, Amelia. ✨

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Susannah, thanks so much for leaving this note—it's a huge treat to hear about your project! I'm rooting for your success, as a huge fan of libraries and facilitating in-person local connections. 🤗

I have no doubt that you're going to get this flywheel turning...and I also recognize the overwhelm that comes along with figuring out a new platform. One question that's always helped me is: what is the absolute *tiniest* possible next step I can take? Like, the smallest and most manageable thing imaginable; the thing that seems too small to be impactful. At some point, these incremental tiny steps tend to snowball into something meaningful.

Also: if you end up using Substack for your newsletter, feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

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Jan 19Liked by Maddie Burton

I remember being scared to take this class at Harvard biz school online. I felt like I wasn’t going to be successful or I was afraid of feeling stupid. It was hard to get back into critical thinking. But I ended up loving it. I guess that’s a perfectionist thing. If we don’t think we’ll kill it we end up procrastinating.

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I can *so* relate to this—when I started my financial planning coursework, I was absolutely terrified of stepping back into the student role. Now that I've done it once, it feels easier to do it again. I hope your experience helped you feel the same way!

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The flywheel in my head is the one I work on ‘working with’ … either it wants to start EVERYTHING all at once, OR… it grinds to a halt!

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I know this feeling exactly, Jolene! I've started working on multiple essays at a time, which feeds the "everything at once" beast, but also allows me to hop back and forth between projects as the spirit moves me...that way, nothing ever grinds to a halt completely. (It took me *way* too long to come up with this solution! 🙈)

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Yes!! There’s always something that can be worked on then! I was thinking about the “Joni Mitchell Method” again, when she needs to step back from songwriting, she paints…then gets back to songwriting after… this way, never ‘stuck’!

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I'd never heard this anecdote, so am especially delighted that you mentioned Joni's example! She's an inspiration on so many different levels.

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Oh gosh, I remember signing up for several Mandarin Chinese classes and for SIX MONTHS did nothing with them. I also bought two books that sat on my shelf for whole year. In the end, I realized the pressure to "get it right" was stopping me, so I signed up for some online tutoring and then FocusMate. I don't practice regularly, but paying for outside accountability at least gave me the push.

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I so appreciate hearing this, Sarah—it certainly makes me feel less alone in my own procrastination! Such a good reminder about hiring someone to hold you accountable, too. A fabulous tip for getting a stubborn flywheel moving!

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Book-writing has been a major one. It took a long time to get things in motion but now that it's going, it's actually become quite enjoyable. But I have to guard everyday against losing momentum.

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Hopefully it helps to know that you've got a whole community of other writers (me included) who are rooting for you!

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Jan 21Liked by Maddie Burton

This is so great! I've never considered the concept of flywheels as it relates to procrastination.... For me, one of the flywheels I'm struggling with at the moment is moving more... I always have stuttering starts and then crash in flames of injury.

But other than that - I've actually come a long way!

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Loved your recent post on this very topic! 🤗

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455 | Creating Your Entrepreneurial Flywheel | Nathan Barry https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=22zcw9YQQ2A

Sounds like you may have listened to the ChooseFi podcast with Brad Barrett and Nathan Barry (ConvertKit founder) on creating flywheels for your business?

It's a good listen if you haven't!

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I haven't, but you're absolutely right that I've read and enjoyed a separate piece Nathan wrote on this subject—so, adding this podcast to my queue immediately! Thanks for the great rec, Jordan. 🤩

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Brilliant, Maddie. I love the way you use the story of your rowing experience to gather momentum and material for the discussion on procrastination. Artfully done! At present I feel I'm rowing ok, but I'm waiting for the tide to turn to make some headway. The good thing about tides is that you know they're going to change (which of course is also the bad thing about them).

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Hearing "artfully done" from you is a *huge* compliment. Thank you, Jeffrey!

Your point about the tides is such an important addition to any boat-related conversation—sometimes tides work for you, sometimes against you, but they'll shift before too long either way. Infuriating but true! Keep rowing, my friend. 😎

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Jan 20Liked by Maddie Burton

Spinning in so many directions right now. By the way I love the burning match logo. I quit believing in 5 year plans in 2002 when my first marriage blew apart. I think I need to get it tattoo’s on my arm!!!

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Bex, thank you so much for the kind words—and for chiming in on the conversation! I really appreciate hearing the perspective of someone else who's Been There.

Rooting for you in this current spin cycle of yours! 💪

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I feel like lately I live in a row of flywheels... all in major resistance. Just getting a single form signed to get a grant through... the signator gets COVID and is down for the count. If it's a book project I need green lit, the editor gets laid off and my book is stuck in limbo without a publisher. If it's a small brand job, it's dependent on the client's other funding coming in... So, it's all about just looking for any tiny movement to get rowing, but once things start moving, even on one wheel, the feeling of grace, the repetition of motion, just as a former rower, it would be so welcome.

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Alisa, I *so* know the feeling of across-the-board resistance, which means I can empathize deeply with you. I'll skip the platitudes (which are kind of infuriating to hear when it feels like you're living life on Hard Mode), but I hope it helps to know that I'm keeping all of my extremities crossed that your flywheels gets moving ASAP. You deserve that!

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Having been a rower for many years (and married to a rower, and had children who all rowed), this is a PERFECT analogy. I'm going to keep it front and centre as I make my way through various decisions and choices this year. What will give me maximum flow and will it be one or two hard shoves to get me there or will it be more complicated. (Of course, my mind immediately goes to 'more complicated.')😜

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I'll be honest: when I thought to write about this topic from a rowing-adjacent perspective, I worried it was too niche to resonate. What a treat to hear that it's a useful metaphor for you—and to learn more about your background! Wishing you so much luck on 2024's Big Decisions, Kim. 🤗

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Jan 19Liked by Maddie Burton

It's taken me many years before starting my entrepreneural journey. I have so many unfinished courses... And yet earlier this week I started my YouTube channel documenting my PhD journey. The motivation I needed to get the flywheel spinning to write said dissertation! Go figure 🙈

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Simangele, thank you so much for dropping a note to share your perspective on this topic—and also, your YouTube channel sounds incredible! (If you have a chance, please drop the link here for anyone who'd like to follow along.)

I love that documenting your academic journey has helped re-motivate you in your academic pursuit...that kind of self-reinforcing work is totally delightful.

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Jan 23Liked by Maddie Burton

Of course seeing your response scared me into responding and sharing my link. Here it is: https://youtube.com/shorts/7pj_ih8w2gM?feature=shared.

Momentum!

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I adore this and just subscribed. You have such an engaging screen presence!! Keep up the great work 🤩

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Jan 24Liked by Maddie Burton

Oh my goodness, thank you 😊

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Jan 19Liked by Maddie Burton

I so enjoy your writing, Maddie!!!

Love to you from Maine on a very cold winter day.

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Sue, you're among the most thoughtful writers and loveliest people I know, so hearing this from you absolutely makes my day! Sending a *huge* cross-country hug right back your way. 🥰

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