The work you’re doing is important.

It’s going to help people. But to make that impact, you have to finish it, plan it, and put it out there. You have to do the work and actually get it done.

There are five monsters that consistently try to stop us in our tracks. They prevent us from getting things started, keep us from putting ourselves out there, and stop us from showing up as our true selves.

These monsters are:

• Distractions
• Procrastination
• Being a lone wolf
• Perfectionism
• Imposter syndrome

When we talk about monsters, we’re talking about things that must be captured, killed, or escaped. We cannot negotiate with them, manage them, or work alongside them. We have to eliminate them or master them completely.

Some of these monsters aren’t physical enemies you can defeat once and be done with forever. They’re persistent forces that will keep trying to creep into your life, your days, and your important work. It’s a daily battle, but we have to stay on top more often than we find ourselves underneath.

1. Procrastination

Are you someone who procrastinates on everything? You keep putting off what needs to get done. You have an idea, but you keep delaying it. “I’ll start on Monday.” “I’ll start next week.” “I don’t know where to start.”

If you have an idea or a project, procrastination becomes your enemy. You keep giving yourself excuses, going around in circles without moving forward.

The solution: You need to learn how to start. You need to get yourself unstuck and just get going.

I was reading “The War of Art” by Stephen Pressfield, where he talks about conquering what he called “resistance.” His breakthrough came when he simply sat down and started writing. What he wrote was rubbish and he didn’t use it, but he had broken through. He went from thinking and planning to actually doing.

It doesn’t matter what you produce initially. You need to get unstuck and get going. Break through the resistance of excuses and self-sabotage.

2. Distractions

Shiny objects everywhere. Different tools, social media, advertisements promising you can “make $152,000 in just one week by clicking this button.” Curiosity leads you down rabbit holes, and then you get distracted again.

In the online space, you need to be super focused on simplicity. I’m currently consolidating all my courses and training onto one platform (Kajabi) so I’ll have just one website to manage alongside my email list. Keep things simple.

Another source of distraction is having too many ideas and opportunities. One minute you’re doing this, the next minute you’re thinking of doing that.

The solution:

1. Focus – Stay committed to your current project
2. Use a calendar – Schedule your priorities
3. Set deadlines – I work well with deadlines. If I know something must be finished by 4 PM or by the end of the month, I get it done

Use tools like timers. In our Yellow Pepper Club virtual co-working sessions, we use Pomofocus (a Pomodoro timer). We work in focused 25-minute blocks with short breaks for check-ins and help.

3. Being a Lone Wolf

If you have an idea, income goal, or project – whether it’s a book, online shop, or Instagram posts – the tendency is to want to do everything yourself. You want to be the cook, cleaner, writer, and poster all in one.

When you get stuck, you try to learn something new before implementing, instead of getting help.

Three types of help for recovering lone wolves:

1. Get assistance – Hire a virtual assistant or use platforms like Fiverr or PeoplePerHour for specific tasks instead of trying to DIY everything
2. Use templates and checklists – Don’t reinvent the wheel
3. Find a community – Connect with like-minded peers for accountability, find a mentor who’s a few steps ahead to show you the ropes

You cannot succeed as a lone wolf. Even Jesus selected his 12 disciples for his mission. Everyone you see succeeding has a team – people who bring expertise, support, and help with tasks.

Build a team around yourself. Get help with house cleaning, errands, shopping. Connect with groups, memberships, or communities that will keep you accountable and let you bounce ideas around.

4. Perfectionism

Perfectionism shows up in two ways:

1. Waiting for perfection – You want everything to be perfect in your mind before putting it out there
2. Stopping after failure – When you stumble, fail, or make a mistake, you stop altogether, erase everything, and start over

You have to learn to start where you are. You can work while it’s messy, put it out there, and improve as you go.

I recently ran an ad that got lots of page views but no sign-ups. Instead of scrapping it, I’m using that feedback to improve the messaging, positioning, or imagery. I had to put it out first to get that valuable data.

Remember: There is no such thing as perfection. Done is better than perfect. Good enough is good enough. Once it reaches that threshold, put it out there and improve as you go – while it’s already working for you.

5. Imposter Syndrome

This is the most insidious monster. It makes you feel like you don’t deserve to be where you are. “Who am I to claim expertise in this?” “I don’t have what it takes.” “People will discover I’m a fraud.”

Imposter syndrome holds you back from putting yourself out there because you’re afraid of what might happen.

Here’s the truth: If you’re feeling like an imposter, it actually means you’re NOT one. You’re putting out your best effort and trying to be your best.

The solution: Don’t negotiate with imposter syndrome – confront it aggressively. Know that it’s common and happens to everyone, especially when you’re making progress and moving to higher levels.

When you compare yourself to others around you and think “I don’t belong here,” remember that feeling is normal but not accurate. Keep moving forward despite those feelings.

Moving Forward

These monsters will try to derail you through perfectionism, procrastination, isolation, or imposter syndrome. The key is recognizing them and having strategies to overcome them.

We’re all on a journey, trying to make progress with something we feel called to do. We need to be aware of what stands in our way and know what to do when these obstacles try to block our progress or stop us in our tracks.

Remember: The work you’re doing matters. Don’t let these monsters prevent you from sharing it with the world.

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For additional resources on overcoming these challenges, check out “The Pursuit” by Eme Bassey on Amazon, which specifically helps with procrastination and perfectionism struggles.