conversation is an engine

Applause? Permission? Donuts?

Twice in the past week I’ve asked myself this question.

In one case I had just started a large writing project requiring all sorts of information that is not available and will not be available any time soon. My topic is partly in a shipping container in the Pacific, partly in a guy’s head in Scotland, partly in a set of computers in Minnesota and mostly nowhere near complete. But the need is approaching and my content must move on a parallel path with product development. A very specific audience needs very specific information.

In another case the blank page itself kept reminding me of the limitless intrigue of cat videos and TED talks. There’s nothing like a blank page to send you to all the advertising blogs and newspapers you’ve not checked on the web lately.

In both cases a conversation helped me mend the tracks to send the idea and task trundling forward. As I heard myself describing what I was trying to do with the idea and what I needed to complete the task, I realized I have the tools before me right now. There is nothing holding me back.

Waiting for permission to move forward is nearly as fruitless as waiting for someone to applaud your work or tell you what to do.

We move forward and the work has a role in showing us how to do it.

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Image credit: Laurent Millet via 2headedsnake, kirkistan