Writers Are You Green & Growing, or Ripe & Rotting?

I''ve been watching other Ezine writers, tracking their productivity and success. And one of the things I find very interesting is as they reach certain numerical thresholds, such as 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,000 or more articles, they slow down or entirely stop producing. When they were "green and growing," they banged out what appeared to be five, ten or more pieces a day. Now, their pens are motionless. They "ripened" into writers, but now they''re on the shelf, "rotting" away. Some say being goalless is tragic, but I don''t think so. Not having a goal is temporary, for most. What I believe is worse is having set a high goal and then having achieved it, says Dr. Gary S. Goodman, top speaker, international consultant, and popular expert commentator on radio and TV.

I?ve been watching other Ezine writers, tracking their productivity and success. And one of the things I find very interesting is as they reach certain numerical thresholds, such as 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,000 or more articles, they slow down or entirely stop producing. When they were ?green and growing,? they banged out what appeared to be five, ten or more pieces a day. Now, their pens are motionless. They ?ripened? into writers, but now they?re on the shelf, ?rotting? away. Some say being goalless is tragic, but I don?t think so. Not having a goal is temporary, for most.

What I believe is worse is having set a high goal and then having achieved it.

That?s a bummer.

How come?

We expect that bugles will blow, we?ll be riding in celebrity cars in ticker tape parades, and crowds will be cheering. Our achievement will be immediately recognized, understood, and respected.

Not so.

We built its significance in our minds for motivational purposes. If it didn?t become a major project, where would we get the gumption to complete it?

There are some people, for example, who grow up feeling financially deprived and their dream is to grow wealthy enough to go to an upscale town and to buy the biggest home they can find. But when they do, they?re disappointed by nearly everything.

The neighbors are uptight, most of whom aren?t self-made, but rather they?re ?trust fund? babies who were handed their lavish abodes. Suddenly, they realize what they wanted wasn?t a house or a place to live but acceptance, respect, and perhaps above all, redemption.

Their money can?t buy these emotional satisfactions, and seeing this, they might become soured on the idea of achieving, altogether.

Reaching the goal is the problem, especially if you haven?t defined another, even more meaningful one to pursue.

I think you?ll find this applies to writing articles and to nearly everything else.

Best-selling author of 12 books and more than 1,000 articles, Dr. Gary S. Goodman is considered "The Gold Standard" in sales development, customer service, and telephone effectiveness. Top-rated as a speaker, seminar leader, and consultant, his clients extend across the globe and the organizational spectrum, from the Fortune 1000 to small businesses. He can be reached at: [e-mail].