Unstuck with Robbie Swale
How can individuals overcome barriers to starting and continuing creative projects?
A 12-minute train ride sparks the idea for a method that helps people overcome procrastination.
“The creative hell of having something that you know you want to do and haven’t done, is much worse than having done it and it gone wrong.” ~ Robbie Swale (2:26)
The conversation explores the challenges and processes involved in creative work, starting with the guest’s ambitious goal to appear on 100 podcasts within a year. This goal is tied to promoting a book and sharing a method designed to help people overcome procrastination. The “12-minute method,” inspired by quick train commutes, emphasizes short, focused creative sessions followed by immediate sharing, reducing the barriers to starting and completing creative projects. The discussion includes reflections on the emotional struggles associated with creative paralysis and the relief of simply beginning, regardless of the outcome.
Another topic discussed is personal branding, as Robbie shares how his identity has evolved across multiple roles—author, coach, and podcaster. He discusses the difficulty of balancing different audiences and platforms while maintaining a cohesive brand. This is paired with insights into the art of having meaningful conversations, whether in podcasts or personal interactions, and the transformative power of stripping away non-essential elements in both creative and conversational practices.
Takeaways
Overcoming procrastination — A structured, time-bound approach like the 12-minute method can break the inertia of creative blocks.
Sharing ideas without perfection — The act of publishing or sharing unfinished work can be more valuable than over-refining it.
Personal branding evolution — Presenting multiple facets of oneself requires careful thought to maintain coherence and accessibility.
The power of focused work — Even a short, focused effort repeated consistently can result in substantial achievements.
The value of conversations — Generative discussions can lead to new insights and deeper understanding, often surpassing solo reflection.
Balancing roles — Managing separate but overlapping audiences demands strategic decisions about branding and communication.
The impact of challenges — Setting ambitious goals can drive growth and learning, even if the goal itself is not fully achieved.
Resources
Robbie Swale’s website — Includes information on coaching and personal projects.
The 12-Minute Method — A series of books focused on creativity and overcoming procrastination, based on the guest’s personal writing journey.
The Coach’s Journey Podcast — A podcast created by the guest to support and inspire coaches in their professional journeys.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
— Hello👋 I’m Craig Constantine.
This is Podtalk. Short conversations with indie podcasters that are not just about podcasting, because I like to take the scenic route.
In each episode, I talk with podcasters about their shows, experiences, what they’ve learned, what motivates them, and… well, pretty much everything related to podcasting from the indie creator’s point of view. I hope these episodes spark ideas and conversations for you, and lead to new ways of looking at this wonderful art of podcasting.
If you like Podtalk, you’ll love the Podcaster Community, https://podcaster.community/
I appreciate your time and attention, and I don’t take it for granted.
— Thank you!
My personal mission is creating better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. This podcast is just one of the things I do in service of my mission. Drop by my website https://craigconstantine.com/ for my weekly email, my other podcasts, writing and more.
Thanks for listening!
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