Usually, mostly, it’s not. But then, sometimes, very rarely, waiting is the answer.

This is not an excuse to slack off, to procrastinate.

Normally, you should dig into the work. Force yourself to do it.

But sometimes, sometimes, waiting is important.

On those occasions, waiting is not passive, it’s active. It’s looking for something. Knowing that some detail of what you’re waiting to do isn’t exactly right. So you wait.

For me, I find if I try to do certain work too early in the day it’s more difficult. If I wait to do it later in the day it becomes easier. I don’t need to spend as much time on it. There’s much less sitting in a chair waiting to be inspired. That’s because all day, while I’ve been doing something else, I’ve been thinking about how to go about it. Indirectly. Not looking it in the eye but knowing where it is in my peripheral vision.

Wait. Sometimes.

You finished the big project and present it. The client loves it. Well, mostly. They love everything except one bit – the bit you love the most.

You don’t want to drop it but you have to. It hurts.

Take a step back. Remember this wasn’t for you. This was for your client.

You’re trying to work but you’re mind keeps thinking about something else.

It’s thinking about unloading the dishwasher. It’s thinking about running out to the shop to grab milk. It’s thinking about that other project that you want to work on.

Sometimes it’s best to indulge the distraction. To do the thing that’s on your mind. To get rid of it so you’re mind frees up.

Indulgence is not always wise. You must decide if on this occasion it will help.

This morning I came across some extracts from John le Carré’s memoir, The Pigeon Tunnel, on The Guardian website. In one he talks abouts how, after he found success as a writer, critics would say that he was ‘trying too hard’.

Trying too hard. What a nonsense phrase. How can anyone try too hard?

You might not meet the target you’re aiming for but you can’t be too accurate in your aim.

‘Done right’ does not always mean more words. More is not always better. Sometimes a thought or idea can be communicated more effectively with less. Sometimes ‘done right’ means reducing to the essence.