Support Your Success

by Rochelle Melander

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.

– Bertrand Russell

I follow many writers and creatives on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. When they share their habits, successes, and even their failures, I feel encouraged to write more. And guess what? Imagining what successful creatives do—how they schedule time to create, overcome obstacles, and move forward in the face of rejection—can help us do the same.

According to the research, when we consider the positive traits of a group and then compare ourselves to the group, we become twice as likely to act like they do. Jane McGonigal wrote about the study in her book, SuperBetter: A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger, Happier, Braver, and More Resilient. In the study, researchers separated participants into two groups. One was asked to record the traits of Superman and the other was invited to list the traits of superheroes in general. Afterwards, the participants were asked to sign up to tutor youth. When researchers looked at who signed up to volunteer, the participants who thought about superheroes in general were twice as likely to volunteer as those who reflected on Superman. When researchers followed up with the study’s participants three months later, they found that these people were “four times as likely to actually show up for a volunteering session.”

When we consider the positive traits of a group, we compare ourselves to the group—looking primarily for similarities. This practice makes us more likely to act like they do. But there’s a caveat: This seems to work only when participants thought about the traits of an entire group of heroes versus a single one. When they reflected on the traits of a single exemplary superhero, they tended to notice only the differences and “judged themselves to be less helpful.” As a result, the participants were less likely to reach out and help others.

This bit of scientific research provides the inspiration for this quest: discovering the traits of successful people.

The Quest

Describe the characteristics of the group you most want to be like: such as, successful writers, entrepreneurs, artists, or speakers. Think of these successful people as a group—not one specific person—and make a list of their behaviors, characteristics, values, practices, and lifestyle. Record your answers in your journal.

If you’re stuck, access your memory of artist talks, interviews, and conversations. If you don’t have much information, read up on the habits of successful people. Read articles and books about the habits shared by successful people. Or imagine what productive people do and write about that. If it helps, borrow what you know about successful, productive people in other fields and use those traits for your list. Take 5-10 minutes to describe things like:

• What does the day of a successful author, entrepreneur, speaker, or artist look like?
• What are their habits?
• What does their creative schedule look like?
• What do they do besides create?
• How do they overcome obstacles or writer’s block?
• How do they react to setbacks?
• How do they deal with rejection?

One more step
Set aside time to examine your own successes. Use the prompts above to note the practices, habits, and tools you have used to succeed.

Game Play Tips

• When you’re finished, use the list of information from both journaling exercises to create a document such as: Best Practices of Successful Writers; The Habits of Successful Artists, or The Mindset of High-Earning Creatives
• As you reflect on the practices of successful people, consider how you can act as if you’re part of the group. Are there practices you will adopt? Is there a uniform you can wear? A mantra you can say? Embrace these signs of success as well as your place in the group. You belong with the winners!

For the Win

By the end of this quest, you’ll have a much better idea of what successful creatives do. And I hope you will be claiming your own successes. That’s your challenge, gamers.

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She’s helped hundreds of people write and publish books. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/