Do what is in front of you.

What's next will come soon enough.

The fear of missing what might be next can distract you from what is in front of you. As a freelancer I feel this - every day. I’m writing this as I think about my work - I’ve writing to do, emails to send, content to create - yet, my mind is wondering to the “next thing”.

I can have a chaotic approach at times - when I’m tired, when I’m stressed, when I’m feeling that what I have just submitted for someone is either complete rubbish or, possibly worse, I have just submitted something I’m proud of and hear . . . nothing. No comment, no thanks, nothing at all.

So, I look at what “is” right there in front of me to do now and instead I take myself off to the place of “what might be”. The thing is, when I have just done the thing right in front of me now - finished the project, the piece of writing, the infographic - whatever, what is next always presents itself - always. A ping in my inbox, a phone call, a serendipitous meeting - the next thing happens.

I’ve been freelance now for 9 years, fast approach the decade! I’ve never not had work coming in if I just do what is in front of me. Chasing the next thing has led to what I consider to be the “c”s that corrupt my attitude and rob me of peace.

The c of competition. What is everyone else doing? How can I get in on a piece of that?

The c of comparison. Why are they so good at what they do? Why can’t I present, write, create like that?

The c of complaining. It isn’t fair!

So, turn away from Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram. Shift your brain to what “is” not what might be. Choose to be present to the work and in the work right in front of you. What’s next will come soon enough.