Writer’s Constipation – Personal Finance Blockage

When you have so much to say but just can’t get it out!

That’s how I describe my personal finance writing over the last several months. Around one hundred documents representing unrealized articles are languishing in the ideas folder, eagerly waiting to jump onto the web.

Fortunately not everyone has this problem. Some people are blessed with writer’s diarrhea, and I mean this as a compliment. I would love to have the gift of ever flowing content, to be a Robo Blogger.

Perfectionism to a Fault
I blame my high school and college English teachers. I feel the need to write, re-write, read, re-read a post to get it just right, and then maybe tweak it some more.

We have something similar in the software industry known as analysis paralysis. You never complete the project because you spend your time over-analyzing or reworking every aspect of the system.

It’s also found in personal finance. Fearful of doing the “wrong thing” we do nothing at all, which over time is usually more costly than losing some money, learning from it, and trying again.

Free Flow of Ideas
Writing, software, and personal finance are different areas but the problems described can end up having a negative effect in all. The software industry came up with a solution to the lengthy waterfall methodology with shorter iterative processes such as “extreme programming”.

I don’t know what the answer is to inactivity due to fear in personal finance, perhaps personal finance bloggers!

My answer to Writer’s Constipation is going to be a concerted effort to “loosen up” a little with my writing and allow more of those ideas to flow out onto the Web. If you reduce quality control, you may get more junk but as long as I can keep the junk to insight ratio pretty low hopefully it will be less frustrating for me and more beneficial for readers. If you’re looking forward to the free flow of ideas signup for daily updates!

Ben Edwards, the founder of Money Smart Life, saved up enough to buy a Nintendo back when he was 12 years old. When he used the money to buy shares of Wal-Mart stock instead, he knew he wasn't like the other kids... His addiction to personal finance has paid off for his family and now he's helping you to afford the life that you want. Check him out on the web at Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook.

All posts by Ben Edwards