Everybody knows this thinking pattern. If I get the new MacBook I will code more often. And that happens then you get the MacBook? You watch some videos on the couch or even worse the fancy new Mac is gathering dust in a corner.

Certainly, gear can help you create something. A baseline of gear is even necessary to get the task ahead done. In most cases with this thinking pattern, it’s just a way of procrastination. You don’t feel guilty for not getting the task done. How could you. There is no way to you could achieve your goal without this fancy next thing you need.

In truth there is almost always a way or you already have the tools. Returning to the example above. Then you have any kind of computer you can code daily, even with a smartphone. Granted some tools are better than others, but more often than not the tools at hand are capable of the task.

I have more than one example for this thinking pattern.

  • new Laptop == more Code
  • IPad with the pencil == finally stick to drawing
  • New Camera == start the youtube career

And there are many more examples.

The key is to be mindful about these thoughts and analyze why you want it and if you really need it for the task. If the answer to these questions is ‘no’, then you should make sure that you actually want to do the task or reach the goal. If you want to pursue the goal the is only one thing to do:

‘Just do it’ (Shia Labeouf)

May times it is about starting, but then you start something it is important to keep it going. Habits or scheduling free time can be a great too for sticking to something.