The Big Thing: How to Complete Your Creative Project Even if You're a Lazy, Self-Doubting Procrastinator Like Me
Written by Phyllis Korkki
Narrated by Sandy Rustin
3.5/5
()
About this audiobook
A New York Times business journalist explains why it’s important for people to pursue big creative projects, and identifies both the obstacles and the productive habits that emerge on the path to completion—including her own experience writing this book.
Whether it’s the Great American Novel or a groundbreaking new app, many people want to create a Big Thing, but finding the motivation to get started, let alone complete the work, can be daunting. In The Big Thing, New York Times business writer and editor Phyllis Korkki combines real-life stories, science, and insights from her own experience to illuminate the factors that drive people to complete big creative projects—and the obstacles that threaten to derail success.
In the course of creating her own Big Thing—this book—Korkki explores the individual and collaborative projects of others: from memoirs, art installations, and musical works to theater productions, small businesses, and charities. She identifies the main aspects of a Big Thing, including meaningful goals, focus and effort, the difficulties posed by the demands of everyday life, and the high risk of failure and disappointment. Korkki also breaks down components of the creative process and the characteristics that define it, and offers her thoughts on avoiding procrastination, staying motivated, scheduling a routine, and overcoming self-doubt and the restrictions of a day job. Filled with inspiring stories, practical advice, and a refreshing dose of honesty, The Big Thing doesn’t minimize the negative side of such pursuits—including the fact that big projects are hard to complete and raise difficult questions about one’s self-worth.
Inspiring, wise, humorous, and good-natured, The Big Thing is a meditation on the importance of self-expression and purpose.
Phyllis Korkki
Phyllis Korkki is an assignment editor and reporter for the New York Times Sunday Business section.
Related to The Big Thing
Related audiobooks
Insight Out: Get Ideas Out of Your Head and Into the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Creativity Rules: Getting Ideas Out of Your Head and into the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everyday Creative: A Dangerous Guide for Making Magic at Work Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYour Creative Career: Turn Your Passion into a Fulfilling and Financially Rewarding Lifestyle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Permission to Leap: The Six-Phase Journey to Bring Your Vision to Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Be Everything: A Guide for Those Who (Still) Don't Know What They Want to Be When They Grow Up Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5FIND YOUR PASSION BUILD YOUR CAREER: Find Your Power - Define Your Purpose - Let Love & Passion Lead You to the Future You Deserve Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Begin: Start Doing Something That Matters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5No Niche Necessary: How to build a fulfilling multi-passionate business by adding flavor in your unique way Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive and Happy Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Have a Happy Hustle: The Complete Guide to Making Your Ideas Happen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Creating Space to Thrive: Get Unstuck, Reboot Your Creativity and Change Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Myths of Creativity: The Truth About How Innovative Companies and People Generate Great Ideas Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How We Work: Live Your Purpose, Reclaim Your Sanity, and Embrace the Daily Grind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Creative Calling: Establish a Daily Practice, Infuse Your World with Meaning, and Succeed in Work + Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Creativity: Discover How To Unlock Your Creative Genius And Release The Power Within Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Moving the Needle: Get Clear, Get Free, and Get Going in Your Career, Business, and Life! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stretch: Unlock the Power of Less-and Achieve More Than You Ever Imagined Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Factor: Extreme Clarity for Why You're Here and What to Do About It Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Maximize Your Potential: Grow Your Expertise, Take Bold Risks & Build an Incredible Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Magic of Tiny Business: You Don’t Have to Go Big to Make a Great Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Common Path to Uncommon Success: A Roadmap to Financial Freedom and Fulfillment Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What's Stopping You? Being More Confident: Why Smart People Can Lack Confidence and What You Can Do About It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Self-Gamification Happiness Formula: How to Turn Your Life into Fun Games Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Make Your Mark: The Creative's Guide to Building a Business with Impact Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Get It Done: From Procrastination to Creative Genius in 15 Minutes a Day Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Motivational For You
Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Be Better at Almost Everything: Learn Anything Quickly, Stack Your Skills, Dominate Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership 25th Anniversary: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Awaken the Giant Within Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Prince Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary of Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Think and Grow Rich: The Original 1937 Classic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Moneyzen: The Secret to Finding Your ""Enough"" Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Seeing What Others Don't: The Remarkable Ways We Gain Insights Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Change Your Paradigm, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 50th Law Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Never Eat Alone, Expanded and Updated: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stop Doing That Sh*t: End Self-Sabotage and Demand Your Life Back Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Create: Tools from Seriously Talented People to Unleash Your Creative Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Own It All: How to Stop Waiting for Change and Start Creating It. Because Your Life Belongs to You. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Big Thing
7 ratings0 reviews