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I’ve been struggling with writing speeches and memorizing them ever since I started my public speaking career. Oftentimes I get so frustrated trying to get things just right and in the right order that I find myself glued to a podium with my notes.

As I was writing my Ted-Style talk today, I remembered a trick I had when I was in college. When I had mid-terms or final exams, I would re-write all of my notes in a notebook. And since I’m a visual creator, when the test came, I could literally visualize my notebook and read my notes to find the answer.

Now granted, that was pre-laptop computer days and we had to take notes by hand anyway. But it got me thinking, why can’t I do that again? It worked before. It’s apparently how my brain is wired. Why not write my speech in long hand and visualize it in my head?

When I coach my clients, I often ask them what made them successful or productive in the past. They often tell me things like, getting up early, or working out, or eating right, or organizing their days. Whatever it was, it’s always a practice that they’ve stopped and not they are wondering why they are not as productive or don’t have the energy to get more done.

Of course, back then social media was not a distraction. But if you are struggling in a certain area of your life, look back to when you were courageous, or productive, or energetic, or whatever it is for you and get back to that. There’s no need to invent the wheel. 

If you got more done because there was no social media, turn off notifications and move your phone away so that you can spend focused time on your priorities. You don’t need to answer every text or email the minute they come it.

Set yourself up to win like you did in the past. It’s time to get back to what worked and stop frustrating yourself over what’s not working.

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