When You Overpromise and Underdeliver

32 Things I Know Now That I'm 32: #11

Last updated on April 3rd, 2021 at 11:28 pm

What happens when you mix a long-term writing project with poor time management and a looming deadline upon which you place far too much importance?

The 31 Things I Know Now That I’m 31 becomes the 32 Things I Know Now That I’m 32.

32 Things I Know Now That I'm 32- 11—What Happens When You Overpromise and Underdeliver—If You Fail to Plan You Are Planning to Fail, Benjamin Franklin

The plan had started so simply—find a month with 31 days and write a post a day on the lessons I’d learned in my years so far. With my July birthday, it should’ve been easy enough to write it up for August. Or October. December. All the months I mucked about in 2015… but another birthday came and went before I could get on top of things.

It was—sadly—another example of moments in my life where I overpromise and underdeliver.

Had I Not Been So Busy Trying to Do EVERYTHING, I Might’ve Accomplished SOMETHING.

32 Things I Know Now That I'm 32- 11—What Happens When You Overpromise and Underdeliver—The struggle when you finish one too many nights with a blank page

“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
–Robert Burns (adapted)

It’s one thing to have a mind full of ideas and another entirely to actually act on them. Though the concept came with ease, it would’ve perhaps proven wise to make sure I had 31 things to write about. Were I smarter, I’d have considered a list à la BuzzFeed or Thought Catalog, but always victim to my creative process, there was no way to create at the excruciating standard I’m used to while managing time for the rest of my life.

Biting off more than I can chew is a bit of a speciality of mine, stemming back to my teenage years where I wanted to do everything for everyone all the time. Back then, I was so worried about people not liking me that I’d agree to help with most anything they’d need, regardless of how it’d impact my life.

I learned something as the pressure mounted over the years, eventually leading to my breakdown—stepping away from life as the world’s “yes” man to become someone who focused a little more on his own interests and chased after the things he wanted didn’t make me a bad person… it just meant I was growing up and realizing the things that’re important in this world.

But even if our motivations change, some habits are hard to break—though that teenager’s become a grown man with a kid of his own, he’s got no less on his plate to contend with… it’s just different food.

32 Things I Know Now That I'm 32- 11—What Happens When You Overpromise and Underdeliver—Can't Stop Won't Stop

32 years deep, I’ve learned not to underestimate how busy life can get anymore. The reward for hard work is more work, and after decades spent working my rear end off, the hustle’s constantly hitting me from all directions.

But you don’t let that stop you from doing what you need to do, and in this case, it’s making sure this doesn’t become the 33 Things I Know Now That I’m 33.

If anything, the lesson here is this—know your limits. Know how much you can handle in life, and try your best to keep within those bounds. Me… I’ve dug myself a hole I’m finding it difficult to climb out of, but I grind every night to take the things holding me down and make something meaningful from them. I can’t promise I’ll blog more often anytime soon. I can’t work on firm timelines or say I’ll be the next this or the first that.

What I can promise is that I won’t stop hustling. I won’t stop sharing my thoughts—I’ve given up blogging in the past, back when it was a hobby; but now it’s part of my life.

And there’s no sense in giving up on that.

Thanks for sticking around!

Until the next,

The second logo for Casey Palmer, Canadian Dad

By Casey E. Palmer

Husband. Father. Storyteller.

Calling the Great White North his home, Casey Palmer the Canadian Dad spend his free time in pursuit of the greatest content possible.

Thousand-word blog posts? Snapshots from life? Sketches and podcasts and more—he's more than just a dad blogger; he's working to change what's expected of the parenting creators of the world.

It's about so much more than just our kids.

When Casey's not creating, he's busy parenting, adventuring, trying to be a good husband and making the most of his life!

Casey lives in Toronto, Ontario.

2 replies on “When You Overpromise and Underdeliver”

You inspire me case p. ^_^ The hustle is real but you work HARD at it and are making SO much headway it’s amazing!

In the face of shade, don sunglasses my man. What’s that darn song again? “My future’s so bright…” 😉

Shades for shade — I dig it ?

Yeah, this #BloggerLife never rests, but I’m glad that there’s enough balance to let me try my hardest to keep it all moving. I guess the issue is that there’re so many hours that need to go in to create at the level of quality that I want that it’s not always simple to keep that momentum going.

But you know — if not me, then who? I can’t expect anyone else to do it for me, so hustle hustle hustle is the name of the game!

Hope you’re crushing your path too, Andeen! See you soon ?

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