# Episode 089: Avoiding the task at hand

- Show: [Making It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it)
- Published: 2016-09-23
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-23-episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand
- Listen: https://making-it-with-jimmy-diresta-bob-clagett-and-david-picciuto.castos.com/episodes/episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand

## Summary

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the psychological hurdles of avoiding projects, sharing anecdotes about building a brass cannon, a large chalkboard frame, and a crayon holder. They explore strategies for overcoming procrastination, such as breaking tasks into small steps, identifying specific blocks like fear of failure or lack of vision, and the tendency to clean the shop instead of working. The episode also covers the announcement of the GoPro Karma drone, reviewing its stabilization features and camera control capabilities.

## Chapters

- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-23-episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand#t=35) Project Updates: Cannon, Chalkboard, and Crayon Holder
- [19:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-23-episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand#t=1185) The Psychology of Avoiding Tasks
- [26:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-23-episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand#t=1566) Strategies for Overcoming Procrastination
- [34:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-23-episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand#t=2070) Shop Organization and Tidying Tips
- [45:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-23-episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand#t=2705) GoPro Karma Drone Announcement and Review

## Topics

- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Bob Clagett (other)
- GoPro Karma (product)
- Prusa I3 Mark 2 (product)
- Lowe's (company)
- Reddit (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-12-10-the-spark-gap-episode-23) (The Spark Gap)
- [439: Ditches and Psychology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-01-06-439-ditches-and-psychology) (Embedded.fm)
- [Mini Episode | Time Management](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-17-mini-episode-time-management) (Being an Engineer)
- [Planning For and Managing Successful Projects w/ Clint Padgett](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [STL359: Making the Most of Shop Time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-02-06-stl359-making-the-most-of-shop-time) (Shop Talk Live)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-23-episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Making It.