FUEL: A Simple Framework to Finally Finish Your Creative Projects
You’ve probably started more projects than you can count. A few half-finished canvases here, a folder full of drafts there, maybe even a “someday” list that looks more like a graveyard. Finishing projects you start is hard.
That’s where coaching, and specifically this FUEL model, comes in. It’s a framework designed to help you shift your behaviors so you actually get the results you want. It’s conversational, practical, and, if you let it, transformational.
A pep talk or slapping you with a to-do list won’t be enough. I’m sure you’ve already tried that. Probably countless times.
So let’s break this down.
F = Frame the Conversation
Think of this as setting the stage. You need a safe, clear starting point. Whether you’re working with a coach or by yourself, ask:
What do I want out of this session/time?
What’s the real focus here?
If you don’t know what conversation you’re having, you’ll end up spinning in circles. “Getting my book finished” is a very different frame from “figuring out why I procrastinate.” So set your intention up front.
U = Understand the Current State
Here’s where you get honest. What’s actually happening? What’s standing in your way? Sometimes it’s external stuff—your day job, lack of time. But often it’s internal—beliefs like I’ll never be good enough or I need perfect conditions to create.
Poke holes in your own BS, with compassion and clarity. You can’t fix what you won’t admit. Ask yourself:
What’s really driving my behavior?
What do I keep telling myself that may not actually be true?
E = Explore the Desired State
This is where you get to dream… but concretely. Instead of “I want to finish more,” get specific. What does success look like? A finished draft? A completed series of paintings? Publishing, selling, or simply creating regularly?
Success isn’t always “big and flashy.” Sometimes success is just building a consistent creative practice without burning out. Ask:
What does done actually look like for me?
What habits or patterns do I want to build long-term?
L = Lay Out a Plan for Success
Now it’s time to connect the dots. Stop making vague “someday” plans. Make a realistic, step-by-step, this-week kind of plan.
This means:
Deadlines (self-imposed or external)
Milestones (break down the big monster project into bite-sized chunks)
Accountability (someone to check in with, even if it’s just you writing it down where you can’t ignore it)
Your plan doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to be clear. Think: “Finish chapter three by Friday, revise on Sunday” instead of “Work on my book this week.”
Why FUEL Works for Creatives
Let me be blunt. You probably don’t struggle coming up with ideas. I mean, you’re probably a creative person if you’re reading this blog post on my site. Your struggle is finishing projects you start. The FUEL model keeps you from floating off into daydream-land, or drowning in perfectionism.
There are clear benefits to each step:
Frame keeps you focused.
Understand keeps you honest.
Explore keeps you motivated.
Lay out keeps you accountable.
And when you loop this process, you build long-term habits instead of one-off wins.
Try Using FUEL for Yourself
Next time you feel stuck, run through the four steps. Frame, Understand, Explore, and Lay out.
Don’t overthink it.
And if you want some extra help actually following through (because let’s be real, it’s easier with a coach) let’s talk. I offer free sample sessions so you can get a feel for how this works in practice. Finally finish those projects instead of watching them collect dust.
