How to Truly Get Things Done

Robert Louis Stevenson, the author behind Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, reportedly destroyed the very first draft of his famous novel.

Why?

After sharing it with his wife, instead of praise, he received sharp criticism. Frustrated but determined, Stevenson decided not to revise the original — he started over entirely.

But there was a reason he didn’t keep the draft around. He feared he’d fall into the trap of tweaking it here and there — making small changes rather than rewriting it fully. That approach, he believed, would lead to a forgettable book.

So he burned it.

Whether the Story Is True Doesn’t Matter — The Lesson Is

Historians still debate whether this event really happened or if it’s literary myth. But either way, the lesson it teaches is timeless:

When we have the option to take the easy path, we often do.

Why We Slack Off

Think back to college. How often did you coast through the semester, only to cram the night before the exam? Not because it was the best strategy — but because it was possible.

Or think about long deadlines at work. When a project is due in six months, most of us delay until it’s only days away. Again, not because it’s smart — but because we can.

Options Create Distraction

The more options we have, the easier it is to avoid committing. And when we leave ourselves room to escape, we’re far less likely to do the hard, focused work that actually matters.

This is why Stevenson’s symbolic act — burning the draft — is powerful. He removed the easy way out. With only one way forward, he had no choice but to create something better.

Close the Escape Hatches

If you want to do great work — deep, meaningful, high-impact work — give yourself fewer options. Cut off the backup plans. Close the tabs. Say no to distractions.

Make the work the only way forward. And you’ll be surprised how much you can actually get done.

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