1. How many dormant or unfinished creative projects do you currently have? (ideas, drafts, files, recordings)

0–1 2–3 4–6 7–10 11+ (I’m a surplus factory)

2. How far along are your top 1–2 dormant projects?

Barely started (just an idea) Very early (notes or scattered drafts) 25–50% complete 50–75% complete 75–90% complete (almost finishable)

3. What is the potential value of your top project if finished? (revenue, reputation, impact, calling)

Mostly personal / low external impact Helpful but modest impact Strong portfolio or income builder High upside for my career or audience Transformational if finished and released

4. How aligned are your dormant projects with your long-term goals and story?

Not aligned at all Slightly aligned Somewhat aligned Strongly aligned Fully aligned (this is my lane)

5. In the past 3 years, how often have you finished what you started?

Almost never Occasionally About half the time Most of the time Nearly always (I close loops)

6. How often do you stall out around 70–80% completion?

Constantly (this is my pattern) Frequently Sometimes Rarely Almost never (I push through the last 20%)

7. How consistent is your weekly creative rhythm?

Nonexistent / chaotic Inconsistent (on/off) Some consistency Very consistent most weeks Extremely consistent (habit-level)

8. When you get a compelling idea, how quickly do you take the first concrete action?

It often sits for months Weeks 1–2 weeks Within a few days Same day or next day

9. How quickly do you create a first draft, prototype, or test version?

I rarely get to a first draft Very slow Moderate Fast Very fast (I like to see it live)

10. What best describes your biggest slowdown once you’ve started?

I get paralyzed by perfectionism or fear I lose interest and chase new ideas I run into time or energy constraints I slow down but usually get there I move from idea to launch quickly and often

11. How complete is your #1 dormant project right now?

0–10% 10–25% 25–50% 50–75% 75–90% (within striking distance)

12. How clear is your plan to finish and release that project in the next 120 days?

No plan Vague ideas only Some structure but with gaps Mostly clear plan Detailed, step-by-step plan

13. How big are your remaining gaps (time, money, skills, support) to finish?

Huge — it feels unrealistic Large Moderate Small, but real Minimal — it’s mostly a decision and a push

14. What size is your current active audience or community? (any platform, email list, or in-person)

Very small (< 50) 50–200 200–1,000 1,000–10,000 10,000+ (or highly targeted niche)

15. How consistently do you show up or publish for that audience?

Rarely Occasionally (spurts) About monthly Weekly Multiple times per week

16. How easily can you mobilize people to take action? (buy, attend, share, support)

Very difficult Difficult Sometimes, if I really push Often — people respond Easily — my audience moves when I ask

Creative Surplus Index™ — Team Assessment

1. Our team agrees on which projects matter most.

2. We have a shared 120-day finish plan for at least one major initiative.

3. Our team has enough bandwidth to finish priority projects.

4. We have the right mix of skills to finish well.

5. We consistently maintain momentum on important work.

6. Our handoffs between people or teams are smooth and efficient.

7. We know exactly how to activate our audience when we release something.

8. Our wider network responds when we mobilize them.

9. Internal bureaucracy slows us down.

10. We struggle to secure the resources we need to finish.

Creative Surplus Index™ — Individual Assessment