Not sure of the situation but for me nothing focuses me more than having a real customer and/or collaborator to whom I've made real commitments to.

When I've worked on my own, its real easy to get distracted and rationalize putting things off. I'd be lucky to get in a full eight hours.

But working with others, I found myself working many hours beyond even the time we spent directly collaborating. Because I had to deliver on my commitments. I think many people need that.