Rinse and repeat strategy for getting your work out to the world
Are you ever afraid you have nothing new to say or offer? Like … everything has already been said and there is just no point?
(*Sheepishly raises hand*)
Okay, great, that means you’re normal. And so am I. Sometimes, my brain is just a version of the Nihilist Arby’s Twitter account. Other times, the ideas are flowing like a waterfall and I can barely catch all the drops.
With this blog, I’m getting back out there as a public writer. I’m a trained journalist and have far exceeded my Malcolm Gladwell-approved 10,000 hours of writing – both as a journalist and an attorney. Still, I’ve noticed that reporting facts about other people and drafting contracts seems easier – and far less vulnerable – than sharing my personal thoughts and ideas.
If this resonates with you, here’s my trick:
Acknowledge that putting something new into the world will absolutely require some mind management. The primitive part of your brain that just wants to stay alive will FOR SURE offer up some super unhelpful thoughts that will keep you stuck.
Thoughts like:
I’ll do it later
I have nothing new to say
What if x person sees it and thinks I’m dumb? (Brain’s answer: you will DIE)
What if it’s crap
What is the point
I’m hungry
Look at that bunny outside
Ooh, a new text…
Still with me?
Great, then here’s the next step: Adopt the deep and sincere belief that its totally okay and normal to have all of these thoughts.
Still good?
Okay, then. The key is what you decide to do next. Do you accept those tricky thoughts as true? Or do you notice them and decide to think something different on purpose? Maybe even figure out why or whether it feels important for you to put something delicate and new into the world?
Like, what actually *is* the point?
The point, I’ve decided, is just that I want to. That’s pretty much it. I just want to and it feels kind of yucky and disappointing when I keep putting it off. I like how my brain sizzles and pops when I am writing (at least once I get going). It’s a creative outlet that just feels good. I’m not crafty in the slightest so this is basically all I’ve got.
I tried telling myself that as an entrepreneur this blog is a “smart content marketing strategy” but even if true that feels heavy and sooooooooo breathtakingly boring. Soul-eating. Life-force draining. The way I feel by the time I’m done shopping at IKEA. Even thinking this thought makes me want to run away from my computer.
A thought that feels a million times better – and therefore means I’m more likely to keep writing – is that even if this blog creates no value and no one reads it and Google’s crawler passes it by – it still feels good, and that’s enough reason to do it.
So here’s my invitation to anyone reading this at any point in time (it will never be the perfect time):
Determine what would make you feel great to put into the world (a blog post, a new product, art of any sort),
Decide to put it out there even if your brain sends you danger signals (it will),
Brainstorm some feel-good reasons to do it,
Bonus points: Find a friend doing the same and team up for fun and accountability, and then…
Actually do it. Maybe create a few ugly drafts first, refine a little, copy edit. Then get that MVP up and out ASAP.
Bask in the feeling of putting a *finished product* out in the world. It feels GREAT!
(Note to fellow perfectionists: I said “finished,” not “perfect.” I know your brain thinks they mean the same thing. They don’t. )
Remember that the negative thoughts will come up along the way and that’s okay. You are deciding to feel the negative feelings and do it anyway.
Here are some feel-good, perfect-for-a-Post-It thoughts to fuel you as you go:
I am adding value to the world
There are people out there who need what I’m creating
This is fun!
Wanting to is the point
Feeling good is what really matters
Let’s go!