How many things are you doing by yourself that you shouldn’t be?
Here’s a simple example. If you can help it, don’t make your bed by yourself. Some things are worth getting help with. Putting up Christmas lights is another one. Adding one person can make it go five times faster.
What do you do by yourself that, if you were willing to ask for help, you could do faster and better?
I’m looking for more of those things in my life, now that the bed is made.
Whenever I start to write I think about you. It’s not helping.
But if I was writing for my kids, I’d write. If I was just writing because it’s fun, I’d write. But I just keep thinking about you, and it’s keeping me from writing.
Do you know who gets criticized? People who have opinions. Do you know who doesn’t have to worry about people disliking them? People who say nothing.
When you’re driven to protect your ego you avoid criticism. Criticism only happens if you say something that could be disagreed with.
So, I don’t write and I blame you.
It’s not your fault though. The fault, and the reason I don’t write more, is because of my inability to believe who I am outside of other people’s opinions. I am who I am. I’m not what you think I am.
Not things I thought I’d still be dealing with I turned 40, or 41, or 42, or 43.
But maybe there’s some power in saying it out loud. We’ll see.
There are tactics, strategies, and methods to grow your site that have been tested, measured and compared. They work but I don’t want to do them right now. I think there are other ways to grow something.
A friend told me today they appreciated what I was doing on my site. I replied, “I’m not sure what I’m doing other than not hiding anymore, and that seems like enough to be proud of for now.”
Instead of creating lead magnets and opt-ins, for now, I’d rather make something so good that people want to share it with someone they care about. I want to make things so good that people feel generous for sharing them.
Someday I’m sure I’ll create lead magnets, opt-in pages, and testimonials, but for now, I’d like to ask you this. When you read something that could help others would you share it with them?
I’ll try to make it easier to share on whatever site you use for sharing and for the person you forwarded the email to be able to subscribe to the email list. I’ll also keep writing even when it feels fruitless and feeble (like today) but if you shared these words with others I’d be grateful.
Every day I wake up hoping to help someone. If that’s you then I’m glad. If it’s someone you know then thank you for making the connection.
Thanks for sharing.
We sat in the school library waiting for the ceremony to start. 80 adults and 20 middle schoolers sitting in silence because we were in a library.
If we were in the gym we’d be talking to each other but we were in the library and in the library you don’t talk.
The first reason we don’t speak up, write, make a video, or put our work into the world is we are afraid of being corrected.
The second reason we don’t speak up is there are rules. Rules like “no talking in the library”.
But that’s not always a rule.
Here’s a rule about rules and creating.
If the rule is holding you back, ignore it for a while.
You can go back and follow the rule later but for now, ignore it.
You will never get better until you start.
You will never be known until you put your work into the world.
You will never be satisfied until you know you’ve done something brave.
What rules do you need to ignore so that you can create? Here’s the secret. They’re not really rules. If they were then I’d be in jail. They’re made up. They’re helpful sometimes but there’s no police force for creators.
Ignore the rules you are using as excuses to not create.
Make something, now.
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That was my list, now write yours.
There are people waiting for you to do something.