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No one ever achieved greatness by going with the flow. You can tell yourself every damn day that today is the day you are going to start writing your book, or you’re going to sign up for a course, or you’re going to embark on your healthy lifestyle journey, but once you roll out of bed, there’s that little voice inside your head that is feeding you doubt by way of numerous common excuses.
I’m going to let you in on the most common excuses that I feed MYSELF, and explain what I’m doing now to fuck off with that attitude. Let me know if some of my approaches are helpful to you!
1. “I want my office to be perfect before I start writing.”
Total bullshit. I’m telling you right now, and you need to write. Now. There will ALWAYS be something if you carry on with that narrative. First, you’ll say you need a new chair, and then it’s a nicer lamp, and then you’ll want a new bookcase because you want EVERYTHING to flow just right. You need to focus on your internal flow and get the words flowing from your fingertips. You can have your dream desk, the comfiest chair in the world, great lighting, a nice and relaxing playlist of focus music playing in the background, and you’ll find something. Your mind will wander if you strive for the “perfect” setup. The perfect setup is wherever you sit your ass down and do the work. It could be your kitchen table, in your comfy chair while you burn some casual calories with your Cubii, or it can be on the patio at your work during your lunch break (which, for the record, is exactly where I’m writing this from).
While I will never deny that it’s important to keep the area around you tidy and neat, because I do believe that tidy surroundings help to keep a tidy mind, it’s not the be-all-end-all to whether or not you CAN write. Having an office or writing area that you’re comfortable in is fucking awesome, but I recommend using that dream as more of a reward than a prerequisite. For example, I really, reeeeeallllllyyyy want this standing desk from Costco, but I’m not prepared to drop almost $400.00 on it right now. So, my goal is to write at least 10,000 words before I can look at buying it. Hopefully, I’ll have some money put aside by then for it, but I’m treating it as a reward. If you’re a touch materialistic, which I admit I can be, the reward system might work for you, too.
2. “No one wants to read or hear what I have to say.”
To this, I ask “so what”? Especially when you’re starting out, you need to write for yourself. Don’t start any creative project with the sole intention of getting views, followers, subscribers, or monetizing. People can actually read into that, and your writing isn’t going to come off as authentic as it would be if you were writing from the heart. If you’re not doing this for yourself, it’s important to reevaluate your expectations.
Sure, I’ll be fucking tickled pink if I ever make money off this blog, or my associated podcast (coming soon to Apple Podcasts and Spotify!) but I’m writing this content in order to push myself, and hopefully others, to crush the feelings of self-doubt. I want to prove to myself and that damn little voice in my head that I can do whatever I set my mind to. And this is what I’m doing, every time I post here.
Also, you’d be surprised at how interesting people around you might find you to be. I’m only a few days into this gig, but already I’ve had one of my closest friends tell me I’ve inspired her. That’s the DREAM, you guys. People DO want to hear what you have to say, even if they don’t know it. They might even NEED to hear it, too. How can they, or you, know if you don’t put anything out there?
3. “I can’t start a blog until I have a load of content ready.”
Okay, this is a tricky one. Sometimes it is a smart idea to have some content built up before you launch because people will want to binge what you have out there, but it’s not a requirement. For me, I feel like launching this page has been a huge kick in the ass for me to actually write. I had to PAY for this domain, and I need to PAY for hosting. I’ve gone down this road in the past where I’ve spent the money and then either completely forgot about the site I purchased or felt intimidated by the idea of actually using it, and I cycled back to excuse #2 and assumed no one would want to read anything. So I didn’t write the content. Waste. Of. Money.
This time around, I’ve already blissfully seen that what I’m doing here has an impact. And you can do the exact same thing. You can set up a schedule (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, yo) and commit yourself to post new content on a regular basis. Consistency is key in anything you do, but especially if you want to curate interest from a potential internet following.
*Also, it’s worth noting that you don’t need to be an SEO expert to start a website. At this time, I know jack shit about SEO. I know I need to use keywords that people would actually be searching on Google, but beyond that, nothing. And I’m okay with that, for now, because I know I’m writing for myself for the time being. If the time comes where I feel like this could make me some money, then I’ll learn then. I’m not going to stress myself out this time around by NEEDING to understand every little bit in and out. It’s okay to learn as you go.
4. “I need fancier equipment first.”
You don’t need to have an iPad Pro, or a top-of-the-line laptop and editing software in order to write blogs or record podcasts. Hell, you don’t even need a subscription to Office 365 (though I personally do, just because I find it convenient for me, but you can 100% do you, boo). If you have a pen and paper, you can start blogging. Transpose that into your notes app, post it to a free WordPress site, or Blogger, or even Tumblr. People DO still use Tumblr, I recently learned.
I think we need to stop limiting ourselves in the sense that A is required to do B, and so on and so on. If you know in your heart of hearts that you’re a writer, use a fucking napkin to storyboard. The only tool you need is your beautiful, all-powerful brain. Seriously. Just start.
5. “I can’t write.” “Why?” “Because… I can’t.” Self reflection time: What is the story you’re telling yourself?
I’ll attribute this one to the phenomenal Brené Brown and all her infinite wisdom. I use this in my daily life when I’m feeling anxious or uncomfortable, and I use it on others around me as well. When we’re asked what the story we’re telling ourselves is, it often sounds silly when we rhyme it off.
For example, for years and years, the story I’ve been telling myself is that I can’t write “because I can’t”. Legit, I was being that childish and ridiculous about it. I had such little faith in myself and my own abilities that I couldn’t even put into words why I couldn’t just do the thing. Saying that out loud, and being unable to articulate a profound reason was kind of earth-shattering for me.
Chances are, if you can’t come up with a legitimate reason not to do the thing you want to do, you should probably take the leap and give it a go. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
6. “What if I’m actually successful?”
Well, Jesus H Murphy, isn’t that the whole idea? Not necessarily to be famous, or featured on a fucking talk show, or chosen to go on the $100,000 Pyramid, but to succeed in doing the thing you want to do.
Maybe you’re nervous that you’d wind up quitting your comfortable 9-5 job with benefits, and an RRSP, or that your friends and family would treat you differently because they’re all trades-minded or of the opinion that being self-employed is a cop-out? What I have to say to you is this: those are not things to be afraid of. If you find financial independence doing something that brings you joy, and you leave the “okay, but not life-goal” style job, that means you’ve accomplished a huge goal. And if you have friends and family who aren’t supporting your dreams, and think less of you for working in a creative and sometimes risky industry, then I wouldn’t recommend inviting them over for dinner.
Frankly, I feel like I put enough doubt on myself as it is. I don’t need people around me adding to that. I think it’s key to foster positive relationships, and if someone is making me feel bad for doing what I love, then that’s a THEM problem, not a me problem. #byefelicia
I’m sure there are tons of other excuses I have used in the past however many years, but these are definitely the ones I’ve dealt with the most. And you know what? I’m conquering them as we speak. I believe you can do the same. The little voice inside your head is nothing but self-doubt, and you need to listen to me and understand that you have the potential for greatness. If you have a story inside you, please write it.
Imagine what we’d have studied in high school English classes if Shakespeare had decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a glover and leather-worker. Years from now, students across the globe might know your name because of the phenomenal and inspiring works you wrote when you decided to stand up to your own inner critic.
To be bold, or not to be bold, that is the question.
Be bold, my loves. Shut up and write now. Xoxo.