Doing it vs. thinking about doing it  

There is no replacement for doing the thing. 

We can sit around thinking about creating art, building a business, or designing a product all day, but none of that actually moves the ball forward. 

That requires action. 

Of course, it’s far easier to sit around thinking, planning, and strategizing than it is to simply take the next step. 

But it’s not about the planning.

It’s about the practice. 

Wisdom from a friend 

Ok, so not really a “friend” per se, but one of my favorite creators. 

Peter McKinnon is one of only a handful of people I pay attention to online and one of the only YouTubers whose videos I actually watch. 

(I don’t consume a lot of content—I know, I’m weird)

Pete recently reached 6 million subscribers on YouTube, which is an amazing feat, and to celebrate, he dropped a video with several nuggets of wisdom that connected with me. 

Especially this one: 

“But keeping the craft alive, and keeping the habit alive of doing your craft, is more important than walking around thinking about doing your craft.” 

— Peter McKinnon 

Man. 

How many of us can say we spend more time executing and practicing our craft as opposed to just sitting around thinking about it? 

Or talking about it? 

Or planning it? 

The truth is, I’ve fallen into that trap myself. 

I haven’t been making videos as often as I’d like and haven’t released any music in quite some time, yet I’ve certainly been making plans to do so. 

But in the absence of actually doing the thing, nothing has been accomplished. 

And I’m willing to bet I’m not the only one. 

Practice, not perfection 

So much of life is all about showing up even when we don’t feel like it. 

It’s the case with art. 

Relationships. 

Fitness. 

Diet. 

Business. 

All of it. 

It’s not always easy to show up and do what we know we have to do to get the results we want, even when it’s something we desperately want to do. 

I love being a husband and a father, but sometimes it’s hard to show up when I’m tired or have had a bad day. 

But I do it anyway. 

I love being in good shape and having my health, but getting up early to work out sucks every time, and I’d usually rather eat something sweet than something green. 

But I do it anyway. 

And the same thing goes for creating work that brings me joy. 

But the problem is I don’t always do it anyway. 

I don’t know about you, but while I can easily acknowledge the long-term benefits of things like family and health, I tend to downplay the benefits of creating things that bring me joy. 

But the fact is, creating fills my tank and actually makes me better at the other stuff. 

Which is why it is important to keep showing up even when I don’t feel like it. 

And especially when I don’t feel like I’m making anything of value. 

I have to keep creating anyway. 

Because that’s the point. 

It’s about practice, not perfection. 

Putting it all together 

The lives we want lie on the other side of thousands of hours of effort, most of which don’t amount to anything anyone else will ever see. 

But that’s precisely why momentum matters. 

Because those hours ultimately add up to fruit that others do see. 

Which is why creativity should be a daily exercise. 

Just like fitness. 

Just like family. 

Even if you don’t feel like what you’re creating is moving the needle, it is. 

It might only be moving the needle inside of you, but that’s not nothing. 

It’s easy to get overwhelmed and fall out of practice. 

In any area of life. 

I’ve done it time and time again. 

But what’s important is to pick yourself back up, and to get back after it. 

Because it’s much more difficult to create momentum than it is to maintain it. 

“There’s no faster way to get burnt out and bored of what you do than not doing it.” 

—Peter McKinnon 

It’s not the planning that matters. 

It’s not the thinking. 

It’s not the talking. 

It’s the doing. 

So let’s all set aside at least a little bit of time, today, to do what we love. 

I believe the world will be better for it. 

And so will we.