The modern world is built on instant gratification, but that’s not how to make things that last.
Ask anyone who has built anything of real value, and they will likely tell you a story of failure, adversity, doubt, and, ultimately, perseverance.
Because to truly build something that adds value to others takes time, energy, and determination.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say.
And your body of work won’t be either.
Zooming out
It helps to start with a plan.
What are you pursuing?
What do you hope to achieve?
What does success look like?
If you’re releasing music, maybe your goal is to release 100 songs, earn a living from your catalog, and feel good about the work you’re putting out into the world.
If you’re designing an app, perhaps you want to solve a specific problem, earn 1,000 MAU, and build a company of 5-10 employees.
Or you could just be in it for the fun of taking pictures, writing short stories, or playing local shows in your area with your friends.
Only you can decide what “success” looks like for you.
Whatever the pursuit, know that where you start is not where you’ll end up.
If anything, you will start way, way, way further back than you want to.
You may want to sell out 10,000 seat venues one day, but you’re gonna start playing dive bars to one person on a Saturday afternoon at 2 PM.
You may want to built the next unicorn, but you’ll start in a place where you’re fighting to find product/market fit and snag your first paid user.
The beginning isn’t sexy.
If anything, it’s a bit of a nightmare.
Because once the novelty of starting something new wears off, then comes “the grind”.
And the grind is what separates the winners from the rest of the pack.
Zooming in
Turning your dreams into reality happens one day, one task, one moment at a time.
If you want to build a house, you have to start with the first nail.
Then you have to keep driving nails, one after the other.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
— Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu is generally believed to have lived in the 6th century BCE, yet his words remain true even today.
We all find ourselves caught in the middle ground from time to time.
That place where it feels like we’re not making progress, where we start to second guess ourselves and question if what we’re doing is even working.
If you’ve ever felt this way, you know what I’m talking about.
If you’re in it right now, keep going.
Because even when you don’t feel like you’re making progress, you are.
As long as you keep showing up.
Putting it all together
Ultimately, success in any creative endeavor is a game of reps.
If you can show up every day and just move the needle by 1%, you’re gaining ground.
Momentum begets momentum.
Stagnation begets stagnation.
If you have your goals together, then focus on the reps.
If you’re putting in the reps, keep pushing through.
And if you feel good about your goals and the work you’re doing but you’re not seeing any fruit yet, don’t give up.
Diamonds are often found right on the other side of the next strike of the pickaxe.
Don’t compare your “every day” to someone’s highlight reel online.
Adopt a ten-year outlook and remember that you are working on something great, not just another flash in the pan.
The modern world is built on instant gratification, but that’s not how to make things that last.
Ask anyone who has built anything of real value, and they will likely tell you a story of failure, adversity, doubt, and, ultimately, perseverance.
Because to truly build something that adds value to others takes time, energy, and determination.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say.
And your body of work won’t be either.
Zooming out
It helps to start with a plan.
What are you pursuing?
What do you hope to achieve?
What does success look like?
If you’re releasing music, maybe your goal is to release 100 songs, earn a living from your catalog, and feel good about the work you’re putting out into the world.
If you’re designing an app, perhaps you want to solve a specific problem, earn 1,000 MAU, and build a company of 5-10 employees.
Or you could just be in it for the fun of taking pictures, writing short stories, or playing local shows in your area with your friends.
Only you can decide what “success” looks like for you.
Whatever the pursuit, know that where you start is not where you’ll end up.
If anything, you will start way, way, way further back than you want to.
You may want to sell out 10,000 seat venues one day, but you’re gonna start playing dive bars to one person on a Saturday afternoon at 2 PM.
You may want to built the next unicorn, but you’ll start in a place where you’re fighting to find product/market fit and snag your first paid user.
The beginning isn’t sexy.
If anything, it’s a bit of a nightmare.
Because once the novelty of starting something new wears off, then comes “the grind”.
And the grind is what separates the winners from the rest of the pack.
Zooming in
Turning your dreams into reality happens one day, one task, one moment at a time.
If you want to build a house, you have to start with the first nail.
Then you have to keep driving nails, one after the other.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
— Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu is generally believed to have lived in the 6th century BCE, yet his words remain true even today.
We all find ourselves caught in the middle ground from time to time.
That place where it feels like we’re not making progress, where we start to second guess ourselves and question if what we’re doing is even working.
If you’ve ever felt this way, you know what I’m talking about.
If you’re in it right now, keep going.
Because even when you don’t feel like you’re making progress, you are.
As long as you keep showing up.
Putting it all together
Ultimately, success in any creative endeavor is a game of reps.
If you can show up every day and just move the needle by 1%, you’re gaining ground.
Momentum begets momentum.
Stagnation begets stagnation.
If you have your goals together, then focus on the reps.
If you’re putting in the reps, keep pushing through.
And if you feel good about your goals and the work you’re doing but you’re not seeing any fruit yet, don’t give up.
Diamonds are often found right on the other side of the next strike of the pickaxe.
Don’t compare your “every day” to someone’s highlight reel online.
Adopt a ten-year outlook and remember that you are working on something great, not just another flash in the pan.
The modern world is built on instant gratification, but that’s not how to make things that last.
Ask anyone who has built anything of real value, and they will likely tell you a story of failure, adversity, doubt, and, ultimately, perseverance.
Because to truly build something that adds value to others takes time, energy, and determination.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say.
And your body of work won’t be either.
Zooming out
It helps to start with a plan.
What are you pursuing?
What do you hope to achieve?
What does success look like?
If you’re releasing music, maybe your goal is to release 100 songs, earn a living from your catalog, and feel good about the work you’re putting out into the world.
If you’re designing an app, perhaps you want to solve a specific problem, earn 1,000 MAU, and build a company of 5-10 employees.
Or you could just be in it for the fun of taking pictures, writing short stories, or playing local shows in your area with your friends.
Only you can decide what “success” looks like for you.
Whatever the pursuit, know that where you start is not where you’ll end up.
If anything, you will start way, way, way further back than you want to.
You may want to sell out 10,000 seat venues one day, but you’re gonna start playing dive bars to one person on a Saturday afternoon at 2 PM.
You may want to built the next unicorn, but you’ll start in a place where you’re fighting to find product/market fit and snag your first paid user.
The beginning isn’t sexy.
If anything, it’s a bit of a nightmare.
Because once the novelty of starting something new wears off, then comes “the grind”.
And the grind is what separates the winners from the rest of the pack.
Zooming in
Turning your dreams into reality happens one day, one task, one moment at a time.
If you want to build a house, you have to start with the first nail.
Then you have to keep driving nails, one after the other.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
— Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu is generally believed to have lived in the 6th century BCE, yet his words remain true even today.
We all find ourselves caught in the middle ground from time to time.
That place where it feels like we’re not making progress, where we start to second guess ourselves and question if what we’re doing is even working.
If you’ve ever felt this way, you know what I’m talking about.
If you’re in it right now, keep going.
Because even when you don’t feel like you’re making progress, you are.
As long as you keep showing up.
Putting it all together
Ultimately, success in any creative endeavor is a game of reps.
If you can show up every day and just move the needle by 1%, you’re gaining ground.
Momentum begets momentum.
Stagnation begets stagnation.
If you have your goals together, then focus on the reps.
If you’re putting in the reps, keep pushing through.
And if you feel good about your goals and the work you’re doing but you’re not seeing any fruit yet, don’t give up.
Diamonds are often found right on the other side of the next strike of the pickaxe.
Don’t compare your “every day” to someone’s highlight reel online.
Adopt a ten-year outlook and remember that you are working on something great, not just another flash in the pan.
How I Can Help
Learn for Free: Explore previous issues of The One Thing to learn at your own pace and upgrade your marketing, branding, and creative knowledge for free.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call to improve your marketing, branding, and creativity across paid advertising, social media, and more.
Automate Your Marketing: Hire our team to manage your marketing, branding, and advertising across platforms so you can focus on what matters most.
How I Can Help
Learn for Free: Explore previous issues of The One Thing to learn at your own pace and upgrade your marketing, branding, and creative knowledge for free.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call to improve your marketing, branding, and creativity across paid advertising, social media, and more.
Automate Your Marketing: Hire our team to manage your marketing, branding, and advertising across platforms so you can focus on what matters most.
How I Can Help
Learn for Free: Explore previous issues of The One Thing to learn at your own pace and upgrade your marketing, branding, and creative knowledge for free.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call to improve your marketing, branding, and creativity across paid advertising, social media, and more.
Automate Your Marketing: Hire our team to manage your marketing, branding, and advertising across platforms so you can focus on what matters most.