When I first started writing, I was on fire. There were multiple full-length posts written every day. Guest posting here. Guest posting there. Guest posting everywhere.
Ideas were flowing out of every corner and I felt inspiration at every moment. I couldn’t keep up with all the topics I wanted to write about.
It was a mix of excitement between starting a website for the first time and finally getting the thoughts out of my head and onto something real. I even wrote into a journal on a daily basis.
Reading my journal entry titled April 14, 2013 made me remember just how far writing has taken me. In it I wrote, “I wonder if I quit school now, what would I do? I could go off and do business-y things. Jump in with both feet. Ha, live a secret life.”
I’m living that secret life now.
Writing is what allowed me to get my dream job and live an entire year in Asia. Now I’m working from the US, location independently, just as I envisioned back in April 2013.
But that same writing that brought me to where I am today is getting harder. I’m slowing down.
I don’t want to slow down. I want to be inspired forever.
When the initial momentum slowed, I tried to hold myself accountable for writing at least 500 words every day. It worked well, for a while, and it even helped me power through publishing my eBook just before I moved to the Philippines.
But it was still hard. It was easier to say “I’ve worked enough today, so I don’t need to write for Self Stairway too. After all, I’ve got a full-time job.”
I’m still going to bleed out honesty every Monday no matter what happens, regardless of how much I’d rather push it off for the next week. No matter how many hours I have to dedicate to sitting down staring at an empty Word document as I search through my brain for a lesson to give.
And I’ll do my best to write something that I think will connect with someone out there. Connect enough to change their perspective even if it’s for a second.
Why?
Because I really care about this site and the people who read it. Even though I struggle almost every week to do it, I persist. I make it a top priority. I tell myself I absolutely can’t miss my deadline.
If you really love something, you’re going to make sure you take care of it.
I feel the same, Vince. Even if it is our true love, it’s still hard to write thousands of words every day as a full-time job and for personal blogs. But, just like you, thinking about my readers make me persist. Although I’m not always successful in doing so.
I WISH I could write thousands of words a day. 🙂
It is interesting right? Problems never go away, they just evolve. But you can grow to enjoy the problems and challenges. I am glad you’re still churning out content each week.
Looking forward to catching up with you soon!
Yeah man, hit me up on Skype! I’m back in the US so timezone won’t be an issue.
Great post! I have periods like that when I would rather be doing something else than what I am supposed to be doing. Sometimes I have to push through with sheer willpower – not easy but I like the satisfaction that I get when I achieve my objective. Persistence and perseverance pay off. Keep pushing hard!! 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement, Nadine!
Inspiring as always if u have passion for something it is half the battle I’m opening my own business in the new year and your post was just what I needed to read today thanks
Yup! Passion can only get you so far. You’ve still gotta hustle!
Best of luck with your business. 🙂
Welcome back to the western hemisphere! Have you thought about asking those of us that read you for ideas (concepts, thoughts, etc) so you could maybe pick one from the hat to write about when you need an extra dose of inspiration to keep doing what you do? I am so very grateful that I found your site, and your words; it sometimes keeps me focused on discovering what is important when my focus starts to slip back into the abyss of “just another day” syndrome. I have a sign hanging in my bedroom that I see every morning when I wake up that reads ” I plan on living forever – so far so good”. If I can read that, the day starts on the positive side of the balance scale. I would like to read your thoughts on how you stay focused to publish every Monday.
Heh, thanks!
That is a brilliant idea. I’m always open to ideas but perhaps I should start asking for topics. I’ll have a section in next week’s email. 🙂
Hey Vincent, Don’t ever stop man. Your audience loves you. They won’t let you.
I learned never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.
– Ernest Hemingway
Solid inspiration!
Hey Vincent,
Many thanks for the article, I can definitely relate. It can be somewhat of a struggle in the early stages too, when not many people know about your work but you keep on writing and finding new ways to grow your business. The success of Self Stairway has definitely inspired me in this regard, and I wish you continued success!
Cheers,
Michael
I think it’s a struggle at all stages! Although personally, the beginning was a lot easier because of all that built up excitement and ideas that have been floating around for years. But the battle in the early stages is against yourself and the fear of publishing.
It’s that fight against slowing down and learning how to keep up motivation with celebrating the small victories that keeps me going. Sometimes though getting away with friends for even a bit re-energizes me, or just switching my brain to something else.
For me I’m in the middle of writing my first book and I make sure I write for 30 minutes every morning no matter what – It usually turns into 1,000-1,500 words, and that way the most important thing is done for sure.
But definitely – sometimes, no matter how much you love something, your brain is going to say “let me go on 9gag instead” :p.
Keep it up Vince!
Celebrating small victories. That’s something I need to get a lot better at.
Dude, I had no idea. That’s awesome! Let me know when you’re done with your book or if you’d like me to run through it. 🙂
Good luck!
Thanks man!
Yeah it’s going to be my first product and part of it will be a free e-book. I’m also giving a webinar/seminar on the free e-book part next week :). It’s all about the different ways we cause ourselves mental stress and spend our energy (fear, procrastination, blame, complaining, etc.), and how to re-gain the energy with practical exercises to stop the stressors!
Hi Vincent,
I so love your writing and I can always relate to it. Usually what you are going through I also am experiencing also. I have a secret I have met somebody on line and they are coming to see me. We have been emailing and talking on the phone as he lives in Miami Florida and I live in Australia. He tells me everything day how much I mean to him and how much he loves me and has yet to met me. Excited and nervous. Wondering whether the imagine in his head of me and reality are the same. Big question. so scared of rejection. It has been a long time since a man has told me he loves me. The other part of the secret is I don’t have the courage to tell any of my family or friends because I don’t want to hear their thoughts, opinion, judgements. Very difficult when you feel you cant talk to or share with anybody, sometimes it would be nice to just download because I am overthinking everything and it is not good for my emotional or physical well being.
Hey Sandra,
It could play out either way, in regards to telling your friends and family. Surely you have at least one confidant in your life who you know will listen with non-judgment. In my experience, it almost always feels better to get a giant secret off my chest and allow someone in my life to help me through.
“Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.” ― Jim Rohn
Or every week in your case Mr. Success
That’s a great quote!
This reminds me of the quote I read a long time ago. When asked if writing a column wasn’t a chore the sports writer Red Smith replied “Why no, you simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.” Writing may be fun and inspired but at some point it is also hard work which requires dedication and “seat” time.
Bleeding honesty is something James Altucher taught me to always do. That’s what you have to do.
Very good article and so inspiring as well ! Keep it up !