// THE WORD THIS WEEK:

I got some positive feedback from last week’s newsletter about the little blurb I wrote at the top here. Ever since I made the change about two months ago to tighten up the layout, I’ve been feeling like something’s missing. And lo and behold, despite not feeling like the thing was perfect, I kept showing up and doing my best to share with you. And just like that, even though what I was sending you wasn’t perfect, I kept showing up anyway.

Can you spot the lesson in there for you?

It’s one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn over and over in my life.
It’s the thing that makes me cringe the most, both outwardly and inwardly.
It’s what’s held back people I know, and given others everything they have.

Give up?

It’s being able to show up and do the work even if the output is not perfect.

This advice runs counter to several things I say on the regular, so allow me to clarify: please for the love of god don’t take this approach to releasing your creative endeavours, especially not music.

Instead, ask yourself what aspects of your creative life are you putting off in favour of planning? What are you tinkering with instead of doing the act of creating?

I’ve had James Clear’s Atomic Habits on repeat lately, and he has this great quote about motion vs action:

“When you’re in motion, you’re planning and strategizing and learning. Those are all good things, but they don’t produce a result. Action, on the other hand, is the type of behavior that will deliver an outcome.” — James Clear

Right here, right now, you’re reading the result of action. I could strategize all goddamn day about readership data and SEO and on and on, but that’s not how we get things done.

Stop spinning your wheels.
Stop hemming and hawing.
Go and do the thing, friend.

I know you can do it.