Some of the recent blogs on our site can merge to not only inspire this week’s post but motivate you to create whatever it is that you do.
Our Cassie Douglas recently wrote about AI, which is obviously something that lots and lots (and lots) of people are writing about, doing podcasts on, giving talks about, and providing news reporting for. On a day when you feel that you’re drawing a blank, there’s going to be a temptation to “just have AI create something.” Be careful. Once you open that door, it could be a trap.
I wrote a blog last week about the importance of consistency. I cited examples of a blog post on this site every Monday since September 2014, an episode of my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast every Wednesday since February 2014 and posting seven days a week on that show’s Instagram account – even though an episode “only” comes out one day a week. One of the points I made was that when you miss once, you make it easy to skip again another time and another time.
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| Consistency is Key |
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So, when you say, “I’ll just have AI (write my blog, my song, my script for my YouTube video, the next chapter in my book),” you’ve given yourself permission to do that a second time. And a third time.
The fact is, pride (not ego, but enthusiasm) is such a great feeling, especially when you have put so much time and work into something. When a video goes viral or there’s lots of engagement on a social media post that you put a lot of preparation into or, even better, your song gets lots and lots and lots of streams, or your book sales are trending upward, it’s almost like a runner crossing the finish line at the New York Marathon. There is relief but mostly elation.
A lot of guests come on my podcast and say that they just want people to feel something from the songs they perform. So, when an audience member comes up to them and tells them about the impact that a song had on them, it made all the re-writes and time in the studio and tossing and turning worth it.
When a reader clicks Reply on the weekly e-newsletter or a listener comments on Spotify about an episode of the podcast, it fills me up because I know that the content I’m creating is connecting with them.
On the podcast I mention that if you enjoy what I’m doing you can buy me a coffee. Within a short amount of time of each other, two listeners have recently done so. The message that each of them wrote brought a smile to my face akin to a proud daddy.
So, when you’re having a day when you want to mail it in (as in, quit), put it on autopilot (meaning, use AI), or slog your way through it because you’ve convinced yourself that “nobody cares,” take inspiration from these victories, no matter how big or small.
I also like to keep printouts of nice things people have written. If a client sends a kind email or someone puts a recommendation on my LinkedIn account, these are opportunities to get a hard copy to refer back to when you’re having a down day and wondering why you should even bother with that next chapter or that next song idea or that podcast interview or the YouTube video that you think nobody is going to watch.
I would also encourage you to surround yourself with other creators. Take a trip to Nashville and/or go to a songwriters festival to re-light the spark that will get you churning out more original songs. Attend something like Podfest Multimedia Expo to be with a couple thousand podcasters for a few days. Or if you’re a YouTuber, go to VidFest in Atlanta in August so you can get inspired to make more great videos. There are lots of writers’ conferences that authors can go to, so that’s a terrific way to learn, network, and squash the temptation to self-isolate.
Remember that we are still in Mental Health Awareness Month. If you hear enough about it, sadly it can subliminally work against you. There is so much being done around it that it might backfire and have you sink into depression. Do not let that seep in and take you down. You have a gift and there are people who support and enjoy your talents.
I even like to take time to smile and be grateful that I don’t have to sit in crazy New York or L.A. traffic only to drive to a job that I hate. The fact is that I love the Tampa Bay area, and I love what I do. Those are great inspirations outside the scope of listens, views, or followers. Maybe there’s a local park or activity or attraction that you can go see because it brings you joy, and the hidden benefit might be that it could result in some inspiration.
Get excited and go create!
For more than twenty years I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more. What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to? Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.