1. Fear.
It’s the number one reason that people don’t publish. It’s the number one reason people stop themselves from documenting their observations and sharing their lives.
- Fear of judgement.
- Fear of inadequacy.
- Fear of failure, and fear of success.
- Fear of being vulnerable.
The fear of not having anything worthy of being said.
2. The Fear Is Real
I recently had a conversation with a close friend and peer of mine. We were reflecting on some of the people in our industry, some of whom we quietly judge, ridicule, or mock, while others we deeply respect and admire.
Within every industry, there will be those that make big, overreaching statements, unsubstantiated by evidence, data, or even thoughtful explanation, but perfectly suited for mass consumption by those looking for shortcuts.
There will be those who have graduated from that, and now have consumed enough to parrot back something that they read in a blog, heard on a podcast, or watched in a video. Still though, they don’t understand it well enough to truly explain it beyond high level repetition. They haven’t thought about it, challenged the idea, or brought about new ideas.
And then there are those that truly “get it.” These brilliant individuals think about ideas, challenge convention wisdom, and find innovative solutions.
3. The Fear is Imaginary
Sometimes, in moments of arrogance, I think myself better than those people that don’t really “get it.”
“I’m more thoughtful and intelligent than they are. I spend more time reading and thinking than they do.”
…but what does that get me?
- It doesn’t make me any friends.
- It doesn’t make them wrong.
- It doesn’t make me right.
- It doesn’t bring their audiences to me.
And most importantly, it doesn’t matter what I think. In fact, I’m often embarrassed by my temporary preoccupations with being a hater.
4. What Really Matters
You may fear people judge you.
They probably do.
You may fear you have nothing to say.
Say something.
You may fear that what you say has no value.
It won’t to many people, but don’t worry about them.
…
The important thing is that you document your perspective.
Why is this important?
- Confronting your ideas makes them real, and gives you the opportunity to examine your thoughts and challenge them.
- Capturing your ideas will make you a better communicator. Over time you will naturally improve.
- Your documentation, will serve as evidence, to support the story of who you are.
The bottom line: if you’re trying to build a brand, position yourself for the promotion, or otherwise leave a lasting impact, don’t let the world pass you by without creating something. If you cannot create something from nothing, start first by simply recording your observations and thoughts, and grow from there.
And finally, if we can live in a world where people actually watch The Real Housewives of Anywhere, then there’s a market for any content; go contribute a verse.