Learnings from my creator journey
Having bias for action, placing small bets and more in edition 37th
There comes a time in the life of creators, be it online or crafting physical products, when we ask ourselves: will it work? Is the investment of time, energy, and money worth it? It's my belief that, more often than not, it is. Many people discuss ideas, but only some truly take action. As Vanschneider so nicely wrote in his essay:
"The distinction between those who have accomplished what we aspire to – written the book, created the art, pursued the business dream – isn't talent, intelligence, or even luck. It's simply that they did it. They felt the initial rush of an idea and recognized its fleeting nature. They knew if they didn't act immediately, the thrill would fade. So they took action. And they did it again the next day."
Everyone faces constraints and obligations; what sets us apart is acting on what matters most. Outcomes don't always measure success; rather, it's about taking action and trying. For example, as an experienced designer, I created short courses to benefit aspiring designers. These courses could positively impact numerous lives. The focus isn't on profitability or earning millions; instead, it's about cultivating a habit of creation and actively contributing rather than passively consuming. Basak aptly notes in one of her tweets:
"From your perspective, it may seem like everyone has an online course. But that's because you're part of a creator community. The truth is 99% of people are consumers and will remain so. So go ahead and build that dream online course. At worst, you'll gain a wealth of new skills."
Resist the lure of productivity porn – ceaselessly making an idea list or watching endless inspirational videos. Instead, take an idea and strategize how to bring it to fruition within a short timeframe, say two to three weeks. Even if the outcome isn't as expected, there's no room for regret since we can't control results. What we can control is our dedication to creating, learning from the process, and maintaining optimism.
In a world where 8 out of 10 people are passive consumers or offer excuses with a victim mentality, being a relentless creator places you among the minority – those striving to bring positive change to the world and themselves. So yes, it is worth trying to build a product, develop a small course, or write a blog or newsletter – to explore something new and share your gifts with others. That's what I told myself when I created the open-source visual guide — for honing your craft as a designer. I built the guide within four weeks, with minimal costs beyond site hosting. Even if it doesn't make me a millionaire, I've gained knowledge about building websites, marketing, and quickly shipping products.
This is why Daniel Vassallo advises works on multiple small bets – projects that can be completed within two to four weeks and launched swiftly. This approach is preferable to larger endeavours like SaaS or consumer apps that require more time (months or even years) and money; if these larger projects fail, the damage is far greater.
Two types of individuals exist those who seize inspiration and those who remain victims, blaming their circumstances.
