I know that’s a bold title. But bear with me.
Okay say you’re reading this and you’re already decided to do it. Yay! You’re on the path of your passion project. You’ve hired the support you need. You got a website. My friend, you’ve been diligently researching and you’re ready to get started.
There’s one thing I learned that can help you keep the momentum when the excitement ebbs, when the going gets tough and there is no end in sight.
I’d say bookmark this or just jot it down.
This is what you need to ask yourself when you’re in the thick of it and feel stuck in your latest creative pursuit or you’ve got to show the world what you’ve been working on and it’s freaking you out.
Ready?
You need to ask yourself the following question:
Why/who am I doing this for?
Say you’ve been blogging, for example, and your views are depressing or you’re writing a book but feel like you’ll never get it done. Or maybe you’ve got to deliver your first talk about the subject you’re working on.
How do you overcome your fear that no one will care or worse they’ll hate what you have to say?
You keep going back to this question, which hopefully motivated you to do the thing you’ve always wanted to do in the first place.
Maybe you’re writing children’s books because when you were a kid that’s what lit you up. Or you’re writing a memoir to teach others what you’ve learned about grief and loss. Or maybe you’re creating a product or offering a service because you were suffering and there was nothing like that out there.
Keep thinking of your people, that single person waiting desperately for the thing you have to give that no one else can offer.
Even if there’s just a handful of people reading your blog or liking your social media posts. Even if everyone thinks your idea sucks, if you keep this person in mind, if you can remember why you’re doing this in the first place, then you’ll have fuel during those desperate times.
If you’re early in the process, you may want to test your idea by asking yourself those questions. If your answer sounds like, “I want to make a ton of money or get famous,” then you may need to rethink your perspective. Because what you’re going to have to do to complete your passion project is going to bleed into your time and resources, and you’re going to need a reason that gets you fired up when you’re burnt out.
So what is your answer dear friend?
Why are you doing it and who are you doing it for?
If you feel comfortable, I’d love to read your answers in the comments.