Zelensky, John Krasinski's mom, and my stupid idea
On not shying away from pain and uncertainty.
A couple of years ago, I decided to make a bank. The idea was solid: content creators are businesses. The world just doesn’t get it yet.
If only I were to set up a financial organisation that would give these people loans, they’d be able to quit their day jobs and have a runway to build and scale their content businesses. That was the plan.
While this sounds like an excellent idea, it really isn’t.
Yes, content creators operate like individual entrepreneurs or freelancers. Yes, their audience is an asset that can be monetised in various ways (ads, selling courses, eBooks, etc.)
But giving people money when they don’t know what they are doing is never a good idea. Most budding entrepreneurs or content creators don’t need money — they need direction. Willpower. Discipline. Or, simply, time. Many an entrepreneur has failed simply because they quit too early.
John Krasinski, the star of the hit TV show The Office, was offered the role of Jim three weeks after he decided to quit acting.
His mom convinced him to stay.
We often think that alleviating burdens (such as lack of money or facing uncomfortable situations or hardships) is the way. We view pain as a problem and obstacles as reasons to change course. We give up when things get too hard or too uncertain.
But more often than not, people need hardships to become better versions of themselves. And obstacles and pain are simply inevitable.
Look at Zelensky (President of Ukraine). Growing up in Russia, I’ve known him as an actor long before he became the president. Looking at the footage from his early presidency, it seems he bit off more than he could chew. Sitting at the table with Angela Merkel and Putin in 2021, he looks like a deeply emotional and creative person, not cut out for the drama and brutality of international politics.
Now look at him. He’s arguably the bravest man on the planet, a true leader and modern-day Churchill who single-handedly stands up to the horrors his country is facing.
I am not comparing being a writer to waging war, of course. But dire conditions, difficulties, desperation — all of these things are not only natural (especially for a creative life), they are essential for growth.
When shit hits the fan, it does not just test character; it makes character. Discomfort pulls things out of you.
Instead of running from these things, we should embrace them as part of the journey.
Yesterday, I spoke with a friend on the phone. He told me about his idea of creating a support group for writers, so they don’t have to go through the motions and pains of pitching their ideas to publications alone. “It takes years for most writers to become successful. Surely, this can be changed,” he said.
Well, um, no.
If everyone can quickly become successful, the idea of “success” stops being valuable. Going through the pains and motions of pitching, having writer’s block, worrying about finances, not knowing where your next paycheck will come from, feeling jealous, envious, scared, and alone — all of these things are natural and part of life. They are also part of any creative journey.
Avoiding these things will only turn you into a shrunken, half-version of yourself. Helping other people to prevent these things is ridding them of the essential steps on their journey and creative development.
Life is like a computer game. Specific knowledge is unlocked only after going through certain hurdles and difficulties.
This is why most of these “support groups” – while valuable to some people – are generally pointless. Sooner or later, they turn into groups where people cry to each other about how difficult their creative life is, which is fine as long as you don’t expect anything else.
Here’s the thing. The narrative around creative success is flawed. In a world where everyone tells you to follow your passion and find your bliss, it’s easy to get sidetracked and believe that all you need to become successful is to find what you love.
Sadly, the finding part is only 10% of the game.
The hardest part — which seems to overlook in their success stories — is the constant grind, the dull days, the pain, uncertainty, and chaos, that a creative life consists of, especially in the early years.
It takes years, sometimes decades, to build the life you want. Many don’t even accomplish it within a lifetime. That’s because it’s valuable. If it were up for grabs, everyone would do it.
The process is straightforward: do what you believe in, and don’t give up. But hell, don’t expect it to be easy. And if you give up because things got too hard, perhaps this creative freelance thing is just not for you.
But you know what? That’s ok too.
Plenty of people work 9-5 and enjoy the stability and comfort it brings. There’s no shame in doing what works for you. Even if society doesn’t think it’s “cool”.
As they say in America, “you do you”.
I love your writing. Spot on. Finding what you love to do is hard enough - let alone following it through.