I’m going to fail. Yes, I am. I will absolutely fail. Then I’m going to try again, and I’m probably going to fail again. And this will repeat for the rest of my life. But that doesn’t mean I won’t find success through my failures. It just means that I’m going to have every opportunity possible to learn how to be better. A better father, a better husband, a better writer, you name it. Failure doesn’t mean the end of the journey. It just means another opportunity to figure out what I can learn regarding my own shortcomings.
Even recently, I’ve failed myself in regard to content creation and writing in general. I’ve let myself believe that nobody wants to read what I have to say. Nobody wants to listen to what comes out of my mouth. Nobody wants this, nobody wants that. Blah, blah, blah. This isn’t a failure like failing a company and getting fired (which I have also done). This is a failure of self, believing that I’m somehow lesser than others because maybe some other content creators have found success more quickly. Or maybe they’ve managed to get in with a group that has helped accelerate their success. Maybe they write the kind of content that people want to engage with all day, such as political stuff, while I’m trying to get away from that mentality and work toward creating more positive, helpful content, or at least stuff that’s funny and entertaining.
Now, when I felt this sort of failure, I could have given up. I could have stopped posting. I could have gone back to writing news and hoped for the best. But I’m not going to give up on what I prefer. I am not going to give up on my own goals just to make people I don’t know content I don’t like.
People in general (given the metrics and the articles which end up with the most likes and engagement) seem to like articles that, to me, are incredibly boring due to the repetitive nature of the content. I’ve read several different articles today that contain the exact same information, just labeled differently and worded differently. Why would I want to read that?
I know people do their best. A lot of writers are amazing at reporting the news, and I support everyone who writes, regardless of their content. I’m not trying to diss anyone or be rude. That’s why I won’t mention the articles in particular or any names at all. But I, myself, am not someone who feels entertained or informed from reading the same thing several dozen times, just relabeled and repolished.
Instead, I like the concept of actually finding joy in the things I read, even if they are just informative. I don’t want to read the same article over and over again by different people just because I like them, and then spend the whole time I am reading the article wondering, why am I even reading this at this point? What’s the point? It’s not bringing me happiness. It’s not entertaining. I’m not having fun. I’m not even learning anything new.
Rather than joining the crowd, so to speak, or giving in to that mentality and getting frustrated that some of these individuals have grown immensely as a result of what I would consider repetitive behavior, I am going to mind my own damn business and keep focusing on the path that I’ve decided is best for me. That path is trying to find ways to be more informative, more entertaining, and not redundant or repetitive.
Those were my shortcomings. Those were my own failings. Letting myself down by getting frustrated and telling myself internally that maybe I’m out of my depth. Maybe I can’t do it. Maybe I’m incapable. Which all started from my own self-failure of comparing myself to others. Comparing yourself to others is something you never want to get trapped doing. I know for me it is often incredibly discouraging, and it benefits absolutely no one.
But I didn’t let any of that get the better of me, at least not for long, and I’m not going to let it continue to drive me backward. Instead, I’m going to listen to that voice that has been getting louder and louder as I get older and older. And that voice simply says: who fucking cares?
Who cares if I fall flat on my face again and again? Who cares what other people are doing? Who cares if it takes me a few years to figure out exactly what kind of content I need to make in order to grasp people’s attention while remaining true to my own desires?
Because you know what? You know what’s best for me and my well-being and state of mind?
To keep trying. To keep doing what it is that I feel my calling is, not what other people feel my calling should be. That has never worked for me. Not once in my life has working toward other people’s goals done me any good.
I’m going to continue along this path. I’m going to keep working for myself. I’m going to keep creating the content I want to create. And if I decide later on that it’s best to pivot in another direction, then that’s what I’m going to do.
Because I get one life, and I have no idea how long it’s going to be. No one does.
I’d rather live my life to the best of my abilities, doing the things that bring me the most happiness, entertainment, and joy, rather than simply doing what other people think I should do or what has brought other people success.
If you wish to support my work in any way, please consider clicking one of the buttons below. I appreciate every single one of you. Thank you for reading.
KR I appreciate your writing. I find your articles bring a huge relief from obsessively worrying about the state of our country and the world. Sometimes we are own worst enemies when we let ourselves feel like we're not good enough. So for an outside of yourself view... you are good enough! Go forth and write!!
Just keep cranking it out and you'll figure out what brings you joy and purpose, right?
I can't read everyone's stuff every day. Especially about the global pedos and their wars and scams.
Some of my favorite writers post multiple times a day. I'm not even going to try and read all that. I'm running a different business and it involves 12 hours of screen time (2x 27inch screens) a day, plus managing a team. Who has time to read?
Having said that, here I am. I obviously took a few minutes to check out what you were on about. LOL Did that sound British?
So yeah man, I wish you all the success in the world with this. And you know that's the truth or I wouldn't bother to blab on like this.
You definitely have a talent for it, so just find the flow and write whatever the fuck you want, and have fun doing it, and we'll see where it leads.