Starting

Often the idea of starting something is very different from the reality of actually starting it. I’ve been struggling with starting a blog for years. The idea that I would be able to find my voice, that there would be catharsis if only I could just get past the beginning. This isn’t just constrained to creating a blog.

Most of my personal project hit a wall after a short burst at the beginning. It’s around that time that the reality of what I’m undertaking sets in and excitement fades. Any worthwhile endeavor has a level of energy that is required that isn’t really evident from the outside looking in.

The great self deception is that good things come easy. Watch any creator video on YouTube and what will go unnoticed or unappreciated is the editing. The wall of effort from the creator is invisible in the final cut. The dedication and effort never makes the final cut, but always is there in the making. The wall becomes all too real not long after the start.

A friend is has been starting a podcast for about two years. He’s getting close to publishing a first episode, but still hasn’t made the leap. The best advice I can give him is to start and find a pace that will allow you to just keep when the wall comes. Hopefully he’ll be able to take that next step and put himself out there. My hope might be more for my sake then for his; everyone needs a hero, right?

Well, here’s to taking your own advice and maybe being someone’s hero.