There’s a story about Jerry Seinfeld’s success being attributed to the fact that he writes a joke every day and that he doesn’t break the chain.
Ultimately the way to get better at doing something is to do it often.
Even better, do it every day.
Don’t focus on the results; focus instead on the process of showing up and doing the work every day.
You might not write a hilarious joke every day, but in practicing writing jokes every day, you will for sure write a bunch of really good ones.
And the more jokes you write, the more good jokes you will start to write.
Seinfeld also said this:
If I don’t do a set in two weeks, I feel it. I read an article a few years ago that said when you practice a sport a lot, you literally become a broadband: the nerve pathway in your brain contains a lot more information. As soon as you stop practicing, the pathway begins shrinking back down. Reading that changed my life. I used to wonder, Why am I doing these sets, getting on a stage? Don’t I know how to do this already? The answer is no. You must keep doing it. The broadband starts to narrow the moment you stop.”
Why am I telling you this?
Because I started writing this blog 10 1/2 years ago. I wrote a blog post every day. I was super consistent for about five years.
Then life happened and the kids got older and I got divorced and I moved and my whole life was kind of upended and everything fell off track.
I almost totally stopped writing blog posts.
My broadband shrank down to almost nothing.
I want (and need) to start writing daily blog posts again.
Sometimes I get so caught up with the idea of writing a “good” blog post and then I end up writing nothing at all.
That’s what happens when you focus on the result and not the process.
Anyway, I’m 4/4 heading into tonight. I’ve written four posts in the last four days.
But MAN I have been having a really hard time writing a blog post tonight.
A little bit of perfection paralysis and then putting pressure on myself and the words weren’t coming out and then it was super late and then I was like JUST WRITE SOMETHING.
And, well, here we are.
A blog post, albeit not a great blog post, has been written.
I’m five for five.
See you tomorrow.
Struggling with consistency?
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Like they say, write what you feel write what you think. Don’t worry about how it’s received or by whom it’s about you. Just share your feelings and if it receives a few negative comments so what. Jerry S is getting paid for his comments, while your expressing what’s on your mind or something you’ve experienced.
I’ve been reading your blog posts for a little over half of those 10 years. I’m not on facebook so I really look forward to your posts. I’m glad you you are back: ) What you said about focusing on the process is so true.
You are my hero!
Keep going, Susie! You’re as inspiring today as you were so many years ago.