Inspiration is like a disease, and its symptoms are the words “I don’t feel like it right now.” What can you do when you need a boost of creative inspiration, and it just isn’t coming? Work anyway.
That’s probably not the most inspiring advice you’ve gotten today, but working regardless of how you feel has serious benefits. So read on and enjoy this post about how to jump-start your career and your inspiration.
1. You’ll have something to show. It might suck, but it’s a start
You don’t feel like writing tests today, but do it anyway (this is my business now: writing SAT questions). Sure, it won’t be your best work, but editing is better than having nothing to show for your time.
Learning to write tests well also means wading through a lot of stuff. Better get started on that learning curve now. Sure, it’ll be hard at first, but if you think running an online business is supposed to be easy, let’s burst that bubble right now.
2. Inspiration gets in the habit of showing up regularly
The more regular your work schedule, the more you’ll notice your creative juices flowing at just the right time every day. Somerset Maugham’s inspiration showed up at 9 a.m. every morning because he showed up at 9 a.m. every morning.
The more you call on it, the more it will show up. Think of your mind like an economy – supply is governed by demand. For the same reason, your body feels more energetic when you exercise; the more you work, the more inspired you’ll feel. Isn’t that what you promised yourself? Supply will begin to meet the demand you put on it. That’s what successful marketing is about!
3. It’s what a professional does
Amateurs have hobbies they work on when they feel like it. Professionals have jobs. These jobs pay them money. These jobs are serious and shouldn’t be treated any less. You show up to a salaried job every day; why would you give your online business any less dedication?
Sure, you’re the boss now, but you still have to stay relevant to your target group. You wouldn’t accept that kind of amateur behavior from an employee; why accept that from yourself?
Professionals get to work. Every day. Because it’s what they do for a living. Not for fun. Not for pleasure. For a living. To eat, bathe, and have a place to sleep. Are you willing to leave all of those things to the whim of inspiration? Me neither. What can you and I do about it? Get to work.
Don’t Chase Purple Cows: A Guide To Maximizing Professional Creativity
Seth Godin coined the term “Purple Cow” to describe revolutionary products and services. Purple Cows are different, unique. They stand out from the crowd, get noticed, and find success.
That’s great, but don’t be fooled by these Purple Cows. They’re nice. But they’re also distracting. And when you’re thinking about choosing a new career path. Reflect and consider your options.
Not Everyone Can Be Unique
Being unique can only happen so many times in any given niche. It doesn’t take long before you end up copying someone. Ballpoint pens are a good (if not mundane) example. The Bic pen was revolutionary only because it worked.
People had tried the same technology many, many times before. The design wasn’t unique. The technology wasn’t unique. The success was: Being unique happens once.
After that, you’re just improving on what was already there. How many people do you think can develop a truly unique product and see it through from start to finish before anyone else in that market has the same idea?
If history is a good indicator, very few. So, where do you go from here? Are true Purple Cows a myth? A fluke? If they do exist, how do you make one? What is the secret to creating the truly unique, one-of-a-kind?
Uniqueness is Resistance
Searching for Purple Cows is a form of resistance, a way to procrastinate. You’d love to get to work today… but it doesn’t feel right yet. Maybe tomorrow you’ll have a better idea.
That kind of excuse is logical, which makes it even more dangerous. It is resistance at its most insidious. The resistance says, “If you can’t do it right, don’t do it. You don’t want your name on something that isn’t your best work.”
Believe that, and you’re doomed. Your work needs to suck. There is no better way to be great than learning how not to suck. You can’t learn how not to suck without keeping on working. Chasing Purple Cows marks an amateur. Getting to work marks a pro.
Let the Cow Find You
Any great writer has 100 shitty pieces to every 1 piece of brilliance. Any great painter has 100 shitty paintings to every 1 masterpiece. Brilliance comes out of failure. Aerosmith said it best: “You gotta lose to know how to win.” Trying to be brilliant stifles brilliance. Trying to be funny stifles humor. Searching for the Cow stifles the Cow.
The only way to create a Purple Cow is to let the cow find you. Sit down every day and work. Work with only your work in mind. You may create 100 mediocre products, but eventually, the Cow will find you. You’ll find 100 ways to be better at what you do and 100 products to show for your effort.