My Top Advice for Creating Consistently & Authentically

My content creation journey began in 2014.

• I’ve now written more than 1,000 pieces (scattered over social media, about 300 are on my blog)
• I’ve self-published 5 books, three of them have 2nd editions already
• I’ve taught dozens of online courses, 24 of which are currently active for sale on my website
• I’ve recorded more than 2,000 videos for my YouTube channel

In this article, I’ll share the top lessons I’ve learned about creating authentic content and showing up consistently, up to this point anyway ;-)

3 Stages of Content

Core to my understanding of creativity is that it happens in stages.

A masterpiece begins as a draft, then a slightly better draft, and on from there.

The way I apply this is to plan my content creation in 3 stages–

1) Prolifically playful — with no attachment to outcome.

2) Polish & promote — this is how new people find me.

3) Productize — this is where money comes from ;-)

Read more: The 3 Stages of Content Creation

Create lightly

I am in it for the long-haul.

Therefore, at every stage, I aim to create lightly.

If it’s the first draft — the first time a piece of writing or a video will be seen by another human — I don’t know if it’ll make an impact, so I might as well create lightly and let go of attachment to any outcome.

If it’s the second or third draft, after I know it’s made an impact and I want to make it better, I make a light effort in polishing it up and resharing it.

Watch my brief pep talk about it: The Real Reason to Create (It’s Not About Money or Followers)…

Be strict about showing up, lenient about the results

I know myself: if I wait until I’m inspired to show up, I’ll be waiting a long time and will have very little output, most of which won’t be that good anyway (in other people’s eyes).

So I know I need to show up consistently and practice being strict about showing up, lenient about the results, and gentle about refocusing…

Creativity fitness

When creating, it really helps me to keep in the forefront of my mind why I’m doing it. It’s not to gain followers or money. (Although when content is done well and consistently over months and years, it of course creates both.)

I spend the effort to create because I see it as a mental and spiritual fitness process.

Every time I show up — especially when I don’t “feel like it” — I strengthen my willpower and ability to generate creative flow at will. It’s a very powerful feeling after a while that I’m no longer a victim to circumstance, but am able to decide and activate my creative powers whenever I’ve planned to.

Create for one caring person

Many people are afraid to create or feel resistance towards it because they don’t realize they’re creating for a judgmental person in their mind. Their inner critic is actually an amalgamation of the critical voices they’ve heard over the years.

Therefore it’s helped me to practice holding — in my mind and heart — the reader/viewer who is an ideal client, someone who is so resonant with my energy signature that it’s almost as if I can never make a mistake in their mind. I imagine that just about everything that I produce brings a positive impact for them.

Read more: Create with one caring person in mind

Make all the mistakes now

You’d rather make all the mistakes and be embarrassing and cringeworthy now — while your audience is so small — compared to the future when your audience is much bigger!

I keep this in mind all the time when I create. Right now my audience is considered sizable compared to most beginner creators, but I still believe that my future audience will be a lot larger, so it’s better that I make mistakes now.

Read more: Your future true fans

Public journaling + Content as ministry

For me there are 2 impulses that motivate me to show up and create consistently.

One is that it’s an opportunity for me to explore my thoughts and practice expressing my energy signature.

Besides “creativity fitness” I also call this public journaling, because my own explorations may be of use to someone else too, but just like journaling, I’m willing to be vulnerable and authentic.

At the same time, my public journaling aims to be useful to others. So I see my content as a ministry to someone out there who may encounter it someday, and be blessed by the story or the insight.

Pep talk: The Ministry of You

Instantly Impressive vs Consistently Authentic

Lastly, I practice letting go of the aspiration to instantly impress anyone with my content.

Instead I believe that as I show up to practice — consistently — the expression of my soul, my energy signature, and the authentic exploration of my life experience, that some people will keep seeing my stuff.

Inevitably, if I show up consistently, I will be discovered by my kindred spirits.

Pep talk: Instantly Impressive vs. Consistently Authentic…

These 8 mindset shifts have allowed me to create consistently for 10 years.

Honestly, I feel like I’m just getting started :)

May you be encouraged and willing to show up consistently, knowing that with each rep, you are getting stronger, wiser, and making positive ripple effects that will go farther than you can imagine.