“Money is a poor motivator” – A *really* wise person, somewhere
It is so easy to get caught up in the emotional consequences of audience-building. It’s a two-edged sword, really.
On the one hand, there has been no other time in history like this one. Anyone—and I do mean anyone, can experience seemingly overnight success, in just about any niche or industry, just by putting themselves out there.
On the other hand, though, people who struggle with pride and self-confidence (such as yours truly) face the terrible danger of getting caught up in the personality contest. Every rejection and acceptance is taken personally.
This gets even worse when you consider that, for business-building, you may begin to attach your very ability to provide for your family to how well you are at getting the attention of others.
That said, there is a two-pronged piece of advice that I think can help anyone getting caught up in the attention trap.
First, it’s about the art.
Truly. I don’t care if you are writing, creating videos, producing a podcast—you name it. There is an *art* to it, and *that* must be the goal. If you don’t love what you are doing, don’t do it. It isn’t sustainable, and it isn’t worth it.
Second, it’s about showing up.
Every day. Like a machine. Small, consistent movements. Greg Koukl, a spiritual mentor of mine, shared the story of his organization’s growth on a podcast recently. It was incredibly thoughtful and inspiring.
This is notable *precisely* because there has never been a sort of “inspiration” in the growth of his organization. He just kept showing up, blooming where he was planted, and watched God use that faithfulness and mold it into something beautiful.
Keeping showing up. Create great art. Do good work; day in, day out. And watch what happens. The results will astound you.