In the increasingly fast-paced and chaotic world of digital marketing, I often find myself disoriented with overwhelm, struggling to make sense of all of the moving parts that seem to demand so much from me – technologies I should be mastering, apps I should be downloading and social platforms I should be leveraging.
As wonderful as the Internet is with its richness of information and resources, as a creator, I have realised a major pitfall: there is limited space within its realms to truly create.
For every article that I read, every video tutorial that I watch, every webinar I attend and every social post I engage with, I lose minutes and hours of writing and creating my own content.
What also happens in the process is that my intent and focus begins to shift away from the joy of creating to this egotistical desire to gain followers, build my brand and monetize my passions. The unfortunate part of this is that it ends up changing the work and my artistic practice suddenly becomes a burden and a struggle.
In her book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, Elizabeth Gilbert captures this idea quite humorously:
“To yell at your creativity, saying, “You must earn money for me!” is sort of like yelling at a cat; it has no idea what you’re talking about, and all you’re doing is scaring it away, because you’re making really loud noises and your face looks weird when you do that.”
Somehow, Gilbert’s words are becoming more and more prevalent in my life, as I’ve been blessed with more time and space to explore my creativity. Perhaps now is the time to put her wisdom into practice.
I have spent the last three months consuming content, learning from amazing, creative people whom so generously share their skills and experiences.
I’ve educated myself on the best tools and technologies for digital marketers, the best tips and techniques for bloggers and the best strategies and advice for entrepreneurs.
But now it’s time to commit to me and my dreams. And I urge you to do the same.
Commit to your passion. Commit to your practice. Commit to your purpose.
Nobody can teach you exactly how to create your success, it is something that we as unique individuals must discover for ourselves. And it must align with what success, fulfilment and happiness means to you.
What is your vision and mission? Your values?
In the process of looking outside for inspiration from others, may we also look inside for inspiration within ourselves.
May we truly learn to live creatively and beyond fear.