Now I've Done It, But I Needed the Push

I’ve started something new, and my stomach drops every time one of my videos goes live.

It’s the same feeling I had starting this Substack. The same quiver from launching my podcasts five years ago, and of course, before launching a book or sending an article.

Whenever we make something and send it out into the world, is a little scary and also invigorating. And, it’s an important part of the creative process.

For years, I’ve wanted to learn video production and make something short. In a video-heavy world—and as someone who writes for video—it makes business and creative sense to learn YouTube.

I’ve been thinking about this for years. For years.

Geez. Time to stop thinking about it. Time to move out of my creative comfort zone.

Now I’ve done it. I pushed myself before I felt ready. Take Note, my first video project, is live on YouTube.

Being a creator means making things and sharing them. I write books and articles to be read. That’s the job—and the challenge—because it’s easy to overthink and never finish. It’s easy to make excuses and never share the work.

Create is a verb. To be a creator is to act—and to share the results.

Even when they’re imperfect.

We can’t wait to feel ready. The work only gets better once it’s out in the world.

Taking work public—whether to one person or one million— builds accountability. It sharpens the work.

To be a working creative—writer, actor, painter, filmmaker, game creator, podcaster—is to show up. People give us their attention, and we respond by making better work. We’ve got to keep learning, then and practicing. Creating is a collaboration between the maker and the audience.

I was only thinking about making videos until I remembered that. Now, I’ve got a channel.