I don't know how to start...
The "secret" to success
Hey Friends!
Happy Republic Day Weekend! :)
For those who are new, this is how this weekly edition of Raw and Real unrolls:
1 Raw and Real Conversation
2 Raw One Liners
3 Real Gratitudes/3 things I loved in works of others
Let’s go :))
Raw and Real Conversation
I often get messages from writers or college kids or people in jobs who want to make writing a full-time career.
A lot of them are inspired by the fact that I switched my career from a full-time job as a CA to a full-writer, and want to understand the roadmap.
But here is the sad part:
When I go and look up their social media profile, they have written only one comment in the last 6 months!
Or when I ask for something they have written, they often respond they are waiting for an opportunity.
That is devastating for me to hear.
Because here is the truth:
There are no opportunities waiting for you to make you a writer.
There is no roadmap.
Just start, and the roadmap and the opportunities will appear out of nowhere!
That is it, my friend. That is it.
Just start. Don’t wait for someone to shine the light on you. Be the light you are looking for.
If you want to write, write for yourself starting today. I have been writing my blog since February 2015!
If you want to be a musician, compose music starting today.
If you want to run a marathon, start with going for a walk around the block.
This does not apply to college students only, applies to every single one of us, who want to start something new but are unsure where to start.
For example, my father runs a shop of drafting of legal deeds and documents for the last 45 years. He is also a stamp vendor. Over these decades, he went from starting with typewriter and physical entries of stamp papers in a register, to a fully automated system right now. Nowadays I am also teaching him ChatGPT to make the best use of AI.
A sad example comes from an acquaintance who has written a book, and DMed me yesterday about their frustration.
“I have reached out to every publisher, and every single one of them have refused. I am very very tired of reaching out. There is no way for people like me to get their opportunities” And then they continued their sulking.
I usually do not respond to anyone’s sulking. If you want solutions, let’s discuss like adults. Not sulk like kids.
So I kept quiet for a few hours, and then recommended them going with self-publishing. Very sternly, not in my usual humble tonality.
“I tried that too. They are charging a LOT,” they responded.
Then I guided them to a free self-publishing platform.
They haven’t responded to me as yet :)
The number one thing you need, my friend, is the art of figuring it out. You had a playbook till your college days and we all know how well it “served” us. The world out here is filled with people and created by people who had no playbook and played by their own rulebook.
What’s stopping you? Other than you?
Reminds me of what Naval once said:
So, where do we begin, if you are stuck?
Here are some suggestions:
Do the best you can, wherever you are in life. The path to glories in the future is filled with a gorgeous frame of mind in the present. To understand more, read Chapter 6 of The Magic book.
You can start at any time. I did a writing internship (in 2020) at the age of 28 WHILE I was in a full-time job in my previous career. Ego and excellence do not share the same room. (I even had a few friends ask 3 years later “Who does an internship at 28?” My response: Why not, if you are so passionate?)
Know that it is going to be difficult at the beginning. However, compared to living in a self-created hell, the hell of execution is almost a heaven. Also, people are more than willing to help those who have started and are stuck on “something specific” instead of “I don’t know where to start and guide me”.
At the end, I want to leave you with just one thing:
Whatever you do, make sure you do it out of love. Not out of FOMO and seeing others getting successful at following their passion.
Passions turn into success when fuelled by love, not out of FOMO.
2 Raw One-Liners:
You can't help anyone if you are starving yourself.
There is a harmonious correlation between people who love working long hours and people who have zero processes and systems in place. We fulfill our need of validation with our lack of systems. Sigh.
3 (for) Real wonderful lines I came across, and you must read them too:
A funny thing about rule-loving people is that to them it seems more important to impose punishments than to actually solve problems. (The Answer is No, Fredrik Backman)
Intellectually, I knew this. But emotionally, I was devastated. (The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins)
The humbler the person, the stronger the character. (The Everyday Hero Manifesto, Robin Sharma)
That is it, friends!
I hope you have a great weekend.
See you next Saturday :)
Stay raw, stay real
Nishtha Gehija
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The Career Changing Guide: My bestseller so far :)
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Every Writer Needs to Read this: I wish I had this one, when I was starting out as a writer
This is What You are Looking for (Paperback): Small Life Lessons for a Happier Life