I Posted Online Everyday For A Year, Here's 7 Things I Learned.
A year ago I made a decision to post everyday for a year. I could never imagine how much I would learn, grow and adapt from that experience. 365 Positive and Educational Posts later...
Read Time: 5 mins.
Content Shared: 2 Books, 1 Podcast, 7 Actionable Tips, a GIF of Mel Robbins, and some hard truths.
Why A Post Everyday For A Year?
The concept arose from a desire to build my personal brand on LinkedIn, paired with influence from Gary Vaynerchuk, and the psychological concept of social accountability. I knew if I started with ‘Day 1 of 365…’, then I would immediately be obligated to continue. Thus, Day X of 365 Positive and Educational Posts on LinkedIn was born.
Let’s Get One Thing Straight
I was NOT a writer. I did (and still do) rely heavily on apps like Grammarly to ensure my copy doesn't look like something written by a six-year-old. Because I started with something short, like a post that I knew few people would see, and I was confident no one would remember. I was able to shed the mantle of fear and hit the post button. Enter the first thing I learned.
1. Just Start
You probably have lots of ideas. You’ll probably have ideas before you’re done reading this. Want to know what separates those with ideas and those who achieve their goals?
Action.
I know that was a tough truth, but it is exactly that, the truth.
It's easy to say “Tomorrow.” It's easy to say, “When I'm ready.” But I promise you. There is nothing like the motivation of starting. Start with something, anything, to get the ball rolling. Momentum is easier to keep once you’ve started.
TIP - Make it easy. I didn’t start by writing a whole book. I didn’t start with a newsletter or by creating an entirely themed and branded podcast. I started with one post. Start small, then increase each day.
2. Grow, Change, Adapt
Here’s a fun fact. 365 Positive and Educational Posts started as 365 Positive OR Educational Posts. Around Day 60, I realized AND was a better word. If you were to go back far enough (please send me a screenshot if you find anything below Day 100!) You will find posts about UX Design, then Marketing, then Fitness and Fasting, and all other kinds of random things.
It’s a journey and a process. Give it the time it deserves.
What’s important is that you are aware of what is resonating, not only with others but with you. What do you enjoy learning about? What seems to come easily or makes sense to you? What would you post regardless of the engagement? Be true to yourself and adapt as needed.
TIP - Find the thing you like talking about or creating. This makes it an enjoyable experience to share with others.
3. Not Everything Will Work
Another harsh truth, I know. Not everything you produce will go viral, will sell, or will even garner engagement. The number of posts I have had (and still have) with little engagement or activity is far higher than those that have skyrocketed. Sometimes the things you do at the end of a long day with little energy will smash.
Sometimes the ones you spend hours crafting for an hour will flop. The algorithm gods are all over the place. So just keep doing what gets you fired up, F**k the numbers.
TIP - Become unattached to the results, don’t get in the habit of continually checking your notifications. If you have to turn them off. Schedule a time each day to check in and re-engage with followers.
4. Learn, Then Learn More
Throughout this journey, I have got better at so many things. Writing is one of them. If you would have told me 5 years ago, I would have my own newsletter and be a contributor to an accredited and published magazine. I would have probably laughed.
Learning also helps you ideate more content. How would you ever run out of things to say when you are continually taking in new information?
Learn, make mistakes, and stop worrying about perfection.
TIP - Regurgitating and restructuring interesting information helps solidify things within your memory. So not only are you sharing knowledge, you increase your retention of it
5. It's not always easy
It's not, bottom line. Committing to something big, to something that will change your life, isn’t going to be a smooth road 24/7. Strangely that is part of what makes it all worth it tho. If it was easy, wouldn’t everyone do it? If it was easy, would it really be worth doing?
There were days when I really didn't feel like writing. There are still days when I wonder, "Is this all worth it?". But honestly, if I have changed ONE life. Then it is and will still be worth it.
TIP - Just because it’s not easy doesn’t mean you can’t make it EASIER. Set an alarm, build a schedule or get an accountability partner.
6. You can do it
Seriously, that thing that you are wondering if you can do. You can, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next year. BUT, if you start, if you learn, and if you fall in love with the process, you will get it.
One of my favourite quotes right now is from Alex Hormozi. “Put in the work to make it unreasonable that you wouldn't get it.”
TIP - Re-read these 7 things to help enforce the fact that you can do it. Start, start small, adapt, grow, learn, find ways to make it easy, and please don’t pay attention to the numbers.
7. And Lastly…There Is No End
I may have started off intending to only do 365 Days. But I found out pretty soon that it was never about doing it for a year. It was about the impact.
When you fall in love with the art of doing it, of getting better, of changing lives, and of providing value, you become detached from the end goal. Instead, it becomes about the process. It shouldn’t be about winning the game. It’s not about high scores or who’s better than who.
It’s about giving and being better than you were yesterday.
TIP - Remember to continually remind yourself of WHY you are doing something.
It Can’t Be A Newsletter Without…
Giving you some more information to go and explore. For this one, I wanted to include some powerful resources that can help you on your own journey.
Atomic Habits: James Clear - One of the most pivotal books I read and a great way to start understanding habit forming.
The Greatness Mindset: Lewis Howes - You’ve most likely seen his podcast in this newsletter, but his new book is a framework to help you unlock your inner greatness.
Identifying Your Purpose: How to Re-Frame a Mid-Life Crisis and What Purpose 'Feels' Like - w/ Amy Rowlison .001: From Stress to Success - The first episode of my new show was with podcast powerhouse Amy Rowlison. Host of her own show ‘Focus on Why.’ Understanding your Why is such a key component of this whole journey.
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