Thoughts on writing, music, people, and life.
“I’m afraid of being judged,” she said, after I asked her why she hadn’t shared her Substack on Twitter yet. She had already written 2 articles. 2 articles, but no public announcement. I immediately guffawed in close proximity to her face. “No you’re right, I realize how dumb it is when I say it out […]
Read more "Want to help somebody? Laugh in their face."For the last two weeks, I’ve been designing Video Storytelling Class. It’s a self-paced course that teaches you everything I know* about telling stories with the magic of video. It’s one of the hardest projects I’ve created so far. Know this: there is zero correlation between time spent creating a product and the amount of […]
Read more "Creating an online course is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done."Too often we misattribute skill and practice to talent and giftedness. From hitting a fastball at 90 mph to recording 90 episodes of a podcast, we chalk it up to talent, thinking we could never do the same. “If only I were that talented.” “If only I had been born with those gifts.” “They just […]
Read more "Talent is visible, skills are invisible"Independence is never merely handed to you. Financial independence, relying on your skills to earn money for you; creative independence, making whatever the hell you want; intellectual independence, never letting a 3rd party make decisions on your behalf — these are earned. If you seek independence in your life, you must wage a war against […]
Read more "Independence is a costly battle."The internet is powerful. With speed I can’t comprehend, I can upload something I created, sharing it with people with scale I can’t comprehend, either. I can’t comprehend the internet. The internet is too powerful. The sheer speed, scale, and accessibility of the internet is mind-boggling. Even with the cheapest software, anyone can create content. […]
Read more "Connection and content"I saw those words on a TV screen at a bar last night. I didn’t catch the whole thing, but it looked like an ad for a major news network. Considering YouTube’s demonetization of Bret Weinstein, I think we should take this message seriously. Yes, it’s true. We should listen to experts, not influencers. Experts […]
Read more "“Listen to experts, not influencers”"Much like how science demystifies the world around us, teaching demystifies ourselves. Consider the kung fu guru who claims he can kill a man in one blow. He refuses to teach you his special power because, deep down, he knows he’s bullshitting you. The kung fu guru is attached to the mysticism surrounding his sacred […]
Read more "The Legend of The Kung Fu Guru"(Video repurposed from this blog post)
Read more "If you know it, teach it (the video)"Anytime I create anything, I ask myself two questions: “How good can I possibly make this thing considering my current abilities?”“How good can I possibly make this thing considering my tech stack?” To combat perfectionism, I accept the limitations of my abilities and tools. I work with what I’ve got. That’s all we ever can […]
Read more "How I combat perfectionism and publish everyday."Nobody can start a podcast for you. Nobody can write your blog but you. Nobody but you can turn on your mic, plug in your laptop, and start sharing your perspective with the world. After all, the hardware’s yours. But the software is everyone’s. Sites like Twitter and WordPress are there for anybody who understands […]
Read more "It’s never been easier to self-start."
