The ironic thing about doing the work that matters is that what we most want is also what we most fear: to be seen. We can’t bring ourselves to publish the short story, but we hope you’ll want to reread it again and again. We’re afraid to play the new song we’ve been working on for weeks, but we hope the last note is greeted with cheers and applause.
The more we care, the more we’re scared. But that’s the only work worth doing — the work we care about. That’s the work that matters.
Here is a list of activities that count as hiding:
- Taking notes
- Reading
- Doing the dishes
- Organizing your notes
- Editing
- Outlining
- Brainstorming
- Studying
- Taking a course
- Watching videos
None of the above risks being seen. Thus, hiding.
You could also look at that list as a checklist of excuses. How many of them are you using to avoid being seen? In place of sharing your work? To delay shipping your product? To not test your idea, even if you might be right, because you could also be wrong?
Sure, it might not be ready. But there’s a difference between your work not being ready and you not feeling ready.
If being seen scares you, be a Professional, someone who prioritizes and follows through on showing up regardless of what is seen when they do. The Professional shows up whether it’s good or bad because that’s not what matters most.
What matters is how they will make their work better.
