It’s a question worth asking. Especially before you embark on any creative pursuit.
An alternative question, one I first heard from Seth Godin, would be, “What is the change you seek to make?”
Approached from another angle, it’s also the second habit of the seven of Highly Effective People: “Begin with the end in mind.”
Whenever I endeavored to write publicly and I didn’t ask myself this question first, I would abandon the endeavor altogether. “Who would want to read that?” I would ask myself. Well, that depends. Who is it that I’m trying to write for?
In terms of the smallest viable audience, what if it was an audience of one? And what if that audience of one was yourself? What if you made the kind of art that you always wanted to see, something you could be proud of even if you were the only to read it after you shared it with the public?
But other than making something you’ve always wanted, something that you yourself would enjoy if you were to be its only audience ever, the question “what is this for?” helps us focus on a purpose beyond our own benefit.
This isn’t about becoming famous, and it’s not about becoming wealthy. Those would be frustrating metrics to measure every published piece against, and if anything it might be the quickest way to quitting. Our reflexive fear, the fear of embarrassment, can sometimes be as narcissistic as our most self-absorbed dream, so it helps to focus on helping others instead of helping yourself.
Here are some worthwhile reasons to write and create:
- To help
- To teach
- To encourage
- To delight
- To inspire
- To illuminate
- To entertain
- To enjoy the craft
Before you sit down at your desk or work station, or if you find yourself about to abandon the endeavor at the thought of it, ask yourself, “What is this for?” Why are you doing this in the first place?
Answering that question might help you forget your fear. Or you might feel it, but you push past it anyway.
