Just Make Something

The most common advice we hear (and give) on how to start making a project or start doing what you want is to just start. Easy as that. Just do it. Go and make something. The result of dreams without work is zero.

Start right now

Playing it safe. Those are some of the riskiest words in the world, and based purely on fear. (PickTheBrain, 2007) The fear of failure is something that can freeze us in our tracks or cost us the greatest opportunities of our lives. Naturally, there is some practicality to fearing failure – financial uncertainty, stability, and independence can be put at stake when we don’t play it safe.

However, if it is a case of classic fear of failure, it is mostly about ego and should never be what gets in the way of doing what you love. Of course, you don’t have to go “all in” if you have decided to create something for yourself. For example, if you are interested in working as a cinematographer in Dallas, but have no real portfolio of work to show to potential clients or employers, you will need to take steps to make your ambitions a reality.

Do you give up the “day job” and just do it? No, but you do start working every single day after work in order to overcome fears and master your craft. This is advice that holds true for anyone hoping to make something for themselves. You must begin the process by actually getting started! The starting is the most difficult part.

Just get out there and do something. You will quickly realize there is no secret to hard work. Its the getting started thats difficult.

Let’s stick with the cinematographer example. That is someone who can start to master the skills necessary and also promote themselves through simple means, such as a website that highlights their video production skills. It could be something as simple as a project a day, such as shooting ten minutes of video with a phone or camera and putting it out there for the world to see.

Do a project a day and commit at least ten minutes to making something that is important to you. When you become familiar with the work you enjoy doing, your fear of presenting yourself as a professional diminishes too. Dedication and development of skills go hand in hand with success. When you get inside of the craft you hope to put to use, you build a solid work ethic, you gain insight, and your creative energies are inspired.

Whether you are an aspiring cinematographer, a business leader, a creative designer, or anything else, you can just go make something related and overcome any fears that have been standing in your way. Hopefully you realize there is no secret to it. Work is work.