You’re Doing It Wrong — Advice for Getting Un-Stuck

Lately I've been hearing a lot of questions from beginners and the thing is… they aren’t the right questions to ask.

They're getting stuck on the next step. They’re getting in their own way. Here’s what I mean.

(You can watch above or listen/read below.)

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I’ve been talking to a lot of beginners lately.

People just getting started with video, wanting to launch their YouTube channel, record the first online course, start their business, etc.

And there is this recurring theme with all of them.

They’re doing it wrong. Here’s what I mean.

There is really only one metric that matters when you’re starting out.

Action. Doing. Movement. Go.

When making videos, here are some things that you might think really matter at first, but don’t.

• Should I use my phone or a DSLR camera?
• Should I film in 1080p or 4K?
• Should I start my YouTube channel or my website first?

The answer to all of these questions is: YES.

Its like when you starting working out at the gym. It almost doesn’t matter what exercises you do. What matters is that you go to the gym, you do SOMETHING, and then you keep coming back.

Even this video I’m filming right now is an example, I really needed to shave and I was gonna do that before I hit record, but NO. Action. Just, do it.

Eventually you will reach a point where those earlier questions matter, but chances are you’re not there yet.

It doesn’t matter which direction you go in if you’re not moving.

My friend Sean McCabe, who is a guest on my podcast soon, likes to say, “You Can’t Steer a Parked Car”.

Newton’s First Law - An object at rest stays at rest. An object in motion stays in motion until forces act upon it.

Once you start doing, you learn. If you’re in a state of paralysis, nothing happens.

When you’re in it, you feel like every decision you make is HUGE. But you’re trying to play a more complicated version of Go or chess instead of just playing checkers and moving forward.

Research quickly, make a decision, and move on.

When you’re just starting you may be stalled out because you want a level of quality or professionalism that is only achievable through practice, time, and actually doing it.

Just look back at the earliest videos of some of the biggest YouTubers. Chances are they were poorly filmed, barely edited, and don’t feel anywhere close to the same as their current videos. They got better with repetition and so will you.

Your most limited resource is time. Not money, not knowledge. The last thing you need to do is agonize about every decision you’re making and what equipment or software you should use.

Choose and go.

Another thing I see people stall out on is what their current followers online initially followed them for.

If you’re worried about what people might think or that you’ve grown an audience or following talking about one thing but now you want to take about something else, just do it.

Make what YOU want to make.

Let your audience self filter out. Just do what you want to do. People that are attracted to you and what you make will follow you. Those that don’t, will leave. Who cares?

I’d rather have less people following what I make that care about it than millions of people who don’t care.

And if there are already people talking about or sharing what you’re interested in online that have an audience, take that as a sign that there is a need for it. Not keep you making.

Because if you’re really interested in a topic or niche, you don’t just follow one person that talks about it. You follow 5 or 10 or more.

All this to say... The fact that you’re even thinking of starting means that you’re further along than most people. Which is great.

But take it a step further and go make something.

Head in a direction. You can always course correct later.

If you’re just starting out with something, focus on building the habit of showing up. Creating. Finishing. Publishing. Then repeat and make the next time better.

My buddy James Clear has this 1% better every day idea that I love.

If you get 1% better every day for a year, by the end of the year you’ll be 37 times better. 1% worse and you slowly approach zero.

Getting started and slowly, get a little better each day.

You got this.