Introduction to why content creation is difficult, but needs to be done?
Are content creators born or made? Why do some people find it hard to create content while others do it with ease? What hurdles must I look out for if I want to write? Is there hope for the aspiring content creator?
In this post, I try to piece together some major obstacles impeding content creators. I also try to provide some ways to overcome these obstacles. There may be more impediments than written here, but in my opinion, these points sum up the main challenges I faced as a content creator.
Nothing good in life comes easy, and everything that comes easy in life may not be worth it. This is based purely on my experience, and you are free to choose as you deem fit.
Not all experiences are equal, but I hope it helps you clear some hurdles in your journey to the creative top. Resistance is natural, therefore it is normal in our lives.
We are not created equal as individuals based on factors such as our genes or DNA, place of birth, method of enculturation, food, relationship, morals, and anything else you can add to this list.
It is easier to consume than to create content
Did you notice that it is easier to drive a car than make a car? It is easier to read a blog post than create one. Alternatively, it is easier to eat food than prepare the food.
The mind is like a river that always wants to take the path of least resistance.
Myself
The mind is like a river that always wants to take the path of least resistance – even the body does the same. The body loves to sleep and rest than be involved in hard, arduous tasks.
This natural phenomenon needs the force of willpower to overcome. As simple as that.
Creating content drains mental energy
Everything in this world is energy in one form or another. We think mental work does not take any energy from us. Nevertheless, mental energy is one of the finest and most expensive forms of energy that humans expend.
The other form of fine energy is the one humans use for procreation or cocreation, – whichever word you prefer.
Physical energy is the main energy that most people know of, and is not well remunerated when used alone than when combined with mental energy. Think of employers and employees, the group that uses more mental energy as supposed to only physical energy earns the most money.
Content creation is the same, for example, writers expend more mental energy and earn more than readers earn. Another example is YouTube content creators earn financially whiles YouTube content consumers do not earn financially. Ya!, they may earn in other ways, but not directly financial.
Earnings for creators may be in the form of finances, experience of creation, and skills enhancement. Consumers’ earnings may be in the form of the joy of consuming content, or the satisfaction of watching someone’s creation.
Which side of the equation would you want to be on? The creator side or the consuming side. Note that creators are both consumers and creators at the same time. This does not mean creators do not consume at all.
In my experience, sometimes when writing, it feels like squeezing the words out of my blood, and at other times, it flows naturally out of me.
Discipline and Persistence wins over Talent and Skills
Passion drives persistence, and persistence trumps talent. Talent, knowledge, or skills will need to be put to work through discipline and persistence in order to see results. Even without talent, discipline, and persistence will win every time, anywhere, and any day.
A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.
Elbert Hubbard
So many talented and skilled people on earth are suffering due to a lack of discipline. Discipline can be acquired by oneself, through self-effort, or by coaches, mentors, and teachers.
Fear of failure and criticism
Do not be afraid to fail in your content creation project. You must be willing to fail and learn from your failures. Failure teaches you valuable lessons and there should be no shame in that.
There would be consumers who would appreciate your failures and would “root” for you to stand up and get better. Some people or consumers would criticize you for your efforts to keep going.
However, let their criticism whether good or bad motivate you to keep on keeping on. At least you know some people are noticing and watching you.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
Anonymous
The open market is forgiving and gives opportunities for creators to always come back stronger and get better at what they do. A market system supports itself by strengthening creators to do a good job.
Failure and criticism do not mean you are out. It means you are growing. It means you are finding your target audience. Not only that, but it means success is just right around the corner.
“Any man can be a success, but it takes a madman to be great”
– Gaal Dornick, Foundation Season 2 Episode 1
Fail now! Fail Fast!, and discover what works and does not work. The world is a classroom and the audience is your teacher. Welcome their feedback and become great at their expense. Get free education and training.
Unattainable perfectionism syndrome
Perfectionism is a disease some people have that ruin their efforts to create something new. They always try to perfect their images, words, audio, slides, videos, designs, and almost everything to an unimaginable level.
There is a limit to how far one can go in being humanly perfect. They want their work or creation to look perfect, without fault or blemishes whatsoever.
Well, I have good news for you, only God can be perfect, and this is even debatable by some people. So, ultimately, you belong with him in heaven and not with us on earth.
Imagine Henry Ford trying to create the computerized, polished automobile we drive today instead of creating the first Ford Model T. How about Steve Jobs’ first Apple Computer or iPod? See internet photos to compare if the first ones look like the ones we have today.
That is why books have revised editions year after year, new iPhone models are launched every year, and new automobiles are released every year with upgrades.
If “no plan survives first contact with the enemy” then no created product or service will survive the first launch in the market forever – there will be unexpected elements from the market forces that will call for improvements in your work/product/service.
Therefore, in this vein, your created content will not survive first contact with the audience forever – and will require updates on old or new content to stay relevant. Neil Patel has a team of workers who look at his old blog content and update it when necessary.
You and I should be glad that society even allows this try-and-error approach to all human creations. Take advantage of this opportunity to stop being Mr or Ms Perfect Content Creator.
Overthinking and planning paralysis
A quote says “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”. The “Nike” brand slogan also says “Just Do It!” You never know what you are missing till you try.
All right, this is worse than the perfectionist problem because one is stuck in the planning stages of content creation indefinitely and overthinking everything from product creation –to- launching –to- unexpected reactions from consumers –to- how they will feel, etcetera.
This problem affects mostly super smart and intelligent people because they are capable of deep thinking, which wastes mental energy when used inappropriately. Therefore, these smart and intelligent people miss a hundred percent of the shots that they do not take. In addition, these people may be the most meticulous in life as well.
People suffering from this creation-threatening problem deserve our sincere condolences and prayers. Truly! It is not a fun place to be.
As a quote attributed to Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius puts it, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” – My explanation of this is that, one must not avoid a challenging goal, but let the challenging goal motivate you to achieve it.
Start, complete, and put your work out there. Doing builds momentum. As you complete one work, it will feel like you have had a newborn baby after nine months of pregnancy. What a sigh of relief to breathe free! Aahhaaaa!
The Comfort zone problem
Sometimes people do not create because they live in a better country, community, or family. Or maybe they have a job and earn good money. There is no real necessity to fuel them to create. When there is no need, there is no passion to solve anything through creation.
Some of us may procrastinate if we had the luxury to do so, but we do not have that choice. Necessity indeed can be the mother of content creation. Our motto is “Create or die!”.
The solution to the comfort zone problem for the comfortable groups of people is to create a fake necessity to propel you to action. A fake necessity can be a trip to Africa (choose your country and what experiences you want to have there), escaping the 9-5 rat race, financial freedom at age 60 (choose your desired age here), stop world hunger by 20xx, stop poverty in so-and-so country by 20xx. Make it a small or big necessity, the choice is yours.
Don’t you think it would be nice if you achieved these “fake” goals (internal or external necessities)? However, the intent here is to propel you to temporarily and consciously leave your comfort zone and be in action.
This push could be what you need. Your best will come out if you are not in your comfort zone. Your brain works best if you are not in your comfort zone.
This is how J. K. Rowling wrote her best novel series ever “Harry Potter”, check out Nadia Murad’s “The Last Girl” and other third-world content creators on YouTube. Some famous writers have written in total exclusion from the public view while living alone in some small reclusive shelter somewhere.
Conclusion
Starting to create is difficult, and creating useful content for the world is even more difficult and painfully draining. To do it well require great personal effort and sometimes group effort.
If other creators in the world were beset by these issues, Billy Ocean would not have made his song “Get out of my dreams”, the Eagles wouldn’t have sung the classic song “Hotel California”, James Cameron wouldn’t have made the epic movie “Titanic” nor would Robert Greene write the thought-inspiring book “48 Laws of Power”.
What are you pregnant with? Don’t keep it in YOU. Please, let it come to reality by creating it. We are “Gods” or “gods” on earth as content creators, authors, entrepreneurs, inventors, leaders, teachers, and artisans, or skilled workers. We make the world worth living in.
Genesis 1:1 reads, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”
The Bible, NIV
Go and create! I bow to the divinity in you.