What if you were on the verge of a breakthrough? Sometimes it can feel like we’re walking in place when in actuality, when things seem uneasy, it generally means we’re ripe for a breakthrough. Often times, we feel others are having their breakthrough and we’re still in the same spot. It’s easy to envision that other people’s paths are somehow smoother than yours…
If you’re a writer and a creative worth his or her salt, you’ve had thoughts like this.
The idea that everyone around you has some “shortcut” or hack that is propelling them further along this creative and entrepreneurial journey than you crops up as you:
- Take two steps forward and one step back…
- Stop to smell the roses…
- Realize you’ve been walking in place for months when you thought you were sprinting forward…
Comparing your creative journey with the hundreds of creatives around you can make your head spin. Why are they having all of the breakthroughs and you’re still stuck in limbo?
I truly believe that the culmination of success isn’t contingent on “direct, calculated, and mindful” decisions alone.
Much of the creative pursuit requires “figuring it out as you go” and “firing by the hip” snap-decisions.
I like to illustrate the different mindsets creative people have:
There are the cartographers:
They are in the planning room. They are drawing maps, forecasting, and trying to make the perfect launch of any endeavor.
There are the explorers:
They are on the ground floor of creative pursuits. They are using their machete and constantly creating work — regardless of the outcome. They learn the land, and experience the trails and tribulations of being a creative.
Sometimes the trials and tribulations are exactly what we need in order to actualize the success we see in our head.
To remind us that working toward a goal is typically more awkward than elegant, here are seven — seemingly unpleasant — signs of progress.
In this article, we’re going to go over the 7 signs that may be present in your life that can foreshadow you’re right on the cusp of your next breakthrough.
1. Someone tells you “no” right before a breakthrough
It could be a content creator who doesn’t respond to your collaboration request or a site that rejects your guest post idea.
The first time I sent a guest post pitch to The Startup, The Writing Cooperative, and The Ascent, I didn’t hear back from the team (No hard feelings, fam).
But that “no” was an indicator that I was trying something new, and it helped me focus on doing some serious and meaningful work.
I had to look inward and examine what the worth of my work actually was. That self examination required me to get into creative spaces that were new and expanded the quality of work that I was putting out.
After some time had passed and rework was submitted, I now write for all of these publications.
Those original “no’s” were all a part of the creative growth.
2. Someone doesn’t like your work right before your breakthrough
Sometimes, when someone tells you “no” it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t like you.
Perhaps it’s not the right time or the content just doesn’t fit with the overall mission.
Sometimes, you’re right on the verge of a breakthrough…
You cannot take “no” personally.
Other times, however, people will actually dislike your work — you cannot take that personally either.
If everyone in your audience shares the same view, it’s probably not that rich of an audience.
In fact, you should celebrate when you receive some pushback with your audience — you might just be on to something.
The first time I received negative feedback with my work, it crushed me. I thought, “Who the hell is this jabroni? What do they know about this?”I fired back at them and it resulted in wasted time and wasted energy.
It’s going to happen — this is the internet after all…
When you ruffle a few feathers, know you’re on the verge of a breakthrough.
3. You turn down a client
It might feel uneasy at first, but you can return the “no” favor as well.
Sometimes the people that you’re working with might be taking away more from you than you are getting.
- The energy being spent on frustrating clients isn’t worth the effort.
- Your clients aren’t paying you what you believe you are worth or the work is worth.
- You don’t have the available bandwidth after taking on more valuable clients.
Again, as your notoriety as a professional grows, so will the clients.
If you’re worried about financial responsibilities, many writers have other jobs that have nothing to do with writing while they also work on their craft.
Having that type of balance in your life gives you peace of mind. Your monetary obligations will be met, and your writing and marketing sessions will be focused and passionate.
It’s smart to assess how you want to spend your energy, so that you make the most of your time.
Turning down a client who isn’t right for you is a turning point in your career.
4. You’ve “wasted time” on a client
After you’ve outgrown a client and ended a contract with them, you may feel like you wasted time doing unsatisfying work.
This is but another fallacy trying to cloud your judgement.
Remember when you didn’t even have a client (for some of you reading this, it’s now — when you are able to write purely for love, remember this) and it was all about gaining experience? Then you gained the experience and locked down your first commission. Then you learned from them — they helped build on your experience as well.
Now they aren’t as valuable as some other clients — big waste of time, right?
Past clients weren’t a waste of time; they were a part of building your business. They were a part of building you as a professional.
5. You wasted time on research
Investing time on researching your own marketing efforts might not always yield an immediate payoff — but it’s never for naught. When you are on the verge of a breakthrough, you tend to research more than taking action.
Writers who make their own continuing education a priority are attractive to clients.
A need to learn and discover new frontiers will always take you farther than a know-it-all.
I remember my first paying client was for a real estate dot-com. They sold a product to real estate agents.
I was in charge of developing their blog content. Their rate was fantastic, the contact — brilliant. Only problem…
I didn’t know shit about real estate!
That couldn’t stop me though…
The perseverance to learn and research took me to new understandings about an industry I knew nothing about and helped develop my craft and confidence with writing.
Research can also help you get a head start on future work.
Professionals get comfortable with that. They prefer to make decisions and get momentum, rather than wait for their idea or action to be “perfect.”
6. You’ve “wasted time” on a draft
You know what helps me get up in the morning?
The pursuit of trying something new.
I know… it might sound a bit cheesy, but it’s true.
Every time I’m able to open up this laptop and get to typing — even the days I experience dreadful writer’s-block — I’m invigorated to see what my brain-to-finger synergy can produce.
Every day is an opportunity to practice the things you care about. It could be gratitude, listening, communicating clearly, or writing.
Any time you spend writing a draft is an excellent practice session.
7. You’re uncomfortable before a breakthrough
Probably the least desirable sign of progress, yet the most profound.
Think about the comfort-zone for a moment…
When you are comfortable, you are probably strong in that arena. Moreover, you showcase your strengths when you’re comfortable.
When you’re uncomfortable, you’re in unfamiliar waters. When in unfamiliar waters, you have the profound ability to learn at an exponential rate.
If a Major League pitcher only works only on his strength — his fastball, his competition will be able to outsmart his pitching before too long. Sure, the knuckleball is the elusive skill to be mastered by even the most adept pitchers, when practiced and worked on, it can make said pitcher unstoppable.
- Taking on that first paying client is uncomfortable — capture the opportunity with haste!
- Writing about a new niche is uncomfortable — go forth a educate yourself in this new territory.
- Sharing your work with the world is unbelievably uncomfortable — look the devil in the eyes and go forth! The reception of your work far outweighs the uncertainty.
All of these signs, while frustrating at times, always help lead to the creator’s “Promised Land.”
“Never quit something with great long-term potential just because you can’t deal with the stress of the moment.”
― Seth Godin
It’s going to be hard — that’s a fact.
There are hundreds, if not thousands of people that are trying to do the same thing you’re doing — that’s also a fact.
Most of those people will give up when they reach any one of the 7 signs illustrated above.
But you know a breakthrough is right on the other side.
If you’re not one of those quitters, the competitive field shrinks.
And with the next obstacle, it shrinks some more.
Never be one of those quitters and success will come…
That’s also a fact.
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