Publishing ≠ Finishing

I just watched a video by Jack Conte (link below) about creating.

He talks about how we often treat publishing like it’s the end of something.

Like finishing a meal or the end of a sports game.

Something binary.

Done or not done.

But finishing a song, blog post, email, etc., doesn’t feel like finishing.

So, he says, we shouldn’t think of it as finishing.

Instead, it’s publishing.

Publishing is letting something fly out into the world, even if we think it’s not ready.

When we publish, we aren’t finishing the thing.

We’re just letting it go.

And then moving on to the next thing.

This is how people can be so prolific and write so many songs, books, etc.

They don’t focus on finishing, just on publishing.

Which is easier than finishing.

With content like blogs, YT videos, courses, emails, you’ll never feel like it’s finished.

There’s always a tweak. A sentence to tighten. A better hook you think of five minutes later.

So if you wait to feel “done,” you won’t hit publish.

Jack shares how he went 17 months without posting a video.

I’ve had huge gaps in my own attempts at creating content.

That’s time I’ll never get back.

Lost opportunity I cannot recreate.

Because it’s a numbers game.

Every day you don’t hit send is a shot you didn’t take.

If you only send once a month, that’s 12 shots a year.

Once a week? 52.

Five days a week? That’s 260 chances to connect, resonate, and grow something real.

That’s why I’m pushing myself to send more.

They can’t be perfect emails with my limited time and trying to get five out a week.

But they can be published.

If left to my own device, I would struggle to hit that goal.

That’s why I use AI to help.

Wispr to speak my rough ideas. Then ChatGPT to shape them. Then I edit, format, and hit send.

That’s how this email came together.

So if you’ve been waiting to feel ready, to make it perfect, to “finish”...

Let go.

Just publish.

Again and again.

Let the work compound.

And let the results take care of themselves.

Nathan

P.S. Here’s the video by Jack Conte. 11 minutes and worth watching.

If you’re stuck on your newsletter, lead magnet, or AI setup, book a coaching session at this link and I’ll help you sort it out step by step so you can move forward with confidence and a plan.

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