Write what matters for those who care
We can’t be everything to everyone at the same time (or ever).
It wasn’t until I heard Seth Godin repeat in multiple speeches, interviews and writings “do what matters for people who care”, that it finally clicked.
I’m not a bad person if I try to market or sell to my audience. In fact, I’m helping the right people get what matters to them.
This was a huge mindset shift that ultimately allowed me to go from “lucky hobbyist” to an actual professional artist and business owner.
For the first two years I resisted the need to learn how to market and sell. I fell into what Jeff Goins from
would consider a “starving artist mindset”. I believed the illusion that the art will sell itself, if it’s just good enough.But what if no one sees it?
A couple of days ago I wrote a popular essay about my plan on how to stay consistent on Substack, in which I emphasize the need to resist perfection and focus on creation. If you don’t put your work out there, it doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do.
It doesn’t matter how great of an artist or creative you are if no one reads what you write. Ideation gets you nowhere unless it’s shared.
And even if you do put it out there… Know that not everyone will love it and that’s OK.
In an online course about selling with Frank Kern some years ago, he said something that I’ll always remember: Left or right, there’s no money in the middle. What he means is that you will never make it if you try to please everyone.
By trying to please everyone you will end up pleasing no one (and there’s a great chance you’ll end up loathing yourself for it). So better take a stand and stick to it. If you ask me, the best stand you can take is to be yourself.
The only way to stand out is to BE YOU. Simply, because no one else can (especially within the arts!).
So why do some people make it and others not?
I believe that those who are able to push through the noise (not only external, but also your internal noise of the imposter) are those who recognise that what they do matters for the right people. It becomes the fuel to keep you driving when the road gets bumpy (and it will).
If you cannot identify who you write to, or feel stressed about the concept of having to “identify” an avatar for your ideal reader, write to a younger version of yourself.
In a newsletter by
some months ago (sorry, I couldn’t find it back in my embarrassingly messy inbox), he explained how he never runs out of ideas of what to write about.He simply made a timeline of things that happened to him (and continously updates it as he lives life). He then writes about his experiences as if he would write to his younger self, sharing how the respective events have impacted him and how he could have done to make/manage it better.
I find this approach incredibly useful to get out of the writer’s block, as well as nurturing the notion of writing what matters to people who care.
If you were your younger self, you would care to read it, wouldn’t you?
Truth is, the majority of self-proclaimed writers never get published because they don’t stand up for themselves. Either they’re blocked at the writing stage and don’t finish it. Or, they finish but don’t send it in or publish.
Take a bet on yourself and start publishing.
is incredible for that. There’s literally no one between you and your next reader except your own fear of failure or judgement. If you can wipe those things out of the way by recognizing, ones again, that you don’t do this for everyone, you’ll already be miles ahead of the majority. That’s quite an achievement if you ask me.
I’m new to this platform, and clearly in no position to teach on the topic. But what I can do, is to share from my experience of having reached success with my art in the past - and use that to write reminders to myself of why this new endeavour is important. It’s important to me now as it is important to a younger version of myself.
Not everyone will like my writing. But those who care, will. Those who relate, will. And those are my people ❤️.
Thank you for reading,
Elin x
P.s. In response to my first viral post on this platform (which I link to below) l I’m working on an essay on how I plan to grow on Substack as a fun and interesting piece to be able to look back on later. If you have any questions you want me to answer, put them below! Or if you’re just curious - bw sure to subscribe to not miss it.
P.p.s. In case you missed my latest (viral) post, I invite you to check that out too (after you leave a like on this on of course 😉)
How I plan to post consistently on Substack
If you find this intriguing I’d love to get to know you, so don’t hesitate to answer in the comments! And share with your friends to spread the conversation.
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Mmm how delightful that you write these things for a younger version of yourself and it gets to speak to the hearts of others. This is beautiful Elin, thank you for the inspiration
I am new to Substack, but I have to say Elin, there is just something refreshing about your writing. It's amazing to see some of yourself in another's writing. I get this feeling sometimes, impostor syndrome?, that I shouldn't comment, or like something, or why restack something when no one follows me yet? Who am I to do such a thing? Sounds so silly when you write it out lol. There is something to be said that as long as you do no harm, do your own thing, whatever that looks like, as long as it feels right to you. So far, I have read more of your writing than anyone's! Keep up the great work!