"I’ve spoken with so many folks who share fascinating ideas with me in private, but they hesitate to share them in public." That's the problem: we're much more comfortable sharing with friends than we are sharing with the public - and really, for most people "public" might just be 10 or 20 people. Few writers write to the general public. (You know, Ryan Holiday, Tim Ferriss, that level). Start adding a few more people to the list of folks who might see our work and it terrifies us. But the worst stuff happens in our heads - our judgments of our work.
"But while you fret about how it might be received, countless others who seek to manipulate and divide are publishing with abandon." Great point. People with good intentions need as much abandon as those with bad intentions. The problem, I think, is that people with good intentions tend to be humble. They think "who am I to..." and so they don't speak out. because they think their ideas don't hold any merit. But they do hold merit, generally. Speak up!
Thank you!! You’re so right dude. As I was writing it, I first wrote “share with others” instead of public.. then I realized they shared with me, so technically it’s with others. But there’s this level that’s beyond 1-2 but less than public. Like you said, 10-20 ppl, a trusted circle of sorts. There’s a ton of value in sharing into that, and it’s a lot less scary than “the public” which sounds infinite. Can probably use that term to encourage more folks — something speaking at a book club gathering.
Cool post. I just started my Substack last November and, although it doesn’t stop me from publishing, I always have this fear that my newsletter won’t be interesting to people and that I actually don’t know what I’m doing. But I’ll keep going and hopefully it will get better with time. Cheers!
Congrats on launching your newsletter, Andrei! I think all have that fear at some level, virtually every time we publish :) The one thing I can tell you for sure is that you are 100% right: If you keep going, you’ll definitely get better over time.
"I’ve spoken with so many folks who share fascinating ideas with me in private, but they hesitate to share them in public." That's the problem: we're much more comfortable sharing with friends than we are sharing with the public - and really, for most people "public" might just be 10 or 20 people. Few writers write to the general public. (You know, Ryan Holiday, Tim Ferriss, that level). Start adding a few more people to the list of folks who might see our work and it terrifies us. But the worst stuff happens in our heads - our judgments of our work.
"But while you fret about how it might be received, countless others who seek to manipulate and divide are publishing with abandon." Great point. People with good intentions need as much abandon as those with bad intentions. The problem, I think, is that people with good intentions tend to be humble. They think "who am I to..." and so they don't speak out. because they think their ideas don't hold any merit. But they do hold merit, generally. Speak up!
Great post as always, Salman.
Thank you!! You’re so right dude. As I was writing it, I first wrote “share with others” instead of public.. then I realized they shared with me, so technically it’s with others. But there’s this level that’s beyond 1-2 but less than public. Like you said, 10-20 ppl, a trusted circle of sorts. There’s a ton of value in sharing into that, and it’s a lot less scary than “the public” which sounds infinite. Can probably use that term to encourage more folks — something speaking at a book club gathering.
Cool post. I just started my Substack last November and, although it doesn’t stop me from publishing, I always have this fear that my newsletter won’t be interesting to people and that I actually don’t know what I’m doing. But I’ll keep going and hopefully it will get better with time. Cheers!
Congrats on launching your newsletter, Andrei! I think all have that fear at some level, virtually every time we publish :) The one thing I can tell you for sure is that you are 100% right: If you keep going, you’ll definitely get better over time.
Thanks for the encouragement and good luck with your own projects!
Oh I am a big fan of Finny, the furtle! Reminds of "Do not hurry, do not rest" by Goethe.
Love that! And it reminds me of:
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” —Lao Tzu