Clarity shows up after you move. Rarely before. Pick the smallest next step and get to work.
2) Waiting for inspiration.
If you only create when you feel like it, your output will be inconsistent. Inconsistency is a career killer. I try and write something every day, even if it's only a few bars on the harmonica.
3) Letting the numbers steer the ship.
Metrics matter, but they can push you toward short-term wins that attract the wrong audience.
I love data. Plays on Spotify. Views on Youtube. But they never tell the whole story. Hoping for immediate success from art on a streaming platform will lead you to all kinds of sadness.
4) Quitting at the plateau.
A lot of "stuck" is not failure. It's a plateau. I have a history of giving up too soon.
5) Getting what you wanted... without thinking it through.
I’m guilty of tunnel vision. I set a goal and work my tail off to achieve it, only to realize the prize wasn’t worth it after all.
Bonus: I'm gonna make you watch the video for the bonus. Gotta go for a walk.