"It's cathartic. As a creator too, by born nature, I'm not happy unless I'm building something." Ryan Fletcher
Key Points
- Forget the money. To me, the value of writing is bringing my ideas to life.
- Writing is cathartic.
I subscribe to a daily email from Ryan Fletcher. I really enjoy his stuff that he puts out. Many here would consider him a heretic because he goes against most of what is being taught by what he calls the "Guru Party" of real estate. You will either love him or hate him.
Yesterday his email really connected with me.
He was talking about him teaching his 8 year old son how to create content. His son was complaining that his new YouTube channel only had a few subscribers. Why should he waste his time creating content for so few people? It made me think about blogging here at Activerain. Is anyone reading my stuff? If no one comments, what's the point?
But Ryan set him straight.
"You don't create content for subscribers. That is a mistake. You create content because, for me, for example, it's cathartic. As a creator too, by born nature, I'm not happy unless I'm building something."
He mentioned Jerry Seinfeld:
"He has more money than God. Worth some $800 million. And yet, three weekends a month he still travels and does gigs. Why? Because that's his thing... To create and build, and perform comedy...."
He goes on to say:
"So as a Content-creator, it can't be about the money. Some people, whether it's me or Seinfeld, or another content-creator, simply feel a compulsion to want to impact the lives of others with words... To connect, to teach life lessons. To entertain. To inspire. To make people laugh, think, to open eyes.."
Those words hit me like a rock.
It crystallized what I had been feeling lately.
One of the Christmas presents I gave to my kids, both are now in college, was a binder of stories and blog posts that I had written over the years. I used to write a client newsletter which included a "Letter from the Heart". These were usually stories of things that my kids did that I found entertaining and enlightening.
Over the past ten years I tried perfecting my writing skills here at Activerain. Many things were not real estate related. But I felt a compulsion to get them down in black and white.
When I was pulling together the content for their binders, it was really interesting going back and reading some of the stuff I had created. I had forgotten some stuff I had written. Some stuff was cringe worthy, but other stuff sounded better than I ever thought. I had written a post when my mom had died and it still brought me to tears. On many of these posts, I didn't receive many, if any, comments but after reading them again, it didn't make a difference to me.
It was enough that it cleared something up for me and it was an outlet to get it off my chest. It gave me clarity. It gave me a good feeling.
I guess the word I'm looking for is cathartic:
"the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music."
Just for future reference for myself, I'm linking to them here so it's easier to find them in the future.
Invisible Hugs Happen. My "Life Is Great" Series (#1 of Many More)
Chasing Pigeons at the Zoo. My "Life Is Great" Series (Post #2)
Enjoy a Sandwich Just a Little Bit More. My "Life is Great" Series (Post #3)
It's Your Choice. My "Life Is Great" Series (Post #4)
Follow Your Joy. My "Life Is Great" Series (Post #5)
My Kids Teach Me All I Need to Know. My "Life Is Great" Series (Post #6)
Why I Love Being a Dad. My "Life Is Great" Series (Post #7)
A Good Heart and Always Does the Right Thing. That's My Boy.
My Meme. More Than You Wanted to Know
The Power of Nice. False Praise Is not Nice.
Grave Digger Has Raving Fans. Do You?
My Mom Died Today. My Heart Aches
World Renowned Violinist Is Ignored While Performing in Subway Station. Context is Everything!
Art William's Classic "Do It" Speech.
Stop Writing Fake Junk and Start Writing Real Stuff for Real People
Want Change? You First Have to Get Mad as Hell
What's Your Crutch? Lose the Excuse and Become a Runaway Success
Say What You Feel and Be Passionate About It
Can We Really Live Off of the Magical Elves Working for Free at the North Pole?
What This Country Needs Is a Swimming Pool in Every Backyard
Money As Debt. An Insane System
Are You Willing to Do What You Want Others to Do? If Not, Stop Complaining.
Is Redistribution of Wealth a Good Thing? Is It Constitutional?
Don't Take the Red Pill and Think About Money. I Made That Mistake
Property Rights: The Reason the Pilgrims Were Able to Prosper and Have a Thanksgiving
Losses Don't Just Disappear. Eventually Their Loss Is Your Tax Bill.
Let's Just Get the Kids Pay for It All Before They Wise Up
Real Money Grows on Trees, not Government Printing Presses.
Without Savings, There Can't Be Credit
Diary of a Snow Shoveler --- Funniest Thing You Will Read This Season
What if We Had a Car Bubble Instead of a Housing Bubble?
Intentional Inflation Is Nothing More Than Robbery
Join Me in Burning My Lawn Mower in Honor of Earth Day
Talking with an Iraqi About Homes. Property Rights Are Key to Civilization.
A Guy Who Pushed for a Pro-Slavery Constitutional Amendment. You Might be Surprised.
How to Start a Movement. The Key Isn't the Leader. It's the First Few Followers.
Humans Are Inherently Good. ActiveRainers Are Shining Examples
Great Analogy for the Social Security Trust Fund
Words of Wisdom from Federalist No. 62, 1788
The Budget Crisis in Easy to Understand Numbers
Forcing One Person to Serve Another. Is It Moral?
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