This Is the Toughest Thing I Have Ever Written
What you do can be an inspiration to others. But what are you willing to give up?
The question I get all the time is “why do you do it?”
This question relates to my relentless pursuit to publish ten blog posts a week and post on social media a minimum of three times a day.
It’s a lot of work. It requires time away from my girlfriend — who I love very much — and my family. It takes an emotional toll on you after a while.
Why is it tough to be open all the time and speak your mind online?
There are a few reasons:
- The truth can be embarrassing
- You can open up old wounds
- You can accidentally upset people
- There will be large numbers of people who dislike you, eventually
- It can negatively affect your career
One of the places I regularly write is LinkedIn. The company I work for and everybody I’ve ever met in my career — from suppliers, customers, prospects, colleagues, former co-workers — can read what I write.
Talking about how I used to be an arrogant loser or how I battled mental illness or lost my job last year is not easy. People judge you for it. You can lose business opportunities and be rejected at work, secretly, because of it.
There have been many times I have thought about giving up. I have cried more tears than I care to admit chasing what some would call “a stupid dream.” There are bullies ready to tear you down. There are gatekeepers ready to take away your platforms that you use to speak your truth.
The journey of social media is a battle that none of us are ready for until we dip our feet deep enough into its waters.
So why would I do something so stupid and negatively affect my career?
The answer is simple: it’s not about me.
I write on social media to inspire others.
Because at my lowest point, when the world looked dark, there was no one there for me. It was painfully lonely and I had no idea what to do. I walked away from everything and left a business behind that I loved. The clouds were dark and the voice inside my head told me to give up.
All the people I followed online only showed their perfect side, thus making me feel like I was broken right out of the baby factory.
I write online because I want to be there for people. I want people to know there are people who care, who genuinely want to see them win and will sacrifice themselves in the process.
The sacrifice I have made in my career by writing is my legacy.
One day I won’t be here anymore and able to type these words. (The near-miss I had with cancer in 2015 was an epic reminder of that.) The dream will end. All that will be left is a few stories on the internet.
“You will never silence the voice of inspiration”
That’s what I want my voice to be — a voice of inspiration.
A voice that tells you to keep going. A voice that tells you not to give up. A voice that is empathetic to your struggles. A voice that is kind when the world looks dark. A voice of love, not hate.
Many have tried to silence me over the years — and they never will. Because I don’t give a shit about building a brand or trying to look good.
My only goal is to speak the truth and show people what is possible through my own actions, experiments, and experiences.
You have the same opportunity. You can protect your fragile ego or be yourself and speak your truth. The latter is one of the best feelings in the world. There is nothing anyone can take away from you when you are free to speak your mind and inspire others in the process.
Your story, as raw as it may be, can set you and us free. My only hope is that you will find a way to share it.