Why Add to the Noise?
Feeling Lost in a Crowd? Read This ...
I’ve been at the content creation game for decades.
Want to know one of the main culprits that stops creativity in its tracks?
It’s falling into the “why should I add to the noise?” trap.
You’ve no doubt experienced it yourself.
It makes its presence known when you realize the marketplace is crowded with people doing similar things.
Aspiring authors see tens of thousands of self-published novels already available.
Musicians feel lost in a chaotic landscape where everyone’s writing, recording, and desperately trying to get someone — anyone — to listen.
Visual artists, designers, and actors sense they’re at the back of a long line of creators displaying their “open for business” signs.
It seems like everyone’s shouting “Hire me!” or “Buy now!” or “Attend my free webinar!”
Facing this avalanche of competition can make you feel insignificant.
That’s when the Internal Critic Choir starts singing its greatest hits:
“Why should I add to the noise?”
“What could I possibly offer that matters?”
“Why invest all that effort just to be lost in a sea of obscurity?”
Great questions!
Now, let’s flip the script …
Think of the ten most popular genre fiction authors from the past 10 to 20 years — like Tom Clancy, Danielle Steel, or George R.R. Martin.
When they began their careers, hundreds of authors had already written thousands of similar books before them.
Would it have been wise for these authors to simply give up?
The same principle applies to music, art, film, fashion, and more.
Does it really matter if many others are doing something similar?
Does it serve you to bemoan living at a pivotal moment in history when everyone has easy access to the tools of self-expression and self-promotion?
I love that I was born in this era. I’m thrilled the old gatekeeper system has lost its grip.
I love that everything can now be made available to the public, and consumers can decide what’s worthy of their attention and dollars.
I embrace the chaos instead of resisting it.
Would your life and creative output improve if you did the same?
(This is an excerpt from my book, The Empowered Artist, available worldwide on Amazon in paperback and ebook formats.)
I wish you the best,
Bob