How to Get Better at Doing Stuff (or How I Kept this Blog Going for 5 Years)

This post has come into being after I was going through some old content I wrote a couple of years ago and I stumbled across this post. I’d written it because I wanted to look back on a good three years of online writing. This is one of my favourite quotes from it:

If you consistently put out good content, some of that is going to stick. Then you’ll build a reader base, fans and fellow journeyers. It’s a whole circle of life thing but on the internet.

It’s time to review that and look forward – What had I learned, what could I have done differently, and how can you benefit from my successes and mistakes?

Five years is a long time to stick at anything. I have friends who weren’t able to stick at their marriages for five years. So keeping a blog like TDD going for the same amount of time feels like some sort of achievement.

And if I’m being honest, I never imagined I’d still be writing this five years later (more like five and a half). Last year was a bit of an ‘off’ year while I focused on my upcoming book and my day job. Now with the book nearly finished I’m able to turn back to blogging.

And so here we go – what I’ve learned in the last five years (and how that can help you).

Not Everyone Will Be There for the Whole Journey

When I started writing, it was because I’d read a cool book that inspired me to take action on my life. Gorilla Mindset by Mike Cernovich genuinely changed my life. I realised that I didn’t need to ask anyone’s permission to start writing again. I just needed to start doing it. It was the right advice at the right time of my life and it was a game changer.

The author and I had a connection and would sometimes exchange messages and followed each other on social media. But in October last year when I called him and some of his friends out for supporting human trafficking, he cut me off completely.

Initially I was surprised – I’d supported a lot of his work, promoted his writing and been a loyal buyer of his books and films. But I also realised that I’d grown and developed beyond the scope of his influence on my life. Our paths diverged.

Maybe you’ve had something similar with friends or even family – people that you’ve been close to and had a really strong connection with. But either dramatically or gradually, you lose touch and go down different paths.

That sort of thing used to really bother me. Until I realised this:

Not everyone will be with you for the whole journey.

It’s worth remembering that next time you leave a friend behind.

If You Want to Write, Then Write

Sure, this advice could apply to anything really but this is an article on writing a blog for five years.

If you want to write a blog or a book or a play or record a podcast or become a stand up comedian or start a business then do it. Sitting at home dreaming about what might be is fun. But you’ll never know unless you do it.

A few years ago I had a great idea for a niche content site (not this one) which has turned into a affiliate marketing site and a decent side income. You know how I did it?

One day, I just started. I went online, bought the domain name, set up the site and wrote the first page. The next day, I did a little bit more. And the next. And the next until now.

And that’s how I started this site. One evening while my wife was watching TV, I started this site and wrote my first post. Now close to half a million people have visited the blog, hundreds are signed up for the newsletter and my books sell copies every month of the year.

I’m not saying this to blow my own trumpet. I’m telling you this because you can do this too. I’m not a super talented writer or an unbelievably interesting guy. I have quite a dull speaking voice (a slightly more interested version of tennis player Andy Murray).

But a bit of consistency, working away at something and being true to my mission and BAM – this site, two books, an email list and a niche content site are the reality – all while building a career and raising three kids with my beautiful wife of ten years.

Maybe being a writer isn’t your bag but what else could you achieve by having the same systems and goals. Which leads me neatly on to…

Systems, Goals or Identity?

Back when I was new to this corner of the internet a lot of leaders were saying things like ‘You gotta have goals bro!’, then they switched to ‘You gotta have systems, not goals bro!’. And now some are saying ‘Your identity shapes your activities so have a strong identity, bro’

But imagine if you had all three. Would you be more or less of a ninja at whatever it is you’re trying to achieve.

Here’s what I mean in the context of this blog post:

I have a system in that most nights (once the kids are in bed and I’ve tied up any loose ends at my day job) I sit by my computer, sip a coffee and write. I’ve done that consistently for the last five years. That’s a system.

But I also have goals. I set goals for the year. Last year I wanted to publish a book, increase my net worth, online income and flip my Mum’s flat so it could be rented again. I was close with one and achieved the others.

But I also have identity. I see myself as a writer, an author and a self publisher. These aren’t my only ‘things’ but it’s part of my wider identity.

In short – internet personalities like to play off ‘systems vs. goals vs. identity’ because the conflict that generates gives them more page views and engagements. But it isn’t really helpful to think in such binary terms.

So if you want to start a blog, or a side business, learn piano or Swahili then develop a system, set some goals and change how you see yourself.

If you liked this post, you’ll enjoy my books which are available on Amazon. My new one is on sustainable living. Buy it here.