An ex client hit me with the question the other day and this seems to be a recurring theme for anyone who slides into my world.
“How do you do what you do?”
And I could feel it.
This little flicker of hope in their voice, like I was about to drop some ancient, mystical wisdom on their head.
Maybe I had a secret formula. A magical ritual. A holy grail of productivity that only the chosen few could access.
But here’s what I told them as I tell everyone…
I just show up.
That’s it. That’s the whole thing. I show up and do the work. Day in, day out. Rain or shine. Whether I feel like it or not. Whether it’s fun or it’s hell.
It’s not original advice, by the way. I didn’t invent it. Smarter people than me figured this out a long time ago.
People who’ve built empires, written masterpieces, created works that make the world stop and feel something.
And they all say the same damn thing. You show up and do the thing.
Even when it sucks.
Even when you’d rather be anywhere else.
Even when you’re sure it’s not good enough, or smart enough, or whatever enough.
I always wished that improvement would be like a strike of lightening. I’d be walking around outside and then bam all of a sudden I’m the best at whatever it is I’m doing.
And as much as I’m not a fan of the hustle grind culture I’m annoyed to say that it happens in the grind.
Like me, writing this email right now. Cause, trust me, I didn’t wake up today with fireworks in my chest and a hot muse sitting on my lap and whispering in my ear. But I’m writing it anyway.
Or when I’m teaching myself some absurdly complicated piece of music software that feels like it was programmed by a sadistic robot… but I keep poking at it, learning one thing at a time, because that’s how you get better.
Every time you show up, you’re turning the wheel. Maybe it’s a tiny turn. Maybe it feels like nothing’s moving at all. But it is. I promise you, it is.
And one day, you’ll look back and realise you’ve been doing the thing so long, so consistently, that you’re good at it. Maybe even great. And the people around you will ask, “How do you do it?”
And you’ll tell them the same thing…
I just show up.
So, go. Do the thing. Do it good or do it bad but as long as you’re doing it. You’ll get to where you want to be.
Even if you don’t feel like it.
That’s little Monday kick up the ass.
Stephen Walker