Friday, February 23, 2024

Focus on the Basics

By Andrew Kieran


There used to be a time I hated the start of a skill. I didn’t enjoy the pain of being a beginner, the sting of sucking and the frustration that comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.

But since I started writing, I’m a huge believer in the attitude, ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’

I used to look at popular creators and tell myself that if I gave it a go, I could get there, too.

The truth is for most of your desires, you’re not trying to master quantum physics or build rocket ships. Many people have learned what you want to learn. You might not become the world’s best, but there are simple steps you can take to at least get good if you are curious enough to enjoy the learning process.

Two things are key:

First, you must identify the fundamentals.

In golf, that seemed to be how you hold the club, how you move your body, and how you connect with the ball.

In writing, it’s crafting engaging hooks, communicating concisely, and connecting with your reader.

Once you’ve found the needle-movers, the rest is about putting in the reps. Of course, you’ll suck at your first long-form post, but you won’t suck at your 100th. The same applies to tweets, emails, and golf swings — confidence is earned one iteration at a time.

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