Generate Value or Die!
The most unhelpful piece of writing ever made.
I am of two minds.
In one “ear,” I hear that any content I create must be valuable. You, your time is valuable. If you’re going to spend it reading, watching, and engaging with my shit, it better be worth it for you! You must be entertained, taught, or given 5 secret tips to make a million dollars in 5 seconds (buy a lot of crypto 15 years ago).
In the other “ear,” I hear that I should just create for creation’s sake. It’s about the journey. Just make what you want to see in the world and the weirdos who like it (you) will come.
This is often why I have struggled to write. What value am I bringing you? There are a bazillion (yes that’s the right number) different content pieces that exist in the world today. Why should you read mine? Hobbies don’t need to be valuable. Art doesn’t need to be valuable. I’m not charging you to read this but you are paying with your time.
Should I promise you the secrets of getting rich? Well, they haven’t worked for me.
Should I promise you the secrets of a successful business? Probably not, I don’t really know what I’m doing. You should talk to a business person about that. I ask my friend Elan. (not Musk)
Should I teach you how to use a camera? Just go watch a YouTube video.
Should I make you laugh? Eh, go watch Laura Green’s videos on IG. She’s pretty funny and I’m only funny in person … or at least I like to think so.
Should I give you life advice? I don’t even know you!
Should I just show you beautiful images and videos? What’s the value in that? A moment where you think, “Oh, cool image bro.”
Are all the people providing value with their content just grifters and con people? Trying to convince you they have some knowledge you need to do whatever you think you need to do to win, succeed, be happy, or find love?
“5 secrets everyone should know before they take a photo.” “DON’T pick up your camera before you watch this!”
Fuck that, just go take a photo.
Oops sorry, that was advice. I swore I wouldn’t give that here.
You want the dirty secrets, don’t you?!
We know clickbait titles when we see them, yet we click them anyway. We are obsessed with finding an advantage, a shortcut, or an edge. Is this hustle culture, capitalism, or just an evolutionary trait we needed to out-compete our rivals?
For some of us, it might be because we feel insufficient, unprepared, or an imposter. Are we looking for a guarantee, a path already taken we can follow? This is a fool’s errand. There are no guarantees and we are all unique enough that proven paths are unlikely to work for us. We are told to embrace the uncertainty. To do the work and not take shortcuts, but that’s easier said than done.
“You don’t need anything.”
An epiphany I had in a life coaching session once. It doesn’t mean anything to you. It’s not even helpful to you. I already can hear your “buts.” Of course, you need things. To me, it means freeing myself from the toxic preconditions we all feel before we take action. It helped me change my life. But it won’t help you.
I cannot give you the wisdom that I have found for myself. It only applies to me and I had to earn it. My “shortcuts” won’t help your life. You’ll have to “do the work” to learn your own lessons and find your own wisdom that works for you and your life.
The never-ending search
I find myself reading a lot of advice-style/personal growth writing. One day, my wife asked me, “What are you searching for?” I know that none of it is actually useful for the same reason described above, but every now and then, something resonates, and all of a sudden a click happens, an epiphany, and something I’ve been dealing with or mulling over becomes clear.
These epiphanies are everything.
I also read a lot of fantasy books and main characters always experience power growths from epiphanies into their own life, purpose, or journey. We’re the same. With epiphanies, we gain power over our lives. But everyone’s path is different. Life lessons may be similar among us but we often need to learn them our own way.
It’s funny how so much of human history has been learning new things and passing information to new generations. By doing this, humans have advanced technology to mind-boggling levels yet we still deal with the same human issues that our ancestors dealt with. Seems like it’s much harder to pass down those lessons.
So how do we find these revelations in our lives? I don’t really know but my best inclination is to live. Live life to its fullest, be human, talk to people, do things, just live. To be human is to have tensions in your life. Tension is the precondition to an epiphany. Reflect on your life often and take in info of all kinds. You’ll find your epiphanies and you’ll change your life.
I don’t need to give you value. Heck, I can’t give you value! But I guess I will give you some advice—get out there and live!
Amazing writing!
This is valuable advice!!