How to Show Up Each Week For Two Years
This is our from 104th edition which means we've completed 2 years of showing up on each weekend. Since CTQ has been around for over 6 years, why did we not have a smartletter for the first four years? There were three reasons:
1. We didn't think we had much to say
2. We didn't know if anyone was listening
3. We didn't have a system that made sure we delivered each weekend
We knew the business value of a newsletter, the importance of engaging with our followers, and the usefulness of writing regularly. But we never crossed the threshold into action. At some point, our thinking flipped around to making this happen. What we realised is that it is incorrect to wait for the stars to align; instead, act as if they have and in time, they will.
Now, the way we think about the smartletter is:
1. We made a commitment to show up each week. To meet that promise, we have a system (time, channel, format, inputs, choice of topics) that helps us get over the line.
2. We found out that there were people who were listening! (who also wrote in with kind words, which is a rewarding feeling). But even if no one was listening, this gets us to practice our writing, think about what we do, and generates material that comes in handy later.
3. We also realised we had much to say. Nothing like a deadline to make you discover this.
If you've been thinking about starting your Substack, your podcast, posting on LinkedIn, or just emailing your friends regularly, take a leaf from our book. Don't wait years to take the plunge!
By the way, our compounds have a few of different flavors - one of them is about enabling you to 'show up' when it comes to creating social capital using online channels. Let us know if you are interested in knowing more.