It’s impossible to control what happens to your work once it’s shipped. It’s subject to criticism, misinterpretation, and praise alike—this just comes with the territory.
What we can control is what people come to expect from us based on the quality and nature of our art. Setting an expectation of excellence is perhaps our best ally in this regard.
A creaky door hinge on a Kia is going to elicit a different reaction than the same thing on a Rolls-Royce.
For all that has been: thanks. For all that will be: yes.
I took a break from the gym for a couple weeks, and decided to make my return this evening. It was great.
And by great, I mean pitiful and humbling.
I felt weak and uncoordinated, which reminded me of how it feels to get out of the habit of writing.
“Man, this sucks.”
“Whatever, let me just get it out there.”
There doesn’t appear to be any correlation between my satisfaction with a post and the impact that it has, so I generally ignore the voice in my head criticizing the work.
The next step in the evolution of Resistance-conquering is overcoming the force that drives me from doing the things I set out to do.
Right now a still, small voice is piping up, telling you as it has ten thousand times before, the calling that is yours and yours alone. You know it. No one has to tell you.
And unless I’m crazy, you’re no closer to taking action on it than you were yesterday or you will be tomorrow. You think Resistance isn’t real? Resistance will bury you.
—Steven Pressfield
Indeed.
P.S. Listen to this, it’s great.