My name is Lukman 

I tell this story all the time because it encapsulates a lesson every writer needs to internalize. 

When I first became a ‘Professional,’ I had concerns because I lacked credentials or degrees. However, I knew that what I showed people worked, and I strongly desired to share it.

I started writing with a piece of paper) I had no idea how I was going to “become a writer.” At the time, I sort of thought being a writer was about:

Having a massive bookshelf. A window you stared out of constantly. And a manuscript you were always “slaving over” but never quite felt done. I thought of being a writer more like a persona and less like a career path. I digress.

Every day I would spend hour after hour reading and researching, searching for one more tidbit of knowledge that would help me to better understand how the business world worked.

As it turned out, my self-esteem served me well. I was doing valuable work, making things happen, and getting good reviews.

I only had so much time and energy, so I started searching for a filter: Something that would direct me to useful knowledge and keep me from the chaff. (some days were fun actually, just wasn’t what I wanted to do long-term). I also realized that after a 10–12 hour work day, I didn’t have much motivation to write.

If I wanted to become a professional writer, it was going to take more than just hard work and focus. I needed an action plan and a viable path forward. In an attempt to get myself moving, I asked a blogger to SAAS which I considered a mentor.

(who had ~ built successful companies and was making decent money as a blogger/to Saas) where he provided me with guidance and advice on various topics related to entrepreneurship and personal growth.

He advised me to test their ideas, iterate based on feedback, consider qualifications and credibility, take calculated risks continuously learn, overcome obstacles and achieve success in tech startups.— and the rest is history.

I challenged myself to Keep track of my mentor's tweets content. His frequent likes, retweets, or replies to his posts. I pay attention to users who consistently interact with his content. To connect with other like-minded individuals who share similar interests or affiliations.

Luckily enough he posted a link to his Qoura account, I followed the link and opened an account on Quora In 2020, I challenged myself to write 1 Quora answer every single day for a year.

I thought I spent the year practising my craft — which had no downside. Best-case scenario, I built writing skills for myself, which I could then use to achieve ream: writing and doing entrepreneurship-related things.

Well, as the story goes…

Not even a month in, I experienced my first mini-viral success. I had an answer to get around 10,000 views.

Then, in month two, I had another good comment from people. But around month three, I started to feel the exhaustion settle in. Writing and publishing something every day was hard (“Hey, I thought this writing thing was supposed to be easy!”).

And even though I was seeing signals of traction, being consistent with anything day in and day out is still a challenge.

One afternoon, after a very long day and week at work, I found a small slip of paper on which I had written a secret formula.

The words on that small slip of paper were worth a King's ransom! I wrote not more than 20 PAGES only.

Every time I refreshed that 20 pages an endless series of knowledge used to come over me, such as I had never before experienced.

To date, That 20 Pages is one of the most viral articles I’ve written on the internet — and I’ve written 3,000+ articles online.

The moral of the story?

I remember I didn’t want to write that day. I will never forget that afternoon, because I so vividly remember thinking to myself: “Eh, if I miss an idea, it’s not the end of the world. Come on, Lukman. Just go home.” But the 20-page idea has put me on the map, and fundamentally changed my entire trajectory on the platform.

I finished that year as a writer with one book, and by that same time the year after, I wrote another #2 book So, the next time you say to yourself, “I don’t need to write today,” I want to you remember this story. Because the truth is, you don’t know.

You have no idea if what you write today will be one of the best things you ever write.
So, remove the question.

Just do it. Even if it’s only two paragraphs.

Write. Publish. Repeat

Thank you

COO StoryAfrika