November 12, 2022
Kicking and Screaming
When someone first learns that I have sent an email to my list every day since July 2016, there is often a long pause where they search my face to see if I’m kidding.
When they realize I’m serious, they get really curious and start asking questions:
Q: Do people really stay subscribed?
A: Yes.
Q: How do you find the time?
A: That’s like asking “How do I find the time to hug my kids?” It’s easy to find the time to do things you love.
Q: Okay, but how much time does it take?
A: Less time than taking a shower, which most people probably do every day without even thinking about it.
Q: How do you come up with enough to write about?
A: Once I started doing daily, ideas showed up everywhere. They come faster than I can write them.
...and right about then something weird happens where the person starts to make excuses about why they could never do a daily list.
They start saying stuff like:
“It’s amazing that you can do that, but...”
- “I haven’t got the time!”
- “Nobody cares what I think!”
- “I would never stick to it!”
- “I am a terrible writer!”
...and so on.
The weirdest part is that they’re not really talking to me.
It’s more like they’re talking to themselves.
Here’s the thing...
I totally get that a public commitment to send an email to your list every day is scary. I remember that fear clearly. Back in 2016, I didn’t think I had it in me.
If it weren’t for my good friend Philip Morgan dragging me kicking and screaming into daily emailing, I’d have missed out on the single best thing I’ve ever done for my business.
Way back in 2016, I peppered him with a bunch of tactical questions - which were all really just my fear of failure manifesting as silly objections - and he guided me patiently but relentlessly through the process.
Based on this experience, I’ve dragged maybe a half-dozen private coaching students into doing daily email, and they all have had a similar reaction:
This is the best!
All that said...
I would never try to convince anyone that they should want to start a daily mailing list.
But if you already know that you do want to, I’m here to tell you that:
- You DO have the time
- People WILL care what you think
- You WON’T want to quit
- And if you’re not a good writer now, you WILL BE SOON
Yours,
—J