Why I'm So Glad I Started This Substack
It's only been six months since I decided to publish my first piece on this platform, but the practice of expressing myself publicly 1-2 times a week has changed my life in ways I never expected.
People often ask me in 1:1 conversations why I write so much, which got me thinking:
"Since I started my Substack in December 2022, what benefits have I experienced from publishing at least once a week?"
Here are the top four benefits I’ve experienced:
#1: I Feel More Understood 😊
Firstly, I want to talk about the emotional impact of writing.
Writing makes me feel good; it makes me feel more understood.
The more I express my thoughts and beliefs through writing, the more people understand me.
Being misunderstood is a dreadful feeling. When people misinterpret my intentions or misconceive me as someone I'm not, it kills me inside.
Writing publicly attacks the roots of this problem, which is immeasurably rewarding.
#2: I Communicate More Clearly 📈
Another benefit of writing is that it improves my ability to express ideas in a way that is legible and useful to others.
Learning how to express ideas in this way is timeless and invaluable, regardless of your role in a company or as an independent agent in the world.
Continually practicing communicating your thoughts—especially when publishing them for the world to see—sharpens this skill.
#3: I Have Increased My Creativity 💡
Your brain produces more thoughts when you express existing ones.
On that note, writing allows me to get a lot of thoughts out of my head, which makes room for new ideas.
And for me, public expression (as opposed to private reflection) provides the most relief and capacity for new thoughts.
#4: I Have Connected With More Collaborators 🤝
Another related benefit is the deeper connection I've made with people I want to reach.
This clarity and understanding of my perspective helps others gauge whether they want to engage with me further, which has saved me a lot of painful synchronous introductory conversations.
Your writing is a bat signal to people who are part of your tribe but didn't know it until you hit publish.
Help them find you!
Where To Start Your Publishing Journey 🤔
If this piece has inspired you to consider writing publicly, here's how to get started.
Listen to what your inner self is telling you to write about.
You will probably change your topic over time, but pick a specific topic to start with and see how it feels to publish in that area.
Ask yourself, "What do I feel called to express?"
If you're stuck, start a private journal and share your thoughts with friends.
And if you're looking for starter prompts, ask yourself who you are, what your vision for the future is, what your passions and strengths are, and what you see in the world that others may not.
You will need to find the answers to these questions sooner or later anyway. You might as well start today!
By the way, here’s some more inspiration for you to write if the main blocker to you writing is “I don’t have enough time!”:
It Wasn’t Easy For Me To Press Publish Either 📝
Publishing your writing isn’t easy. I can speak from experience.
It wasn't easy for me to publish my first piece on Substack in December; it took me weeks to draft the Foundational Tech Manifesto that kicked off my America 2.0 Substack journey, and several more weeks to finally gather the courage to press publish because sharing your thinking with the world is incredibly vulnerable.
But it was so worth it.
Previously, I had written hundreds of blog post-like pieces that I never published, mainly because I didn't fully consider the value of publishing. That's changed now.
I'm incredibly glad I began to publish, as my life has significantly changed due to this habit of expressing what I feel compelled to share. In just the last six months, I’ve connected with hundreds of people who are interested in leveling up America, or who care about human flourishing, or who care about me and my passions.
These individuals have kindly encouraged me to write more and improve my writing skills. They've even offered me opportunities to collaborate with them.
I don’t know what life would be if I didn’t press publish in December, but I am so grateful I did.
Conclusion: Publishing Could Take You To The Next Level 🚀
The journey of writing and publishing is a deeply rewarding one.
From feeling more understood to connecting with like-minded people, the benefits are many.
Not only does writing contribute to personal growth, but it also paves the way for creating meaningful dialogues and connections.
So I encourage you to listen to your inner voice, embrace your unique perspective, and take the first step toward expressing yourself through writing.
Happy writing! 📝
Its been a joy to watch your publication evolve & delve into some juicy topics.
Keep it up Gary.
I’m inspired! Writing papers and will bring it to the public :)