Summoning the Courage to Act

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It was from Myles Monroe I first heard refer to the grave as the richest place on earth. It contains inventions, works of art, books and so on people wanted to create and write but did not. Apparently, Les Brown also has a similar quote. Summoning the courage to birth our ideas is no mean feat.

I lost my good friend and business partner, Eghes Eyieyien on Christmas day 2016. We were friends from the first year of our undergraduate programme. We went on to work in the same organisation before he mooted the idea of starting Pharez, a financial service consultancy where I spent a decade supporting businesses.

Eghes ran the business, and at some point, I became the deputy managing consultant and ran the risk rating division. You will be hard-pressed to see two people so different in temperament working together as harmoniously as we did. Eghes would think up an idea in the night and not sleep until he gets to the office the next day. Before we finish the ensuing strategy session, he would have made up his mind on what he wanted. He was the chief marketer.

I was the brain box and the operations guy. No matter what my friend committed us to do while with clients, it was my lot to make sure we delivered. We both rather enjoyed teaching. It was not surprising that our human capital business thrived.

Reading was another common passion. We loved books and talked about writing a lot. And I can tell you for a fact that had Eghes been alive today, I would not have needed a professional editor. Well, at least at the beginning.

Eghes would think something and act on it as he was talking to you about it. It was incredible to me. I was the exact opposite; I would sleep over an idea for weeks before mentioning it to anybody. And then I sometimes spoke as if I wanted others to talk me out of it. Well, one of my life’s lessons is that you will arrive, but it might be quite late in the day.

For years, I kept wanting to write, as I mentioned in the welcome blog. Summoning the courage to start writing already ranks as one of my best achievements. Yes, my first book’s manuscript is still with my editor. I am finally doing something which brings me joy, and there is a freshness about it when I am in the process.

These are some insights to help you take the plunge.

Consider the end game:

Your emotions may be all over the place. That may be your first challenge. Well, think of it as delivering a baby. A woman undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy, some hormonal. The creative enterprise is like the process of carrying a baby to term. Yours might be rough and uncomfortable, but rather than abort the process, focus on the end game, and use it to motivate yourself.

Failure is real, but…

Based purely on statistics, the rate of product failure, business failure and so on is high. The fear of failure is real. What happens if no one buys the “masterpiece?” What happens if feedback is negative? What happens if the dream of making enough money to live a comfortable life off it does not materialise? What happens if you can’t make the school team? Well, you can only know by trying.

Don’t ego trip.

This leads me to the third point, which is to make sure you are pursuing something you love and not an ego trip. If you would do it regardless of any potential reward, you will not lack the energy to continue.

I love photography. In 2016, I bought a Canon EOD 600 D camera and a few books on photography. I even paid for a Udemy course on the subject. I respect my desire to capture the moments and I am not bad at it. Indeed, I will continue to develop the skills to make me a better amateur photographer. My passion for photography hasn’t diminished, but I can’t compare it with the desire and drive to write.

Do you have a support structure?

Don’t underestimate the value of a support structure to help during periods of doubts and confusion. When I started writing in earnest, I had many episodes of feeling overwhelmed. It didn’t have to do with the quality of my writing. Instead, I worried stiff about the process of being in the public space. It felt like I was working actively on exposing myself in public. This is why many don’t engage with social media. There are people whose last post on social media is as far back as 2010. They are still connecting with “friends” though.

Having a group of trusted friends, no matter how few, is a great panacea for overcoming the doubts and fear of the public.

Let’s say you have always wanted to learn how to swim. You have paid for gym membership a few times and not taken it beyond that. Why don’t you get one or two friends to help? Find out who else in your circle wants to swim or wants to help smooth the process for you.

Reversing the role

Do you know you can summon the courage to act by finding out where others are struggling and offering to help? Seek opportunities to support others who are struggling with the fear of failure. Some may even need the courage to do something that will enhance their health and wellbeing.

It’s a great way to find inspiration for your own projects. Helping others can give you a sense of purpose and release your creative energies. Besides, everything you sow is a seed. The seeds which help others realise their potentials will bring similar help as a harvest to you.

Conclusion.

Get on with it. Open those drawers and bring out all the drafts you have written. Read through again. Yes, there may sound rubbish. Never mind, get to work. Many people within your circle will support you if you reach out. Or maybe yours is something completely different. Like learning a new language, new skills; whatever it is just start.

 

Welcome to my website

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I have toyed with the idea of writing for years. Generating excuses is what people with my temperament do best. First, it was “I need to get a real job and to settle down” then it was “I don’t have the time” and then I stopped to think about writing completely. When I started to think about writing again, I began to suffer from soul-crushing episodes of self-doubt.

Finally, a few years ago, while working in St. Austell in beautiful Cornwall, south west England, and living away from my family home in Buckinghamshire for two weeks at a time, I began to toy with writing again. In the solitude of my surroundings, I was able to see the connection between my cold lonely nights, writing to let off steam, and my purpose.

Prior to this time, I always wanted to write but more as a hobby. On deep reflection, I remember what my mother said about me as a teenager. She said something to the effect, “you will eat with your pen.” I had always thought her intuition and prayer were for me to make a career in the corporate world. It is still not clear if writing will bring me to the point of eating with my pen, but I am going to put my best foot forward.

A good part of the manuscript of my first book, Israel: Out of The Crucible was ready for the numerous edits before I left my job in Cornwall. I am now actively working to publish my first two books. There’s still a long way to go, but this time I am certain to carry through. The learning curve is steep. Writing as an indie author is a business proposition, not just a literary enterprise. I am juggling lessons on writing and the business of bringing the script to the right readership.

Unfortunately, I am let’s say mentally restless. I think of doing a thousand and one things at the same time. My aspirations currently include learning to swim, learning Spanish, learning photography. I have talked to friends about several ideas and they will ask, “which are focusing on?” and I won’t give a definitive answer.

Therefore, be certain that though this blog will attempt to track my journey as a writer, it will not be a specialized one for budding authors. More likely it will toss multiple ideas, including hard social issues and the challenge of being a Bible-believing Christian in the age of the internet as well as explore my other interests like photography.

Finally, despite the ramblings about other interests, the central focus will be on my journey as a writer. Expect discussions on social and political-economic issues too especially as it relates to my faith as a Christian.

I will be immensely pleased if you can join me on this adventure by signing on to read and comment on the blog posts.