It Takes A Lot Of Junk To Create A Masterpiece, And Junk Takes Time

Not everyone admits it, but everyone knows it—you’re working towards something. We all are. Some of us have jobs we’re trying to make ourselves the best at. Some of us are building things outside of working hours.

We have dreams. We have aspirations. When we have the time (and energy), we try to do something about it.

But life seems to get busier and busier every day. There’s no sign of slowing down. Sometimes you think, “This needs to wait. I can’t give it my best. I can’t create my masterpiece now.”

This is the beast speaking. You’d best not feed it.

Not everyone will build what they dream of. But everyone has the chance to. Despite our differences, that’s our equalizer. We don’t start from the same place. Certain things are easier for some than others. Where one of us gets an opportunity handed on a silver platter, another struggles a lifetime to find the starting line.

But the secret is: it’s not what you make that will make you happy. It’s how hard you work to make it.

Everyone knows what it’s like to feel tired. Beat down. Like life is piling on top of you and you wonder if you’ll ever crawl to the top long enough to even get started.

These are the moments that define us. They’re the opportunities to build despite the odds. Do you say, “I’m too tired; I’ll try tomorrow”? Or do you buckle down and get started anyway knowing you’ve got nothing left in the tank and what you create will be sub par?

If you want any shot at accomplishing that thing, you get started now. Before you’re ready. When you’re still tired. When you know what you’re about to create will not be as good as you want it to be. Because that’s what gets the ball rolling. That’s what plants the seed. That’s what builds the habit and makes it easier tomorrow.

The most important time to create is when you want to the least— when watching another episode of Game of Thrones sounds better than drawing that 610th cartoon.

You have to make a lot of junk to make a masterpiece. And you have to dedicate a lot of time—time that you don’t have—to make a lot of junk. Are you putting in the time? Are you making the junk? Or are you watching someone else do it and wishing it were you?

Time to get started.