This is one of my favorite post of yours, Lawrence!
I read it when it first came out, I was still in college. And I regularly revisit the piece.
For 3.5 years after graduation, I worked in tech while writing and building community on nights and weekends, saving money for my eventual time off. All inspired by this piece.
Last December, I was let go from my job but I was more than ready to go all in into my writing and community.
I feel like I'm exiting Stage 2 and starting to enter Stage 3 which is super exciting. I still feel like such a beginner but my life just feels so aligned now.
Thanks again for writing this piece! It's a great reminder for me on how far I've come :)
Wow. It's so crazy because I had no idea what the impact of this piece could be, but the fact that it led you to push forward on your path is so huge. Thank you for sharing that.
I'm curious as to what signals make it feel like you're exiting Stage 2 and are moving onward to the 3rd stage. And if you were advising others to pay attention to these signals, how you would you describe it?
That's part of the beauty of sharing your art with others online eh? You never know what kind of impact it can have :)
In terms of the signals that I'm exiting Stage 2 and entering Stage 3, I'm intimately familiar with that feeling of plateauing. There was a 2-year period on my old daily blog (which I've since moved on from) when my subscriber count grew by like 20 subs. Yet, during this time, I was exploring other curiosities like menswear and my writing community while constantly running experiments.
Last year, I felt like my projects started to take flight. My writing community has sold out almost every week, my subscriber count is continuing to grow, and I feel like I'm getting better and better as a writer and community organizer.
Asof the past month, I've been going all in into both my writing and community and it feels super aligned. I feel like Rock Lee opening his chakra gates lol. And I see the path forward on how I can make a living from all this.
As for advising others to pay attention to these signals, here's how I'd describe it:
So from my experience, I feel like I went through Stage 1 and Stage 2 while employed at the same job.
I know friends that took a leap of faith and quit their job to explore their next thing. That's a clear indication of 1 -> 2.
For me, I was experimenting and following my curiosities while employed.
I experienced the great plateau while employed. It wasn't until my projects started to catch steam that I'm like, ou I'm starting to break this plateau, hence the transition from 2 -> 3.
Nice man! Thanks for sharing. Btw, I saw that you have a writing club going on in NYC - super cool. My friend Zac Solomon runs one in Austin called the ATX Writing Club. I've actually thought of doing something similar in Los Angeles. Might have to ask you how you went about building it in NYC!
Hey there Grant! If you believe in synchronicity (which I do think is a thing), then consider this post a sign for you to keep going =). Writing is a gift that many people have yet to find. You're so fortunate that you've discovered it in your own life.
I needed to read this now, it came at the right time in my journey
Currently at Stage 1, wanted to take the leap for Stage 2 but have some money issues so I'll probably go back to Stage 1 until I am saving enough to feel comfortable
Been jugling with making something for myself for years, and in the past 6 months I feel like I have grown so much, but practically needs to be a priority right now since I have a family and baby to take care of
At least I am also happy in Stage 1, was quite lucky to work a job that I actually liked.
Reframing my job as being a patron of my creativity changed everything for me. It allowed me to see my job for what it was, knowing that it had a distinct purpose. I actually ended up leaving it shortly before my daughter was born, but worked hard to build that on-ramp. It really is a matter of dedicating whatever spare energy you may have to building the thing you truly want.
Thank you, Lawrence, this was my first time reading this piece, and it got me thinking. I am not in the arc, not yet.
In the last few years, I have explored things related to art(writing, painting, podcast) and I see that there is a creative side to me. There is a desire to explore more, and the thing that stops me is my own mind.
I am on a quest to enter stage 1, and your words came at the right time. Thank you ❤️
What a logical approach to making expansive choices!
I’m lucky enough to be retired and can devote my full time to creating children’s books I hope will inspire young people while still amusing them with a good story.
Here’s one I turned into an animated video that won Best Children’s Picture Book from The BookFest in 2022:
Wow, thanks for sharing Bob. One thing I'd love to make is a children's book as well. Any reason why you chose to publish children's books instead of the non-fiction route?
This is one of my favorite post of yours, Lawrence!
I read it when it first came out, I was still in college. And I regularly revisit the piece.
For 3.5 years after graduation, I worked in tech while writing and building community on nights and weekends, saving money for my eventual time off. All inspired by this piece.
Last December, I was let go from my job but I was more than ready to go all in into my writing and community.
I feel like I'm exiting Stage 2 and starting to enter Stage 3 which is super exciting. I still feel like such a beginner but my life just feels so aligned now.
Thanks again for writing this piece! It's a great reminder for me on how far I've come :)
Wow. It's so crazy because I had no idea what the impact of this piece could be, but the fact that it led you to push forward on your path is so huge. Thank you for sharing that.
I'm curious as to what signals make it feel like you're exiting Stage 2 and are moving onward to the 3rd stage. And if you were advising others to pay attention to these signals, how you would you describe it?
That's part of the beauty of sharing your art with others online eh? You never know what kind of impact it can have :)
In terms of the signals that I'm exiting Stage 2 and entering Stage 3, I'm intimately familiar with that feeling of plateauing. There was a 2-year period on my old daily blog (which I've since moved on from) when my subscriber count grew by like 20 subs. Yet, during this time, I was exploring other curiosities like menswear and my writing community while constantly running experiments.
Last year, I felt like my projects started to take flight. My writing community has sold out almost every week, my subscriber count is continuing to grow, and I feel like I'm getting better and better as a writer and community organizer.
Asof the past month, I've been going all in into both my writing and community and it feels super aligned. I feel like Rock Lee opening his chakra gates lol. And I see the path forward on how I can make a living from all this.
As for advising others to pay attention to these signals, here's how I'd describe it:
So from my experience, I feel like I went through Stage 1 and Stage 2 while employed at the same job.
I know friends that took a leap of faith and quit their job to explore their next thing. That's a clear indication of 1 -> 2.
For me, I was experimenting and following my curiosities while employed.
I experienced the great plateau while employed. It wasn't until my projects started to catch steam that I'm like, ou I'm starting to break this plateau, hence the transition from 2 -> 3.
Nice man! Thanks for sharing. Btw, I saw that you have a writing club going on in NYC - super cool. My friend Zac Solomon runs one in Austin called the ATX Writing Club. I've actually thought of doing something similar in Los Angeles. Might have to ask you how you went about building it in NYC!
I’m in Stage 2. Every once in a blue moon I contemplate quitting writing.
But then I get a comment of gratitude, thoughtful text, or read a motivating post like this that adds a lil juice into my juice pouch to keep going 🧃
Thank you Lawrence. Really glad you joined Substack because this is the exact message I needed to hear.
Hey there Grant! If you believe in synchronicity (which I do think is a thing), then consider this post a sign for you to keep going =). Writing is a gift that many people have yet to find. You're so fortunate that you've discovered it in your own life.
Incredible article. I read it recently for the first time and I am sure I am going to revisit it many times in the future.
PS I think I am still in the "Stage 2", but I am enjoying the ride ;)
Thanks Dima! Stage 2 is a prerequisite for us all - just know that there's so much to learn in it, as is the case for every stage =).
This must be my favorite post from you
I needed to read this now, it came at the right time in my journey
Currently at Stage 1, wanted to take the leap for Stage 2 but have some money issues so I'll probably go back to Stage 1 until I am saving enough to feel comfortable
Been jugling with making something for myself for years, and in the past 6 months I feel like I have grown so much, but practically needs to be a priority right now since I have a family and baby to take care of
At least I am also happy in Stage 1, was quite lucky to work a job that I actually liked.
Reframing my job as being a patron of my creativity changed everything for me. It allowed me to see my job for what it was, knowing that it had a distinct purpose. I actually ended up leaving it shortly before my daughter was born, but worked hard to build that on-ramp. It really is a matter of dedicating whatever spare energy you may have to building the thing you truly want.
Thank you, Lawrence, this was my first time reading this piece, and it got me thinking. I am not in the arc, not yet.
In the last few years, I have explored things related to art(writing, painting, podcast) and I see that there is a creative side to me. There is a desire to explore more, and the thing that stops me is my own mind.
I am on a quest to enter stage 1, and your words came at the right time. Thank you ❤️
That's wonderful Alexa. If that desire is there, the rest is just a skill problem. I hope to provide the tools / resources required to navigate it.
Thank you, Lawrence.
What a logical approach to making expansive choices!
I’m lucky enough to be retired and can devote my full time to creating children’s books I hope will inspire young people while still amusing them with a good story.
Here’s one I turned into an animated video that won Best Children’s Picture Book from The BookFest in 2022:
Link to animation of The Mayfly and the Methuselah Tree: https://youtu.be/9SYUvwU_iEs
Wow, thanks for sharing Bob. One thing I'd love to make is a children's book as well. Any reason why you chose to publish children's books instead of the non-fiction route?