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Do It For The Love

posted on August 1, 2012

I’ve kept a journal my entire life. When I read about blogging and saw a close friend start doing it I figured I’d give it a try.

My grandfather was a photographer with a darkroom in his basement. I grew up with cameras always around me and enjoyed taking photos. Every minute of every day, I’m taking photos in my mind if not with a camera in my hand.

While at Bentley I spun tunes at WBTY. The moment I read about podcasting, I hit the record button and began sharing my thoughts with the world.

When Mrs. Pet cast me as The Lorax in our elementary school play, I realized how much I liked being on stage in front of a crowd.

Over the course of my life I’ve been blessed to make money doing all of the above things. A world of possibilities that I could have never imagined has shown itself to me and every day I wake up not knowing what it holds, but I’m excited to face it.

But, each of these activities I take part in because first and foremost I love doing them.

I don’t know what it is that keeps the creative juices flowing through me, but I constantly have to create to stay sane. Social media allows me to share my creations with the world and the neat thing is that people appreciate what I share. But, if they didn’t would I stop creating them? Hell no!

If you love doing something, then do it.

Get out there and keep on doing those activities because you get satisfaction from them. You don’t have to have a plan for how to monetize it or attract more people. All you need is to know that you enjoy doing it and keep on moving forward.

In the early days of podcasting, people would ask me what they should start a podcast about. Today, I get asked what kind of content they should create. Who am I to tell someone what they should create?

The answer I’ve always given them is to figure out what you love and then create around that.

Some people prefer words over photos. We each like different types of music, food and locations. If you are passionate about whatever is that you are creating, then the rest will follow and people will connect. But, if you are creating it based on some top 10 list or formula that someone is selling then it’ll never be successful.

I don’t care if anyone reads this post. I hope they do and I hope someone benefits from it. But, I sat down to write it because if I didn’t the words would be bouncing around in my head and distracting me from the rest of the day. I enjoyed writing these words with my morning coffee and I’m smiling as I get ready to hit the publish button.

Stop worrying about what other people will think or if they’ll like what you create and just do it already.

Do it for the love first and everything else second.

 

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Categories: Passions
  • http://chrisbrogan.com/ Chris Brogan

    I see a few root causes for this non-love blogging/content world that seems to be on the rise.

    On one hand, people are losing their livelihoods and are scrambling to find ways to make some money, and they’ve been told that “blogging is easy.” Typing into a box and pressing publish is easy. There’s not a lot of easy in making money from typing, until you figure out a world of nuances.

    On the other hand, I think that so many people don’t believe your main point. You and I share this in common. We have gone from doing schlub work (me more than you, as I’ve held some doozies of jobs) to being able to live out our dreams in many different ways, over and over again. The more we follow our passion (hits!), the more we are rewarded for it.

    But for whatever reason, that leap requires a vast amount of bravery, and people aren’t ready for it, in many ways.

    Love this post, CC, but then, you would imagine I would. : )

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Thanks for reading and chiming in.

      You are right that people are looking for the easy road to success. You and I both know that it doesn’t exist.

      That’s the main reason I wrote the new book because I needed to remind people that it doesn’t exist and that people like you and me are working our buts off to make it work. Sure, it is not back breaking work that lots of our fellow humans do, but it is still work.

      Make it a great day.

  • http://chelpixie.com/ Chel Wolverton

    Something struck me while reading this.

    The people asking you what they should create? They need to explore more to find what they love. Take the photos, write the blog posts, try playing music, use a video camera, speak. You can’t possibly know what you’re good at and what you love doing unless you try yourself.

    I suppose it’d be rude to say that when someone asks you.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Actually it isn’t rude at all.

      One of our Content rules is “Play to your strengths” and that is exactly what we mean by it. Not everyone enjoys the same things and if you and your company are going to start creating content you damn well better like it or there are going to be days you’ll hate creating it.

      For me that means I’d love to do more videos but I’m not a big fan of video editing which is why you don’t see me doing it more.

      • http://chelpixie.com/ Chel Wolverton

        I love your unedited versions just fine! But yeah, that’s my point. Also, WHY DO YOU PEOPLE NEED SOMEONE TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO? /ahem

  • melgallant

    I’ve journaled from a young age as well. You have to do it for the love otherwise it’s a chore…one more thing to get through. And if you do it for the money – you heart isn’t in it…people can spot that kind of shallowness mighty quick. Thanks for the great reminder to pursue that which gives us personal happiness. :)

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      EXACTLY!

      Feeding the beast on a regular basis is tough. Yes, even when you love something it isn’t always to do it. For instance today I’ve got a stack of edits to make on my new book and I’m not looking forward to that, but it is part of writing (which I do love) so I push through it.

  • http://copymatter.com/ Mustafa Khundmiri

    “every day I wake up not knowing what it holds, but I’m excited to face it.”

    That’s the exact feeling I go through each day or at least want to go through. The feeling of not knowing what lies on the other side is euphoric.

    But then again, living an exciting life day in and day out wouldn’t be possible if you’re doing something cause it needs to be done. Or because you want appreciation. Like you said, it needs to be done for the love of it.

    For me, creating always meant playing with words. Expressing my thoughts in a way that my readers enjoy it. And I love it! Because nothing can equal the satisfaction of making a difference with what you create. It’s powerful beyond words.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      “nothing can equal the satisfaction of making a difference with what you create”

      I couldn’t have said it better!!

  • http://www.stevenwb.com swbuehler

    I read it. :-)

    I don’t write or [v|b]log for money. I think Google AdSense made me a total of two dollars over the years when I’ve used it. I’ve got a regular 9-to-5 job that I enjoy and pays the bills, and I’m content with that. I don’t need to be making millions (and knowing how many people would emerge from the woodwork begging if I did, that’s probably a good thing).

    I’ve always believed that if you’re really doing what you love and enjoy, people will notice and excitement is almost always contagious.

  • Jason Smith

    This month marks the seven-year anniversary of my music podcast. It’s
    obviously something that I love, otherwise it would have faded into the
    sunset a long time ago. My strength is representing for independent
    artists and giving them a platform to be heard. When I began, I just wanted to support the releases being made by good friends of mine and be able to mix them with other selections from podsafe spaces.

    I wanted to be a hip-hop “safe haven” of sorts for people who gave up on the music because of what the corporate signal was pushing (and continues to push) and serve as a reminder that that are artists with words and beats that are worth listening to, that full-bodied hip-hop still exists. I’ve been mixing that with soul, funk, and electronic music from the beginning. It may not be the narrow niche that most would want, but I do know that there are people who appreciate what I do.

    I know what it means to have to create to feel sane. It’s why I produce my podcast and at the end of the day, it has to feel good to ME, first and foremost. I went through podcaster burnout two years ago and since then have adopted the philosophy of the “get around”: new shows will be released when I GET AROUND TO THEM. A tweet from Bazooka Joe of the solipsisticNATION podcast served as my personal manifesto last year and I still hold fast to it today:

    “Putting food on my table, I’m sorry to say, trumps putting music in your ears.”

    When I put new episodes together, it has to be because I’m about to burst, because I can’t wait to share the sounds I’ve come across with the world. When you do it because you feel like you *have* to put out a new show, then (as stated by one of the earlier comments) it becomes a chore. Despite it not being the main way I spend my days and earn revenue for my family, despite audio not being as easy as search for as text, and despite the fact that getting a podcast still isn’t as easy as switching on the FM dial for a good number of people, I’m in this for the “long tail,” as it were. I have no other option. I do this because I love it.

    Thank you the reminder, C.C. And I’m really looking forward to your next book…

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      AMEN!!!!

      The quote mentioned is an important one because I’m not saying that we all get to do nothing but what we love for a living. Life isn’t that giving in reality. But, like you said, this doesn’t mean that you can’t still do it. Not everything is about bringing in money. Sometimes you have to do it because you love it.

      Keep it up!

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    Hat tip to Amber for sharing this. Hat tip to myself for clicking it. Hat tip to you, sir, for writing it. This has been a hell of a week. Specifically, Monday was one hell of a day. I had one of those “there is no way this is real life moments” as I was sitting right seat in a DeHavilland Twin Otter, watching my fiance, and the man who is marrying us push my boss out of a plane on a BMX bike for a commercial shoot while one of the most prolific aerial videographers captured it all on film. I posted about it on Facebook, how every single second of self-doubt, every tough decision, every pivotal moment was worth it, to be right there in that moment. It was literally heaven on earth. Determination, defined.

    Then I got a call from the student loan factory. I’ve been slipping on (making full) payments since leaving my sassy agency job(s) in Austin/Chicago to live the dream and pursue skydiving at a professional/competitive level. One minute, I’m there, living my dream, the next, I’m reminded that there are parts of the dream that definitely aren’t easy. Keeping up on student loans is one of those.

    This post, however, helps reel me back in. My mom put it best when I was crying in a fit of unsure rage: “Sydney, you don’t let the world run you over, you change your world to make it work for you. You always have.”

    And it’s because without fail, I always do the things I love. Thank you for reminding us that the whole “do it for the love” thing is okay. Confucius said (and I’m sure I’m botching this here), “if you do what you love, you’ll never work another day in your life.” and I follow that up with “and the money will follow.”

    Rambling. Sydney, out.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      And I thought my week was an interesting one, but damn did you ever trump that by throwing people out of airplanes on bikes! Cool!

      No one ever said it would be easy. That is for damn sure.

      I think every one of us who chases our dreams knows how hard it is. Chasing the next paycheck and constantly hustling. You have to in order to stay afloat.

      And don’t ever worry about botching quotes around here. Based on some people who like to leave comments I tend to do it quite often *grin*

      Thanks for swinging by. I’ll be sure to hug Amber for you. (and for me)

  • whitneyhoffman

    It’s gotta start with the love. That’s what makes it all worth while, acknowledgement or not. For example, let’s take your average hobby. I knit because I like to, not because it’s cheaper or a shortcut, or even about customization (although making something and creating something perfect and custom is great). There’s a sense of process, of beginning and end, and even the abandoned projects make me struggle with perfection and learning and everything else that comes with it.
    Blogging, work, speaking- it’s all cumulative, but it comes from loving something so much you just have to say it out loud, and then doing so. Repeatedly.

    I don;t know how we can get people to realize shortcuts are never really the answer- in fact, they often lead you down roads that are far trickier than they looked and can make problems bigger, not smaller.

    The thing is, none of us should fear the hard work- that leads to the satisfaction you feel at the end.

    Another great post, sir :)

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      I agree with you on hard work. It always sucks when going through it, but at the end feels SO much better if you’ve worked for it.

  • http://profiles.google.com/jon.ashby Jon Ashby

    Years back I started a website dedicated to low-budget filmmaking, not for any kind of monetary return, just because I was hopelessly addicted to making movies and promoting others who did the same. The site became incredibly popular because others shared that passion. But if only a handful of folks had noticed I would have done it exactly the same. If there is one guy who understands that drive, that need to create for the pure joy of it, it’s one of that site’s first members and most avid supporters who, as it happens, wrote this article.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      :)

      Yes you did and we would have never met and become friends if you hadn’t.

  • Amanda

    I wish I could print this post and hang it up. Very inspiring! Thank you.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Go for it!

  • http://twitter.com/ISYanEmil emil kristoffer

    Word! people basically need to love more, do things before they enjoy it, and care about the people they do it around. It shows when people are engaged because of their passion, while doing it for the money, well, it’s not the same. Living in a part of the world where you have the opportunities to live a life of love is a blessing, and we need to cherish it. It says you are today’s blogger for the ‘blogust’- event raising money for Shot@Life and I was wondering if this is your piece?

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