What does blogging (or creating any online content), investing, and physical health have in common ? Here are the common patterns I have seen across the three domains (and life in general too) - let me know if you agree/disagree
Analysis Paralysis
- Investing - Mutual Funds, stocks, options, futures, 401k !! -so many options to choose from. What I have learned is that keeping it simple is super helpful even when it comes to investing.
- Creating online content - Should my domain be a .com .io or .dev ? What about the logo ? Shouldn't the name be catchy ? What theme should I choose ? I'm not saying these things don't matter, but nothing is more important than the content and what you have to say - just sit down, defeat the resistance and start creating the content
- Physical health - Should I join this fancy boutique gym? soul cycle? orange theory fitness? should I have a personal trainer? It is more important to start - Start simple - even if it means going out for a run or just using a pair of dumbbells'
Ignore Setbacks
- Investing - You understand this if you are a long term investor - there WILL be a downward spiral, there WILL be a recession and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it - it is just part of investing. Ignore the setback
- Creating online content - I created my first video in 2012, the first video got ~20k views, was super pumped did my second video and that got 300 views. What did I do ? Any self respecting tech guy would do - yes I QUIT. Don't be like me.
- Physical health - You start doing strength training for a week and suddenly your arms go sore - what do you do ? Quit - because that's easy. Ignore the setback.
Consistency over intensity
- Investing - You have all heard of "dollar cost averaging". It is more important to be consistent to build wealth in the long run than trying to time the market.
- Creating online content - Like I said earlier, don't be like me ie create the first post in 2012 and wait another 8 years to produce the next one. Be consistent, show up.
- Physical health - You don't build good health by doing workouts for 3 hours/day for one month and nothing for the next 11 months. Regular consistent manageable workouts are what lead to good health.
But I'm not there yet
- Investing - The common excuse we all have is - "I just don't have enough money to start investing" - even starting of with 100 bucks can make a huge difference. Time and the power of compounding are your friends here
- Creating online content - "But I don't have any good things to say yet", "I'm not an expert on anything." Doesn't matter - document your learning process. You don't believe me ? The community needs you
- Physical health - "But I'm overweight or too weak" - That's precisely the reason to start. Start BECAUSE you are not there yet.
Process is the reward
Investing - Of course the wealth that is built is what we aim for - but the discipline of saving and investing and the habit building is the reward
Creating online content - The ability to articulate thoughts, teach and present content to others itself is the reward. That skill is invaluable when you are talking to the customer, designing a solution and working with other teams.
Physical health - The weight loss or the muscle gain at the end of 2 years is not the reward. Your physical health, mood elevation on a day-to-day basis is the reward.
I'm writing this more as a reminder to myself to continue to follow these principles.
This post originally appeared on https://www.azuremonk.com/blog/bloginvesthealth
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