This is geared to all the planners and organizers out there who want to create original content but never get past their Post-It notes, blank journals, Trello master plans and content calendars.
If you’re new to Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. then I’m talking to you.
Maybe you’re creating to boost your small business, your corporation’s department/unit profile, or because your boss read an article about how TikTok is the place for authenticity and wants in, even though social media is totally not in your wheelhouse.
Perhaps it’s a new content strategy for social, mobile, client-facing, or B2B.
The whole concept can be incredibly overwhelming and intimidating.
There’s so much pressure to create something that goes viral—what if no one even ‘likes’ it?
Sketching a master plan is crucial, either way.
The thing is, you can plan your lives away and never execute …
Anyone who knows me knows “time is money” is one of my favourite sayings.
Sometimes, though, you need to spend a little time putting big plans aside and taking mini-actions.
If you’re reading this then this is for you.
I know you can push past your self-imposed limitations and be purposeful as you work up the courage to put yourself out there in the digital realm (let’s face it, we’ve all had a legit “fear of failure is holding me back” revelation, no?).
And as someone who’s historically gone from idea to execution in eight hours or less on the reg, here are five reasons why you need to stop outlining everything to the nth degree and just act.
1. You won’t know unless you do it.
For example, you can detail the death out of a podcast on people living in remote areas, but you won’t know there are major Internet issues and spotty WiFi connections until you actually get out there and interview someone. You can easily contact someone, anyone, to record a practice phone call.
If you can’t relate to a podcast, then start smaller—post one tweet today or take a photo and try to caption it.
2. You need to get out of your own head.
Fear will cripple you if you let it.
I’ve been creating professional content since the age of 18, and can come up with words/images in my sleep. #facts
I want you to walk around with this kind of swagger. Everyone deserves to.
3. No one really wants to read a report on your idea.
Show—don’t tell—me your idea! If it’s a video, I don’t want to open a document to know where you plan on going with it. Slap together some sort of rough cut. You can storyboard it using sketches (or, like me, stick-people. It ain’t pretty but it’s how I roll).
I’d rather see it in action, though.
Show off your skills, decision-making, instincts. (Now, I’m not suggesting you go out and start creating a project when you’re still waiting for the green light on a proposal at the office).
I *am* saying you can easily shoot something using your phone and slap it together in an hour or less to come up with visuals for yourself. If my first-year J-students can create a TikTok about project management in under an hour, so can you!
4. If you’re creating your own content, you need to make mistakes in order to learn and improve.
Think you can shoot and edit a four-minute video today for your team at work?
Then prove it on your own time.
If you commute, record your walk to work and cut something (edit!). If you drive, take a walk at lunch then shoot and edit video.
Only by recording will you learn about lighting, audio, wind, framing, headroom, background distractions, etc. and see where you went wrong.
Stop overthinking, start doing!
5. People respect do-ers.
Anyone can talk about content strategy and creation. And plan the hell out of it.
Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, even by creating something super small, means you are a do-er.
What’s stopping you from creating content today?
(Feature photo by Kelly Roche)
Kelly Roche - Storyteller 
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