Being uncomfortable: A necessity for creativity
Keeping the creative juices flowing requires constant change.
I heard someone say this many years ago which stroke a chord with me:
To achieve the best results we need to feel comfortable being uncomfortable.
This was in the context of working in the city in London in a high performing, cut-throat environment, and getting the best of our time. It worked. Everyone in that environment was laser-focused and not afraid of calling each other out.
Content creation for me is not like that. Sure, it can be frustrating at times and stressful but in comparison to previous things I've done in my career as an IT director and tech consultant, content creation has way more fun aspects. Not to mention the fact that a lot of the pressure comes from ourselves, not others.
But what I've learned in the past three years is that every now and then, I get bored with certain things in the tech space. And what I found works best for me is to get out there and feel uncomfortable again.
This could be trying a new editing technique, or a new format of content. Without fail, every time I do this, I feel like I've grown in one way or another.
Trying something new
Recently I started a new channel in Brazilian Portuguese and despite me being Brazilian, the challenge of starting a new channel, building a new audience and believe it or not - re-learning my own language - has been intimidating, scary but the results speak for themselves.
If I hadn't tried it I would still be thinking "what if I tried”. I am glad I did now and will continue to invest in that.
Another example is how difficult I've found to grow a community. There are hundreds of lovely comments I get in every video, which honestly make my day, but I think my content needs something else for us to connect over.
So I started vlogging. 100% out of my comfort zone. I do not enjoy recording myself, but I think the more I do it, the mroe comfortable it will get. If nothing else, it's another format of video that I will have learned and may come handy in future.
These newsletters and more livestreams will also help I think and I hope I can find the time to keep consistent.
A simple strategy if you want to try it yourself
Here are a few strategies that might help when “embracing” the unfamiliar:
Setting small, achievable goals: Start by making small, incremental steps outside your comfort zone. For instace you could start by exploring a new genre of music, or learning the basics of a new language.
Find people who are also wanting to change: Surround yourself with supportive friends, who encourage you to step outside your comfort zone.
Celebrate EVERY win! Recognise and celebrate your wins, no matter how small. This will reinforce your willingness to take risks and try new things. This may feel like “gloating” or showing off, but trust me, very few people will do it for you, so you need to be your own best marketer 🥰
What is coming next to Alex Gear & Tech?
It's been a while (way too long!) since I wrote these newsletters, but I am going to re-ignite this, even if they are shorter at times, because I love this connection, outside of the scripted, more ‘direct to the point’ review videos that I do.
I am working on more 'evergreen’ content in December as those videos have proven to be fantastic in the long run. These are hard to produce but clearly deliver the most value. The most viewed video on the channel is such an 'evergreen’ video where I recommend the best SSDs to buy, based on in-depth tests.
In January there will be a lot of focus on smartphones again but I want to change a few things for the rest of the year so expect a broader approach to my tech content.
I am definitely excited for it and I hope you join me in what's to come 🙏🏼
Have a lovely day, wherever you are.
Alex