Great Work Sucks, and Feels Miserable, Too

I was reading what my friend Michael Bungay Stanier wrote on the Feeling of Great Work, and I totally agree. Totally.

Every time. Every single time, without exception. I do something new that’s important to me, that I feel is really Worth It… and I feel miserable. Scared. Nervous. Like hiding under the covers.

I’m always finding myself really doubtful when I see people trumpeting from the sky about their latest business offer:  “I have just launched this fantastic thing that I’m SOOOOO excited about.” I hate to be a doubting Markus, maybe they are excited and jazzed and super-confident, but that’s never been true for me.

I usually more feel like I’m going to lose my lunch. Oh wait, it’s Ramadan. No lunch to lose. See, there are benefits to fasting. Despite nearly ten years of doing this work, having launched countless courses and retreats, and at least five major information products, I still have that urge to hide under the covers.

For instance, I’ve been dragging my feet in finishing up the final bits to Heart-Centered Article Writing, the homestudy version. People loved the class. It sold out in record time, before the early-bird deadline, and the quality of articles that came from the participants left me feeling really inspired. And, it’s pretty darn unique in how it approaches the whole thing.

And yet, why am I a week behind in getting stuff done on it?

I know why, and that’s why we built in TWO WEEKS of “slide time.” Because this happens every single time. Every time. The whole thing Michael was talking about with Great Work, it happens. I get queasy. I get nervous. I get shy. I think… hmmm… is this really good enough? Are people going to be happy with it? Does it really matter? Isn’t it kinda insignificant, the whole “article-writing thing” thing?

Well, I know how I get through times like this.

I let myself be seen.

I wrote about this in more detail. So I won’t go into it again. But, it’s a for-real dynamic that, if you ignore, you may find the very projects that are going to help your business leap forward stutter and stumble…

Oh, and by the way.

This is a real thing, as in right now. We are releasing Heart-Centered Article Writing, which isn’t just about articles. Don’t think just “articles,” don’t box yourself in like that. Because on September 15, we’re already putting dozens of these things in the mail, for people that are taking advantage of the pre-release special pricing.

It may or may not be for you, but if you’re wondering how to write to have impact, to educate, to change the world, and to keep your authenticity at the same time, this homestudy course will take you there. So check it out and see if it’s for you or not. Before September 15, so you can take advantage of the pre-release price. Because why pay retail?

But that’s just an aside for those who are interested.

Please add to the discussion- how do you deal with the uncomfortable, queasy, miserable feelings that arise when you’re doing the Great Work Michael talks about?