Maybe even put your thing down flip it and reverse it. Just do the work.

In Kevin Smith’s Dogma, the muse, Serendipity, has a line that’s stuck with me since the movie’s release. “It doesn’t matter what you have faith in,” she says, “as long as you have faith.”

Faith, as it turns out, isn’t quite enough. I can have faith that I’ll write a viral article or a best seller, but if I don’t do the work — if I don’t put in the blood, sweat, and tears, I’m not going to get anywhere.

Do The Work

Too many people, myself included, think that just wanting the thing bad enough will bring it to you. Sorry, babe, it doesn’t work like that. You have to do the work. But what does that look like?

For me, it looks like:

• Consistency — not necessarily writing every day, but writing consistently, whether two or three times a week or once a week. I have to maintain a consistent schedule.
• Reading — I love to read, but instead of reading mindlessly on Medium, I read with intention. You can’t write about cooking if all you’re reading are articles about nuclear physics.
• Progress over perfection — aiming for perfection will only break your heart. Instead, be better today than you were yesterday.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Find what works best for you.

Instead of faith, let’s say, “It doesn’t matter how you do the work as long as you do the work.”

Wanna help me quit my 9-5? Read this story on Medium, too!